THE LAW RELATING TO DEER 
& GROUND GAME 
I N pursuance of the course adopted in the first volume of this work,* 
which treats of feathered game only, it is proposed to devote a few 
pages here to the consideration of the Game Laws as they affect Deer 
and Ground Game; in other words, hares and rabbits. 
Doubtless the whole subject, according to precedent, might have 
been dealt with comprehensively in either volume, seeing that the 
word “game” includes “hares” as well as “birds of game”; but for the 
sake of clearness, and in order to confine attention to one group at a time, 
it has seemed better to divide the subject in the manner here proposed. 
Although, strictly speaking. Deer do not come within the definition of 
“game,” as laid down by section 2 of the principal Game Act (1 & 
2 Will. IV, c. 32), a game licence is required for shooting them, under the 
provisions of an Act passed thirty years later, namely: 
THE GAME LICENCES ACT, 1860 
23 & 24 Viet., c. 90 
Section 4 of this statute provides as follows; “ Every person before he 
shall, in Great Britain, take, kill or pursue, or aid or assist in any manner 
in the taking, killing or pursuing, by any means whatever, or use any 
dog, gun, net or other engine for the purpose of taking, killing or pursuing 
any game, or any woodcock, snipe, quail or landrail, or any cony, or any 
deer^ shall take out a proper licence to kill game under this Act, and pay 
the duty hereby made payable thereon; and if any person shall do any such 
act as hereinbefore mentioned, in Great Britain, without having duly 
taken out, and having in force, such licence as aforesaid, he shall forfeit 
the sum of twenty pounds.” 
To this, however, the following exceptions are made by section 5, which 
runs as follows: 
(1) The taking of woodcocks and snipes with nets or springes in Great 
Britain. 
(2) The taking or destroying of conies in Great Britain by the pro- 
prietor of any warren or of any inclosed ground whatever, or by the tenant 
of lands, either by himself or by his direction or permission. 
*Vol. I, pp. 422-433. 
322 
