The Hunting of Mammals Bill
It has been almost two decades since the passing of the Hunting Act 2004, banning the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales.
But hunts continue to operate, creating havoc and breaking the law by chasing and killing wild mammals under the guise of ‘trail hunting’, using loopholes and exemptions in the Hunting Act to evade prosecution.
Until all mammal hunting is made unlawful and more effective legislation is in place, hunts will continue chasing and killing wildlife for many years to come.
We need to do more than allow hunts to continue in a slightly different form – we need to get rid of them altogether.
Sign Our Petition for a Proper Hunting Ban
Sign Our Petition for a Proper Hunting Ban
Learn MoreRead the Hunting of Mammals Bill
Read the Hunting of Mammals Bill
Learn MoreWhy not strengthen the Hunting Act?
Why not strengthen the Hunting Act?
Learn MoreHunt Havoc
Hunt Havoc
Learn MoreThe 'trail hunt' smokescreen
The 'trail hunt' smokescreen
Learn MoreThe Forgotten Victims of Hunting
The Forgotten Victims of Hunting
Learn MoreProtecting mammals - a legislative timeline
The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
While not focussing on mammals specifically the Act did legislate which traps and snares may be used to trap and kill foxes (banning self-locking snares). It also made failure to monitor these devices, resulting in increased suffering, a criminal offence, prohibited live baits and decoys, and banned the use of bows and crossbows to kill foxes.
The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996
The first Act designed to protect wild mammals. Section 1 of the Act states that if ‘any person mutilates, kicks, beats, nails or otherwise impales, stabs, burns, stones, crushes, drags or asphyxiates any wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering, he shall be guilty of an offence’. The Act also made it an offence to fill in a live fox earth.
The Wild Mammals Protection (Scotland) Act (2002)
The Wild Mammals Protection (Scotland) Act (2002) banned hunting wild mammals with dogs for sport in Scotland (but had loopholes and exemptions).
The Hunting Act 2004
The Hunting Act 2004 made it illegal in England and Wales (subject to various loopholes and exemption) to hunt wild mammals including foxes with dogs (hounds).
The Animal Welfare Act 2006
Primarily covering domestic animals the Act extended protections to include wild animals and covers situations where for example a trapped fox, which is technically in the custody of an individual, must be protected from ‘unnecessary suffering’. It also made it illegal to place poison baits to kill foxes.
The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023
The Scottish Government passed a Bill in January 2023 which will prevent the chasing and killing of wild mammals for 'sport' and effectively end organised fox hunting in Scotland when passed into law in Summer/Autumn 2023.
The Hunting of Mammals Bill
Commissioned by Protect the Wild and prepared by Advocates for Animals, the Hunting of Mammals Bill:
- Provides clarity and simplicity, making it easier for the police and the courts to prosecute lawbreakers.
- Criminalises the smokescreen that is ‘trail hunting’.
- Provides a comprehensive ban on hunting with hounds, with no exemptions or loopholes, and spells the end of fox hunting, deer hunting, hare coursing and hare hunting in England and Wales.
