The Consultation on Hunting

The Government has launched a public consultation on hunting, giving people across the UK the chance to share their views on hunting laws and how wildlife can be better protected.

While the consultation focuses mainly on so called ‘trail hunting’, it also creates an important opportunity to look again at the wider weaknesses and loopholes in the 2004 Hunting Act, which many organisations believe still allow illegal hunting to continue.

The consultation is open until 18^th June.

League Against Cruel Sports CEO, Emma Slawinski, has spoken about why this consultation matters for the future protection of wildlife.

Why This Consultation Matters

Although the Hunting Act banned many forms of hunting with dogs, there are concerns that gaps in the law mean wild animals can still be chased and harmed.

Animal welfare organisations, including the League Against Cruel Sports, believe this consultation is one of the most important chances in years to strengthen the law, improve enforcement, and give better protection to wildlife such as foxes, hares, stags, otters, and mink.

The League welcomed the consultation when it opened on 26^th March and continues to encourage the Government to look beyond trail hunting and consider the wider issues that how well the law works in practice.

What Is Trail Hunting?

Trail hunting was introduced after the Hunting Act came into force. It’s presented as a simulated form of hunting where hounds follow a pre laid scent trail instead of a live animal.

Critics argue that trail hunting closely resembles traditional fox hunting and makes it hard to prove when illegal hunting has taken place.

Hounds are still taken through areas where wild animals live, and when an animal is chased or killed, hunts can claim it was accidental.

Concerns about trail hunting increased further after controversial training webinars from hunting representatives described trail hunting as a ‘smokescreen’ that can help create doubt in court cases.

Because of this, campaigners believe the law should be updated to:

Explicitly ban trail hunting

Require hunts to take all reasonable steps to prevent animals being chased or harmed

Expand the legal definition of hunting to include searching for wild mammals

The Loopholes

Many organisations also believe the Hunting Act contains exemptions that are too broad and open to misuse.

Examples include:

Hunts using exemptions intended for research or observation purposes

The continued use of dogs underground in fox earths

Claims that hunts are retrieving injured animals when traditional hunting may still be taking place

Exemptions linked to rabbits or pest control being used inappropriately

Critics believe these loopholes weaken the law and make enforcement much more difficult.

Suggested changes include:

Removing exemptions that are regularly misused

Tightening the conditions where exemptions remain

Requiring hunts to demonstrate that they've followed the law correctly

Problems with Enforcement

There’s also concerns that the Hunting Act is difficult to enforce.

Campaigners and police representatives have highlighted several issues, including:

A short six month period to bring charges

Difficulties proving intent

Hunting offences not appearing in national police crime statistics

Limited penalties for offences

In 2024, the average fine issued for Hunting Act offences was reported to be just £454.

Organisations calling for reform believe stronger enforcement powers and tougher penalties are needed to create a meaningful deterrent.

Suggested changes include:

Making Hunting Act offences formally recordable by police

Extending the time limit for prosecutions

Introducing the possibility of custodial sentences for serious offences

The position of Almo Nature and Fondazione Capellino is clear:

Nothing justifies hunting

We support the ongoing work of the League Against Cruel Sports in raising awareness of these issues, highlighting the impact hunting continues to have on wildlife, and encouraging people to share their voices in support of stronger protections for animals.

This is the moment for people across the country to speak up for wildlife and help shape the future of hunting laws.

The League Against Cruel Sports has created simple process to help people take part in the consultation, and support stronger protections for wildlife.

Sharing a response only takes a few minutes, but it gives people the chance to support stronger laws and help protect animals that cannot speak for themselves.

Find out more and take part in the consultation here:

Sources

League Against Cruel Sports | News