Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Trail Hunting 2025-04-01

01 April 2025 · 9 other contributors

Opened by Perran Moon Lab Camborne and Redruth

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Perran Moon raised concerns about trail hunting 2025-04-01 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Trail hunting uses animal-based scents like fox urine, raising concerns it may mask illegal fox hunting activities.
  • Evidence suggests trail hunts often result in unlawful hunting of foxes and other wild animals.
  • Major landowners have restricted or banned trail hunting due to animal welfare and wildlife protection concerns.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Perran Moon Lab Camborne and Redruth

Put simply, animal cruelty should have no place in modern, progressive 21st-century Britain. Having spent most of my life living in rural areas, I have witnessed at first hand the brutal reality of hunting with dogs. Contrary to the views of some, that opinion is shared by many rural residents. It is imperative that as lawmakers we address the concerns surrounding trail hunting, particularly in light of the Hunting Act 2004 and the Government’s manifesto commitments. Fox hunting is not a sport; it involves tracking, chasing and killing a fox using hounds and riders on horseback. Drag hunting differs by laying an artificial scent for the hounds to follow without hunting live animals. However, trail hunting uses animal-based scents of traditional quarry like fox urine, leading to concerns that it's a guise for illegal hunting activities under the Hunting Act 2004. There is evidence suggesting that trail hunts often lead to unlawful hunting of foxes and other wild animals, with significant landowner issues and danger to road users. Reports from sources in Cornwall show continued illegal hunting by some packs despite legal restrictions. Major landowners have restricted or banned trail hunting due to concerns over animal welfare and wildlife protection, including the National Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Forestry England, United Utilities, and Lake District national park. The national lead on fox hunting crime has stated that trail hunting is often used as a defence in successful Hunting Act prosecutions.

Other contributors (9)
  • Irene Campbell Lab North Ayrshire and Arran

    The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that out-of-control hounds on trail hunts have harmed people, pets and themselves in residential areas. Urgent action is needed to ban trail hunting.

  • Sean Woodcock Lab Banbury

    In Banbury several hunts, including the Heythrop hunt and the Warwickshire hunt, were caught hunting live foxes illegally, showing how urgent it is for the Government to honour their manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    The hon. Member respects that all voices should be heard in this debate, including those from the hunting community who would dispute some of what has been said tonight.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab/Co-op York Central

    46% of registered trail hunts end up chasing a fox, proving that the law needs tightening and tougher sentencing should be applied to ensure compliance with the Hunting Act.

  • Andrew George LD St Ives

    Leaders of trail hunts admit they are using it as a smokescreen for illegal hunting activities.

  • Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield

    To clarify, this debate is specifically about banning trail hunting and not drag hunting which has predetermined routes and uses different scents to avoid chasing wild animals.

  • Julian Lewis Con New Forest East

    Banning trail hunting would potentially lead to the use of other forms of hunting like drag hunting as a cover for illegal fox hunting, creating an endless process.

  • Neil Duncan-Jordan Lab Poole

    A pledge to ban trail hunting is welcome but may be insufficient if hunts adopt new euphemisms. Effective reform must address the entire framework that enables illegal hunting.

  • Dan Norris Lab North East Somerset and Hanham

    Trail hunting is designed to exploit loopholes in current legislation, unlike drag hunting which is a peaceful activity.

Government Response

Government Minister

The Government are committed to improving animal welfare, including ending trail hunting. They will ban the use of snare traps, puppy smuggling, puppy farming, and importation of hunting trophies. The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill is being supported to close loopholes in pet travel rules. A consultation on banning trail hunting will be launched later this year to ensure effective legislation. We are also providing support to the national wildlife crime unit with additional funding. Stakeholder consultations will take place before any changes are made.

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