QUESTION
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SUGGESTED RESPONSE
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| Question 1: Would you like your response to this consultation to be confidential in the event of an access to information request (see confidentiality and data protection above)? |
No |
| Question 2: Provide your full name |
Provide name |
| Question 3: Provide your email address or, alternatively, your full postal address (required) |
Provide email/postal address |
| Question 4: In what capacity are you completing this consultation? |
As an individual |
| Question 5: If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, what is the name of that organisation? |
Not applicable |
| Question 6: This consultation is for proposals that would apply only in England and Wales. Where are you, or the organisation you are representing, located? |
Indicate your location |
| Question 7: Do you agree with this proposed definition of “trail hunting”? |
No.
Trail hunting is simply a smokescreen for illegal hunting and trails are very rarely actually laid.
A ban focusing solely on the type of scent used will not work, as hunts may just pretend to follow non- animal based scents in ways which lead to “accidental” hunting.
Recklessly or “accidentally” chasing or killing animals should also be banned. |
| Question 8: What types of conduct should be covered by ‘engagement’ or ‘participation’ in trail hunting? |
Engaging in trail hunting must include:
- Participation in the organisation of trail hunting, trail preparation, or trail laying
- Following a pack of dogs through areas where wild mammals are likely to be present
Participation in trail hunting should cover everyone involved including:
- Hunt staff
- Hunt organisers
- Riders & followers who assist in any way
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| Question 9: In relation to offences or conduct which would assist unlawful trail hunting to take place, we intend that it should be an offence for the owner or occupier of land to knowingly cause or permit another person to engage or participate in trail hunting on that land. Do you agree? |
Yes.
Landowners should be held responsible because hunting with dogs can only happen if land is made available for this activity.
They should also have to take all reasonable steps to prevent hunting on their land.
Responsible landowners such as the National Trust & the Malvern Hills and many National Parks have already banned trail hunting. |
| Question 10: In relation to offences or conduct which would assist unlawful trail hunting to take place, we intend that it should be an offence for the owner or person responsible for a dog to knowingly cause or permit another person to use the dog for trail hunting. Do you agree? |
Yes.
The law should go further and require the owner or person responsible for a dog to take all reasonable steps to prevent it being used for trail hunting.
In this way the hunts which own the hounds cannot shift all responsibility onto individuals. |
| Question 11: Are there any other forms of conduct which should be considered as possible offences in relation to offences or conduct which would assist unlawful trail hunting to take place? |
Yes.
Behaving recklessly or not taking all reasonable steps to prevent a wild animal being chased or killed.
Encouraging dogs to enter areas where they are likely to encounter wild mammals.
The use or presence of terrier men including the blocking of earths or badger setts to prevent animals escaping underground.
Preparation of animal based or artificial scents to train dogs for trail hunting. |
| Question 12: Do you consider that any other legislative changes are necessary to ensure that a ban on trail hunting is effective? |
Yes.
Banning trail hunting will not be effective unless the law is strengthened more widely to prevent loopholes being exploited or new smokescreens being created.
The Hunting Act 2004 should be strengthened by :
- Banning all reckless or “accidental” hunting by requiring all reasonable steps to prevent animals being chased or killed
- Removing all exemptions which are used as covers for illegal hunting
- Expanding the definition of hunting to include “searching” for an animal
- Strengthening penalties including custodial sentences
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| Question 13: Do you think that it is possible for dogs to be appropriately trained for specific purposes other than trail hunting without the use of either animal based scents or artificial scents which mimic an animal based scent? |
Yes.
There is no good reason for which dogs need to be trained to follow an animal-based scent trail which is based on or mimics a wild mammal.
All exemptions in the Hunting Act which involve hunting a wild mammal such as
- Carrying out scientific research
- Rescuing a wild mammal
- Conducting wildlife management
are cruel, completely unnecessary and are being exploited for illegal hunting. These exemptions should be removed. |
| Question 14: Do you think that it should remain lawful, in certain circumstances, for animal based scents, or scents which mimic animal based scents, to be used in training dogs for certain purposes? |
No.
Only for law-enforcement purposes.
Allowing animal-based scents for any other purpose simply creates loopholes which will be exploited by hunts.
All exemptions in the Hunting Act which involve hunting a wild mammal should be removed. |
| Question 15: We understand that drag hunting is an equestrian sport where an artificial non-animal based scent trail, which does not mimic an animal based scent, is laid along a pre- determined route for hounds to follow. Do you agree that this is an accurate description of drag hunting? |
No.
It is vitally important to ensure hunts do not pretend to be drag hunting instead of trail hunting .
A more accurate description should include :
- Trails are not laid in areas where wild mammals are likely to live, in a way that mimics the path of a wild mammal, or through dangerous areas such as roads or on private land without the owners permission.
- The people in charge of the hounds know where the trail has been laid.
