Do you care about wildlife in England and Wales? We urge you to take part in Defra's 'Consultation on Proposals to Prohibit Trail Hunting in England and Wales'. However, if you're short of time, you can still make your voice count. Leave a quick comment with us, and we'll do all the work!
Current loopholes mean that, despite the Hunting Act 2004 coming into effect, some hunts can still operate outside the law. Banning trail hunting was a promise made in 2024. Now, decision-makers want to hear from the public. What happens next depends on how many of us speak up.
The proposed ban on trail hunting in England and Wales presents a vital opportunity to resolve the long-standing weaknesses in the Hunting Act 2004. While the Act aimed to prohibit hunting wild mammals with dogs, its lack of clarity and enforceability has allowed practices such as trail hunting to emerge, often criticised as a "smokescreen" for illegal hunting.
Please consider the following in your message:
- How trail hunting should be defined for the purpose of a ban.
- Mention if you think more laws are needed to make the ban work.
- Share your opinion about using animal scents to train dogs.
- If you think the ban could affect other horse-related activities.
- How you think a ban could impact the dogs used for trail hunting.
We will gather your comments and send them directly to the Defra consultation team to show the strength of support for the ban.