Game Preservation (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 Close seasons 1 1 The Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 (c. 25) (referred to in this Act as “the 1928 Act”) shall be amended as follows. 2 In section 7(1) (periods during which it is unlawful to take, kill or destroy game)— a after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted— bb any partridge or snipe during the period commencing on 1st February in any year and ending with 31st August next following; ; and b in paragraph (c) for “game-bird other than a grouse” there shall be substituted “ other game-bird ” . 3 In section 7 for subsection (3) (power to vary certain periods) there shall be substituted— 3 The Minister of the Environment (in this Act referred to as “the Minister”) may by order— a amend subsection (1) so as to vary the close season in relation to any kind of game; or b amend subsection (2) so as to vary the period referred to in that subsection. . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 In section 7F(2) (temporary nature of orders of the Minister) after “under this Act” there shall be inserted “ (except one made under section 7(3)) ” . Protection of game and rabbits 2 1 For section 7A of the 1928 Act there shall be substituted— Protection of game and rabbits 7A 1 Any person who kills, takes or destroys any game— a on a Sunday; or b during the period commencing one hour after sunset on any day and ending one hour before sunrise on the next day, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. 2 Any person who— a at any time kills, takes or destroys any rabbit by means of a firearm on any land; and b is not an authorised person in relation to that land, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. 3 Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to the killing, taking or destroying of any rabbit in pursuance of any power conferred by or under— a the Forestry Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (c. 2); or b the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 ( NI 22). 4 For the purposes of subsection (2) a person is an authorised person in relation to any land if he is, or is authorised by— a the owner or occupier of the land; or b a person who has a right of shooting on the land. . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 In the Ground Game Act 1880 (c. 47) (right of occupier to kill and take hares and rabbits)— a in section 1, in subsection (1)— i for the words “duly authorised by him in writing” there shall be substituted “ authorised by him ” ; and ii paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) shall be omitted; b in section 1, subsection (3) shall be omitted; and c section 10 shall be omitted. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subs. (6)—Repeals Orders under the 1928 Act 3 In section 7F of the 1928 Act for subsection (4) (orders under that Act to be published) there shall be substituted— 4 Orders made by the Minister under this Act shall be subject to negative resolution. . Short title and commencement 4 1 This Act may be cited as the Game Preservation (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002. 2 Sections 1 and 2 shall come into operation on such day or days as the Department of the Environment may by order appoint .