Major Landowners
Landowners across the country continue to allow so-called ‘trail hunting’ on their land.
Trail hunting is nothing but a “smokescreen” for the illegal hunting of wildlife and unless decision makers and landowners take a stand, animals will continue to be killed.
Towards the end of 2020 a leaked webinar hosted by the Hunting Office showed senior hunting officials admitting to using ‘trail hunting’ as a “smokescreen” for the real thing. Mark Hankinson, who was then Director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, was found guilty of encouraging others to break the 2004 Hunting Act and hunt foxes.
It led to nationwide press coverage which resulted in several major landowners suspending trail hunting licences. These included the National Trust and Forestry England.
In July 2022 Mark Hankinson (who was previously found guilty of encouraging others to break the law and hunt foxes) had his conviction overturned. Despite this outcome the National Trust and other landowners have doubled down on their trail hunt bans.
