Our position on trail hunting

Hunting wild mammals with dogs was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act of 2004. National Trust land is no exception.

The law does allow what is known as trail 'hunting'. This activity involves people on foot or horseback following a scent along a pre-determined route with hounds or beagles. It effectively replicates a traditional hunt but without a fox being chased, injured or killed.

We're no longer issuing licences for any trail hunting activities, including the exercising of hounds. We're only licensing drag hunting – all other forms of hunting will not be licensed on National Trust land.

In coming to a decision on this complex, contentious issue, our Board of Trustees considered a wide range of factors, including but not limited to, the appropriate use of charitable funds, the risk of reputational harm to the Trust, and the result of the recent members’ resolution vote on this matter at our October 2021 AGM. 

Please note:

• The Trustees' decision means that no licences will be issued for the exercising of hounds on National Trust land
• There may still be some ceremonial meets on National Trust land which will not involve trail hunting activity
• Trail hunting groups, like other groups, do not require licences to cross our land if they remain on bridleways or other public rights of way.

We do not allow illegal activity on our land and we take any reports of trespass and/or illegal activity very seriously. We ask that any reports are passed to our staff on the ground or sent via email to enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

We carefully consider all information submitted to us. We continue to work with our partners in the police to robustly investigate incidents on National Trust land. 

We do not comment on the outcome of any reported incidents for legal reasons.

No. Hunting wild mammals with dogs was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act of 2004. National Trust land is no exception.

The law does allow what is known as trail hunting to continue. This activity involves people on foot or horseback following a scent along a pre-determined route with hounds or beagles. It effectively replicates a traditional hunt but without a fox being chased, injured or killed. 

We are no longer issuing licences for any trail hunting activities. In coming to a decision on this complex, contentious issue, our Board of Trustees considered a wide range of factors, including but not limited to, the appropriate use of charitable funds, the risk of reputational harm to the Trust, and the result of the recent members’ resolution vote on this matter at our October 2021 AGM.

No. Hunting deer and stags with packs of dogs has been illegal since 2004 and stag hunting groups do not have permission to operate on Trust land for any purposes. If anyone witnesses anything that they believe to be illegal, we advise them to contact the police directly, in addition to reporting the incident to National Trust staff. We will continue to provide all possible support to the police to ensure any incidents are appropriately investigated.

Drag hunting is an equestrian event created in the 1800s where a scent is laid along a pre-determined route, which leads to specific fences and there is a known beginning and end. Drag hunts use a variety of hounds, including foxhounds and bloodhounds. Bloodhounds track a human runner, while other hounds follow a chemical scent (usually aniseed).

The aim of drag hunting is not to chase animals. Hounds are trained not to follow live quarry and the routes are laid in areas where a live quarry presence is unlikely. Drag hunting can provide an alternative to the use of a pack of hounds in the countryside while minimising the risk to wildlife.

As the route is predetermined the hounds can be kept safely away from livestock, vulnerable crops, roads and railway lines. The route can also be organised so that the risk to sensitive and fragile habitats can be minimised. Drag hunting is governed by the Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds Association.

We do not allow illegal activity on our land and we take any validated reports of illegal activity seriously. We ask that any reports are passed to the police directly, as the appropriate body to investigate criminal matters, in addition to notifying our staff on the ground where possible, or sent via email to enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

We will continue to work with our partners in the police to ensure incidents on National Trust land are appropriately investigated. We are not able to comment on the outcome of any reported incidents.