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| Question 16: Do you think that there is a risk that dogs engaged in drag hunting will deviate from the pre-laid trail by the scent of a wild mammal and then pursue the wild mammal? |
Yes.
Particularly if they have been previously trained to follow an animal-based scent or an artificial scent designed to mimic an animal-based scent.
The risk is low in genuine drag hunting. However, the law must be strengthened to ban reckless or “accidental” hunting, which will help to prevent hunts pretending to drag hunt. |
| Question 17: We understand ‘clean boot’ hunting is an activity where hounds hunt human runners who neither wear nor drag any form of artificial scent enhancement. Do you agree that this is an accurate description of ‘clean boot’ hunting? |
No.
The description should also include that the runner does not enter areas where mammals are likely to be present and that the route is known in advance to those in charge of the hunt. |
| Question 18: Do you think there is a risk that dogs engaged in clean boot hunting will deviate from their pursuit of human runners to the pursuit of wild mammals? |
Yes.
Particularly if they have been previously trained to follow an animal-based scent or an artificial scent designed to mimic an animal-based scent. |
| Question 19: Do you think that a new law to ban trail hunting would need to include any additional provisions in relation to drag hunting or clean boot hunting? |
Yes.
Reckless or “accidental” hunting should be banned by requiring hunts to take all reasonable steps to prevent an animal being chased or killed. This will prevent hunts pretending to drag hunt. Dogs that have been previously trained to follow an animal based-scent or an artificial scent designed to mimic an animal-based scent could deviate if they pick up a real animal scent. |
| Question 20: Are there any equestrian activities other than drag hunting, for example point to pointing, which you think are at risk from being affected by the proposed ban on trail hunting? |
No.
Activities such as hacking, eventing, and point-to-pointing do not involve the use of dogs, animal-based scents or the pursuit of live mammals. |
| Question 21: How do you think the introduction of a ban on trail hunting will affect dogs used for trail hunting? For example, will they be able to be re-directed to other activities? |
Hunts have a responsibility for the welfare of hounds in their care and should find safe loving homes for dogs no longer used for hunting. Hounds often suffer as a result of hunting, many are injured, significant numbers are killed every year using bolt guns simply because they are not suitable to hunt. Hounds rarely live beyond seven years before being killed by the hunts. |
| Question 22: Do you think that there should be a transition period following the introduction of a ban on trail hunting and if so, how long should that period be? |
No.
Trail hunting is an elective activity which people can choose whether or not to engage in. Any transition period will result in wild mammals continuing to be chased and killed under the smokescreen of trail hunting. There is no reason for a transition period. |
| Question 23: Do you think that the proposed legislation to ban trail hunting in England and Wales will affect people and/or communities more widely? |
Yes.
Regular polling has consistently shown the majority of people in rural areas support a ban on this activity. A ban will be beneficial for rural communities who have faced anti-social behaviour, trespass, livestock worrying, violence, pets being chased and killed and hounds crossing railway lines or causing road accidents. |
| Question 24: How do you think the proposed ban on trail hunting might affect the income and activities of the hunts currently involved in this activity? |
If hunts want to continue they can switch to other activities that don’t carry any risk of chasing and killing wild animals. |
| Question 25: How do you think the proposed ban on trail hunting might affect the income and activities of businesses directly linked with hunts which currently engage in trail hunting? |
The impact is likely to be limited provided hunts switch to other activities which don’t involve chasing & killing wild animals. |
| Question 26: Do you think that the proposed ban on trail hunting in England and Wales might affect other businesses not directly linked with hunts? |
No.
The rural economy does not in any way depend on trail hunting and hunts can switch to other activities which don’t involve chasing and killing wild animals.
Money not spent on trail hunting can be spent within the wider rural economy. |
| Question 27: How do you think that the proposed ban on trail hunting could affect the environment or wildlife? |
Any ban on trail hunting will lead to a reduction in cruelty to wildlife and disturbance to habitats. Hunting is also linked to the illegal persecution of other species, including protected species such as badgers. |
| Question 28: Are there any other matters, including possible alternatives to primary legislation, which you feel should be taken into account in developing the legislation to ban trail hunting? |
Yes.
To ensure the ban works in practice, I urge the government to:
- Expand the definition of hunting to include “searching”, as already adopted in Scotland.
- Introduce a strict liability offence so that “accidental” hunting cannot be used as a defence.
- Remove all exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004 that are currently exploited to justify illegal activity.
- Strengthen penalties, extend prosecution time limits, and apply vicarious liability to hunt organisers.
- Require landowners to take reasonable steps to prevent illegal hunting.
- Make all related offences notifiable and recordable.
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| Question 29: Is there any other evidence you would like us to consider? |
You can use this final question to add any personal experiences including how you have been directly affected by hunts in your local area. |
