The hunters' federation has issued a guide to those holding land for hunting purposes, with advice which it said is aimed at avoiding incidents with trespassers, especially in view of the BirdLife Spring Watch Camp which starts in two days' time.

The guide says land owners should cooperate with policemen and give their identification and hunting licence details, when requested.

Trespassers on private property should be verbally warned, without any threats or insults, and the police should be informed.

Land owners have a right to mark their property as being private and they have a right to photograph any trespassers for use as evidence, the federation said.

They do not, however, have a right to use force to evict people from their property. Nor do they have a right to insult them or point a firearm at them. Hunters also cannot take away or damage photographic equipment or anything else held by trespassers.

The federation urged its members not to allow themselves to be provoked, even when such provocation was premeditated.

Hunters, however, had a right to the enjoyment of their private property and privacy, the federation said, and any abuse should be immediately reported to the police.

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