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England and Wales are poised to prohibit trail hunting as part of a forthcoming animal welfare initiative set to be unveiled by the government on Monday. Trail hunting involves laying a scent trail, derived from animal-based substances, for dogs to follow, while hunters pursue the pack on horseback. Unlike traditional hunting, this practice does not involve the killing of live animals and has remained lawful since the 2004 hunting ban was introduced.
The 2004 Hunting Act outlawed the use of dogs to hunt wild mammals such as foxes, hares, deer, and mink across England and Wales. Trail hunting, however, has been an exception because it simulates the chase using an artificial scent trail, aiming to avoid the harm or death of wild animals. Despite this, the government argues that trail hunting is often exploited as a “smokescreen” to facilitate the illegal hunting of wildlife, which is a key reason behind the proposed ban.
The move to ban trail hunting has sparked controversy. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, described reconsidering trail hunting as “completely unnecessary.” He criticized the government for what he perceives as continual interference: “It is unbelievable that the government wants to waste more parliamentary time on hunting. This issue was settled 20 years ago as far as Labour was concerned but it does not seem to be able to leave it alone.” Bonner further expressed concern about Labour’s stance on rural matters, stating, “People across the countryside will be shocked that after Labour’s attack on family farms and its neglect of rural communities it thinks banning trail hunting and snares used for fox control are a political priority.”
Supporters of trail hunting emphasize its importance to rural life. The British Hound Sports Association has argued that these hunts are essential for rural economies and contribute positively to people’s mental and physical health. A farmer speaking to the BBC highlighted social pressures, saying, “I would be shunned if I publicly rejected hunting,” and warned that banning trail hunting “reinforces the narrative they [Labour] don’t care and are imposing urban values on people they don’t understand.” The government plans to consult on the details of the ban in the coming year. Baroness Hayman, the animal welfare minister, affirmed the government’s commitment, stating, “In our manifesto we said we would ban trail hunting, and that’s exactly what we’ll do.” She added that the government is exploring the best way to implement the ban and will seek public input through a consultation early next year. It’s noteworthy that trail hunting is already prohibited in Scotland, while hunting with dogs remains legal in Northern Ireland
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