In November 2021 we sent out 225 letters to major land owners in the UK to ask them to stop issuing licences to Trail Hunters.
“Fox Hunting was banned in 2005 under the Hunting Act 2004. Those sworn to ignore the law carried on Fox Hunting using loopholes to continue.
There are three types of Hunts-
- Trail Hunting. A fictitious group set up after the Hunting Act in 2005 to carry on hunting under a web of deceit and continue to kill and breed foxes
- Drag Hunting. These are hunters who follow a synthetic scent laid by a runner. These hunts have been in existence since the 1800’s and do not catch foxes
- Hunting the Clean Boot. Hunters who follow a human runner. These hunts have been around for many years
Trail Hunting didn’t exist before the Hunting Ban. The Fox Hunts tried to join the Masters Draghounds Association but they were not allowed as the Draghounds Association felt they would bring their sport into disrepute. The Masters Draghounds Association had to defend this refusal to allow the trail hunter to join them in court. After the court case Trail Hunting was born.”
National Trust Response
We’re no longer issuing licences for any trail hunting activities, including the exercising of hounds. We’re only licensing drag hunting, all other forms of hunting will not be licensed on National Trust land.
Ministry of Defence Land
The terms of the MOD licence are clear that only trail hunting and drag hunting carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Act are permitted, anything else would be a breach of licence but more importantly contravene the Hunting Act 2004.