Devon Trail Hunting to face ban under new law by Government

Members and supporters from over 15 hunts attended the event on September 15, which was held at Honiton Showground.

The East Devon Hunt hosted the trail hunting meet, where spectators could see trail hunting in action and meet the hounds.

People from across the region had come for the event (Image: Cat Down Photography)

The event was organised by the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) as part of a nationwide effort to showcase trail hunting.

At 30 venues nationwide, the hunting community demonstrated to the public, media, and politicians how a pack of hounds hunts trails.

Oliver Hughes, managing director of the BHSA, who was present at the meet, said: "Thousands of hunt supporters will be gathering at 30 different locations across the country to showcase the legal and legitimate activity of trail hunting, proving that there is absolutely no justification for wasting more parliamentary time on hunting legislation.

"Everybody is welcome to attend, and we hope that those who want to learn more, or have questions about how trail hunting is conducted, will use this opportunity to find out all they want to know."

Mr Hughes added that people of all ages, classes and races attended the meeting and that a ban on trail hunting would be "socially devasting" for communities across Devon and the country.

The event showcased what trail hunting is like (Image: Cat Down Photography)
Trail hunting involves laying a scent across the countryside which a pack of hounds then searches for and follows, the trail can be laid by someone on foot, horseback, or bike.

The practice simulates traditional hunting, which was banned by the Labour government in 2005.

Now, the Labour government intends to ban trail hunting.

The hunting community is using this event to send a strong message to Parliament and the newly elected MPs that trail hunting is a legal and legitimate activity with a place in today's society.

Simon Richards, joint master of the Exmoor Hunt and a vet, said that since the ban in 2005, the current model was built by the guidance of the then Labour government.

He said: "With 250 packs in the country, the current model employs hundreds of people, from farriers to gamekeepers, and a ban will make them all unemployed.

"It will be very hard for rural communities socially and economically." He added that the hounds are not suitable to be pets and are used to being a pack, describing them as the "athletes of the canine world".

Using his experience as a vet, he said: "A ban would potentially lead to hundreds of dogs being euthanised."

The Leagues against Cruel Sports was less positive about the event calling it a "smokescreen for illegal fox hunting" and a "lame PR exercise".

Emma Judd, head of campaigns at the League, said: "So-called trail hunting is a smokescreen invented by hunts after the fox hunting ban to fool people into thinking the cruel blood sport had ended and to hide the fact that hunts are still brutally chasing and killing foxes."

Emma Judd, head of campaigns at the League, said that trail hunting is a smokescreen invented by hunts (Image: X/ League Against Cruel Sports) Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, the most senior police officer in England, has described illegal hunting as "prolific".

Mr Richards said: "Every single meet, including the one today, is documented and recorded and all the details are provided to the police.

"The BHSA requires us to do it.

"We are all law-abiding people, who love the countryside."