The government has published its policy paper outlining a new Animal Welfare Strategy for England, which includes plans to ban trail hunting. Among other reforms, puppy farming and snare traps are also set to be banned.
Trail hunting became popular after the last Labour government passed the Hunting Act 2004, which banned the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales.
It is a practice in which hounds follow an artificial scent laid along a predetermined route, rather than chasing a live animal.
In yesterday’s policy paper, the government states that it intends to “put an end to trail hunting” and will consult in early 2026 on how to implement a ban.
The minister for animal welfare, Baroness Hayman, said that: “In our manifesto we said we would ban trail hunting, and that’s exactly what we will do.
“There are concerns that trail hunting is being used as a smokescreen for the hunting of wild animals, and that’s not acceptable. We are working out the best approach to take the ban forward and will run a consultation to seek views in the new year.”
Animal welfare groups have long argued that the practice is difficult to regulate and that loopholes in existing legislation allow illegal hunting to persist.
‘A devastating effect’
Chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, Tim Bonner, said that revisiting the issue of trail hunting is “completely unnecessary”.
“There are over 200 hunts around the country [and] they are an incredibly important hub for rural communities,” he said.
Tim explained that hunting provides jobs and that a ban would have a devastating effect on the countryside.
“The hounds we will find a future for, the hunting community is absolutely determined that whatever the government throws at it, whatever parliament tries to do, we will find a future for hunts, we will find a future for staff, and we will find a future for hounds.
“But this is going to be a tough fight.”
A spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance said that the government “should be focusing on addressing issues that actually help rural communities thrive, rather than pursuing divisive policies that hinder them”.
Consultation
The proposed consultation is expected to gather views from animal welfare organisations, hunting groups, and rural communities before any legislation is brought forward.
Trail hunting is already banned in Scotland, whilst hunting with dogs remains legal in Northern Ireland.
Drag hunting
As trail hunting faces increasing scrutiny, it is important to understand the distinction between trail hunting and drag hunting.
In trail hunting, hounds follow a scent — typically fox urine — laid in a manner designed to replicate the routes and conditions of traditional fox hunting.
Drag hunting follows a pre-planned course using a human or artificial scent, most commonly aniseed.
Different types of hounds are used depending on the method: bloodhounds track a human runner, while foxhounds and other packs follow the laid chemical trail.
This distinction is reflected in land-use policy. The National Trust does not permit trail hunting on its land, but does allow drag hunting, citing the controlled and predetermined nature of the route.
This enables organisers to keep hounds away from sensitive areas such as crops, wildlife habitats, roads and railway lines.
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