The Lepel Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora frequently receives a question from hunters. When is hunting weapon considered unloaded? What weapon is considered cased? When are hunting dogs considered to be working on wild game.
The Lepel Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora frequently receives a question from hunters. When is hunting weapon considered unloaded? What weapon is considered cased? When are hunting dogs considered to be working on wild game.
A weapon is considered unloaded if:
a cartridge is not in the chamber of a firearm and (or) in the magazine (clip) attached to the weapon;
an arrow is not nocked to the bowstring of a bow or crossbow;
the string-cocking mechanism and (or) the trigger mechanism of a crossbow are not cocked.
A weapon is considered cased if it is in closed (fastened, tied) cases or containers.
Dogs or hunting birds are considered to be working on wild animals if they are pursuing or have caught wild animals.
Hunting is the search, tracking, pursuit, attempted taking, or taking of a game animal living in the wild, as well as the presence of a person in hunting grounds and other habitats of a game animal with hunting implements, except as provided for by the rules, or the attempted taking or taking of wild animals and (or) birds that are not game animals, using hunting implements and methods.