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Fox Hunting

Answer

Anyone hunting on private land should have permission from the landowner to do so. There are different laws which govern hunting different types of animals. If someone is using your land to hunt without your permission you should contact your local police via 101, with any details of those organising and participating in the hunt. If possible you should make it clear to those involved in the hunt that you have not granted them permission to use your land, as it is an offence to knowingly allow your land to be used for hunting. 

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Answer

No, it is the hunting of any wild mammal with dogs that is banned. Hare coursing is also now an offence and there are strict laws about when people can and cannot hunt a variety of different animals. Anyone wanting to participate in any kind of hunting should ensure they are adhering to the law at all times and have permission of any land owners.

If you witness anyone participating in a hunt, you should contact your local police force via 101 with any details you have.

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Advice from DEFRA (Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs) advocates better protection of stock, rather than fox control.

To discourage foxes from coming to your property you should:

  • Secure food waste in bins
  • Use fencing to protect pets and livestock from foxes.

If the problem persists you can use approved control methods but you must not:

  • Use gasses or poison,
  • Block or destroy fox earths if they are occupied,
  • Use dogs to hunt foxes.

Please see the link in Related Information for Government guidance on approved control methods.

The Hunting Act 2004 does recognise the need to control wild animals which farmers and others regard as pests. The exemptions are contained in Schedule 1 to the Hunting Act 2004. For the full Act see the website in Related Information.

It is important for anyone planning to hunt an animal to ensure they are acting within the law at all times.

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Answer

Fox hunting is illegal, it was banned by the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales and the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.

There are exemptions in the Hunting Act to allow certain types of pest control, please see the link in 'related information' for details.

Hunts in England and Wales invented the activity of trail hunting after the hunting ban came into force. This is a non-lethal sport where the hunt follows a pre-laid trail rather than chasing a fox.

If you believe a hunt is using trail hunting as a cover for illegal hunting, this can be reported to your local police force. Some police forces also have an online wildlife crime reporting form.

If an illegal hunt happens on public land, you may wish to raise a formal complaint. Hunts may only use Forestry Commission or MOD land under a strict licence. Breaching that licence can mean the hunt are no longer allowed to use that land. Similarly, charitable bodies such as the National Trust, Woodland Trust or local charitable trusts or parish councils will take a dim view of law breaking on their land and may remove any 'sporting rights' they have given the hunt.

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