Trail hunting set to be banned in Wales
Trail hunting is where hounds follow a pre-laid animal-based scent across the countryside, mimicking traditional hunting
Last updated 26th Mar 2026
A public consultation will open today on how to take the ban forward.
Trail hunting is where hounds follow a pre-laid animal-based scent across the countryside, mimicking traditional hunting.
It became popular in the UK after the Hunting Act 2004 became law, as an alternative to traditional fox hunting.
This can result in wild animals, including foxes and hares, being injured or killed by dogs, as well as household pets in some cases.
The UK Government says the nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild animals are not placed in danger as a result of dogs picking up their scent, as opposed to the intended animal-based scent trail.
Concerns also persist around whether trail hunting is being used by some as a “smokescreen” to facilitate illegal hunting with dogs.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs' Council, has previously said he believes trail hunting is providing a smokescreen and it “gives people the opportunity to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago"
Baroness Sue Hayman, Animal Welfare Minister, said:
“The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild and domestic animals are not put at risk of being killed or injured - that is clearly unacceptable.
“We understand that this is a complex issue and so we are seeking views from everyone with an interest to help shape how we bring this forward.”
The Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
“It is right that the UK Government is going to ban trail hunting in Wales. In 2004 traditional fox hunting was banned and this is the latest step to ensure we have the highest standards for animal welfare.”
A public consultation will open today on how to take the ban forward. It will run until 18 June.
Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, warned that the government risk utterly alienating the countryside:
"At a time when the countryside is on its knees as a result of misguided government policies and a cost of living crisis heightened by war, the government has again chosen to attack rural communities with another assault on rural life. A ban on trail hunting is unnecessary, unjustified and unfair.
"This is nothing more than the government attempting to distract from the real problems facing British people. Voters care about the countryside, the food on their table and cheaper energy bills; not toxic culture wars.
"With two in three voters believing that the government does not care about the countryside, Sir Keir Starmer is running the very real risk of causing a permanent schism between Labour and the countryside.
"If the government continues down this path, it will do nothing but confirm to rural people that Labour has warped priorities and a fundamental dislike of the countryside."