Government considers ban on trail hunting in England and Wales

The Government is progressing plans to prohibit trail hunting in England and Wales, following a consultation that attracted 184,000 responses.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched its consultation in March 2026 as part of the Government’s commitment to end trail hunting, a practice which emerged following the Hunting Act 2004. The consultation closed on 18 June. (GOV.UK)

However, the Government has now confirmed that publication of its response will be delayed until later this year because of the unusually high number of submissions. Defra said the additional time was necessary to consider the responses carefully. (GOV.UK)

Trail hunting involves dogs following a pre-laid trail containing an animal-based scent. The Government argues that the practice creates a risk that hounds will pick up the scent of live wild mammals and pursue them. It has also expressed concerns that trail hunting could be used as a “smokescreen” for illegal hunting with dogs. (GOV.UK)

The proposed legislation is intended to establish an effective and enforceable prohibition. The consultation sought views on how trail hunting should be defined, whether further legislative changes would be required and the use of animal-based scents in dog training.

Defra also sought evidence on whether other equestrian activities could inadvertently be affected by the proposed ban, as well as the potential consequences for dogs currently used for trail hunting. The consultation invited evidence on possible community, social, business, economic and environmental impacts. (GOV.UK)

The Government has stressed that its proposals are directed specifically at trail hunting rather than other forms of hound activity. Alternative practices such as drag hunting and clean-boot hunting have previously been identified as activities that should be able to continue. (GOV.UK)

The proposals have nevertheless attracted significant opposition from countryside and shooting organisations. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation has warned that broadly drafted legislation could have unintended consequences for other activities involving dogs, including tracking wounded deer, gundog training and wildlife detection work. (BASC)

Animal welfare organisations, meanwhile, have welcomed the proposed ban. The RSPCA argues that trail hunting has provided a means for illegal hunting to continue following the Hunting Act and has called for legislation to close what it considers to be a loophole. (RSPCA)

The Government’s next step will be to consider the consultation responses and develop legislation. No legislation has yet been introduced to Parliament, meaning the proposed ban is not currently in force. (Full Fact)

The scale of the consultation response means the eventual legislation will be closely watched by hunting organisations, animal welfare groups and those involved in other working-dog and rural activities, particularly where the precise definition of trail hunting and the use of animal-based scents are concerned.