Labour first proposed a ban on trail hunting in its 2024 election manifesto.

Campaigners say the practice is being used as a ‘smokescreen’ for illegal hunting with dogs.

The government is consulting on a ban on trail hunting in England and Wales.

Trial hunting, in which hounds follow a pre-laid animal scent, has become a popular alternative to fox hunting after the implementation of the Hunting Act 2004.

But the very nature of the sport means that live animals, including foxes, hares, and sometimes even household pets, are injured or killed by the dogs. This occurs because the dogs often follow the scent of the wild animals, rather than the artificially placed scent.

Police and animal rights campaigners have also expressed concern over whether the sport is being used as a ‘smokescreen’ to enable illegal hunting with dogs.

Assistant chief constable Matt Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said trail hunting “gives people the opportunity to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago”.

Labour first proposed a ban on trail hunting in its 2024 election manifesto. Animal welfare groups, including the RSPCA, welcomed the move, while also noting the sport’s negative impact on local communities.  

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “Since the Hunting Act came into force, there is mounting evidence that trail hunting is being used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting with dogs, putting wild animals, pets and livestock at risk, while rural communities face intimidation and anti-social behaviour.

“Public support for a ban is clear: over 80 per cent support the existing ban on hunting wild animals with dogs, and more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for a ban on trail hunting. As part of the Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting, the RSPCA would like to see the Hunting Act strengthened and to close any loopholes so we can finally consign illegal hunting with dogs to the history books.”

Animal welfare minister, Baroness Sue Hayman, said: “We pledged to ban trail hunting in our manifesto and that is exactly what we intend to do. “The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild and domestic animals are not put at risk of being killed or injured - that is clearly unacceptable.

“We understand that this is a complex issue and so we are seeking views from everyone with an interest to help shape how we bring this forward.”

The consultation will run until 18 June. 

Image (C) Trialhunt (C) Angela Lock/Shutterstock.