Each club is responsible for its members regardless of where insurance or affiliation fees are charged.
Without the landowner’s generosity none of our members would have shooting and therefore a club member should never put a farmer in a predicament where he has to choose an individual over a club. A member should never place a farmer in a difficult situation where there may be a conflict of interest or a territorial dispute.
It is unacceptable for individual club members to canvass landowners in another club’s area for invitations to hunt. This practice by individuals must be eradicated and is not acceptable.
Where long standing invitations are in place or where relationships exist through marriage or otherwise, these invitations should be with the consent of the club concerned and should not be abused. Three occasions per season should be the maximum acceptance. The host club should try to accommodate these invitations and build a relationship with those concerned. This could be of mutual benefit to both the individual and the club in the future.
Before shooting on another club’s preserves or area the club secretary or chairman should be notified of the day you intend to shoot and where you intend to shoot. The club members should respect your integrity by not shooting these grounds before you. You are obliged to shoot only the lands that you have been invited onto and never go beyond these lands.
Familiarise yourself with the presiding club’s rules, shooting days and bag limits and obey these rules especially shooting days.
Club sanctuaries are sacred and must never be shot regardless of invitations.
If approached or confronted, be polite and courteous as aggression and threats only provoke a similar response.
The invitee should carry his fund membership card as proof of identification and produce this if asked.
PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF A POACHING INCIDENT
The offending member must be approached and identified.
Membership of his home club must be determined and his status and relationship with the landowner on whose land he is on must be also determined.
- The offending member should be formally advised that he may be in breach of his own club’s regulations and that of the Federation
- The offending member should be requested to apologise to the apprehending club member for his intrusion and assure the apprehending club member that the offence will not be repeated.
Note: It is well known that 99% of offending individuals when approached are usually apologetic and should only be mildly cautioned and allowed to leave the preserves with dignity on this first and probably only offence.
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF DELIBERATE AND DETERMINED POACHING
The offended club should write and notify the offending member’s club of the incident and arrange a joint private meeting of both clubs’ representatives or officers to amicably resolve the issue. Such meetings to be held within (14) fourteen days from the date of the letter of notification of the poaching incident.
In tandem with the letter of notification the Hon. Secretary of the Federation to be advised of the incident and the details of the offence. The Federation Hon. Secretary will record the offence and details.
The Hon. Sec. of the Federation should be advised if there is an amicable resolution of the incident between the offended and offending clubs.
If the offending club does not respond within the (14) fourteen day limit to the notification of the offence, the offended club to advise the Federation Hon. Sec. of the situation.
The Federation Hon. Sec. will then request an explanation from the offending club for their refusal to reply and address the situation.
Failure of the offending club to respond to the Federation request for a satisfactory reasonable explanation will also put the offending club in contravention of the Federation’s Constitution.
Section A of the MEMBERSHIP SECTION states that:
“The membership of any club or association of the Federation may be cancelled if the club or association offends in any way against the aims and objectives of the Federation”.
Section A of MISCONDUCT, SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION states that:
“Should the conduct of any member club or association affiliated to Federation be in breach of the rules of the constitution of the Federation, the executive committee shall call on such club or association to remedy the matter and/or offer an explanation for its conduct and shall this explanation be deemed unsatisfactory the executive committee shall be empowered to sanction, suspend and/or expel such member club or association from the Federation”.
ARBITRATION BOARD
An Arbitration Board consisting of 3 executive members will adjudicate on all disputes. Their decision should be binding and should be accepted by the clubs involved.
The Arbitration Board has the power to impose fines on the offending club or clubs ranging from €50.00 to €200.00 depending on the gravity of the situation. The fines will be paid directly to the Federation who will then reimburse the offended club.
If either party is not happy with the arbitration board’s decision, they can lodge an appeal to the full executive committee within 10 days of receiving this decision. The executive committee will hear this appeal and their decision on the matter shall be final.