The Scottish Government has been told it must act urgently after an animal charity said they have found fresh evidence of a loophole in fox hunting laws that it claims could allow mounted hunting to continue in Scotland.
The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) act, which came into force last year, was designed to close loopholes in the earlier ban on fox hunting, introducing a two-dog limit for hunting and banning trail hunting. The law also introduced a licensing scheme which allows the use of more than two dogs in certain limited circumstances. However the League Against Cruel Sports said it fears this is a loophole being exploited by hunters as at least 41 licences were issued in the first hunting season since the Act came into force, according to Government data. The charity said 31 of the licences permitted the use of 20 or more dogs, and only two have been monitored for compliance.
Loopholes and Licensed Hunting
The League Against Cruel Sports, a charity dedicated to ending the cruel practice of hunting with dogs, has raised serious concerns about the licensing scheme, arguing that it is being exploited by hunts to continue their activities. The charity claims that at least one mounted hunt, the Lauderdale Hunt, has been granted licenses for fox control, potentially allowing it to continue its activities as it did before the 2023 Act.
Robbie Marsland, director of the charity in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “Before the new ban, the league routinely filmed hunts running a coach and horses through the old legislation. Time and again we had to watch as foxes were chased and killed by packs of dogs in the Scottish countryside. They said they were legally shooting foxes using a loophole in the old legislation, so we were delighted when the Government bought in a new law that they said would close that loophole. Although at that time, we did warn that mounted fox hunters have a history of exploiting any loopholes they can find. We are devastated to discover that at least one mounted hunt was able to exploit a new loophole last season and we worry that more will learn this trick in the new hunting season which is just around the corner. We are convinced that this isn’t what the Government wants and we have written to the Cabinet secretary to urge her to make sure that fox hunting in Scotland is really banned – for good.”
The League’s concerns have been echoed by Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess, who has called for the government to take urgent action to close the loopholes. “This is very concerning. A lot of us warned that the licensing system was a mistake and that it would simply create new loopholes. The government insisted otherwise, but that is exactly what has happened. These figures show the shocking and widespread exploitation of the system by hunters and estate owners who know exactly what they are doing. If we are to have the outright ban that the public supports then we need action to close the loopholes and end the cruelty. Hunting with dogs is an inhumane and totally unnecessary practice that belongs firmly in the past. There is absolutely no justification for using a pack of dogs to kill defenceless animals. It has no place in a modern and compassionate Scotland.”
Government Response
The Scottish Government maintains that the Act has closed loopholes in the previous ban on fox hunting and that any suspected wildlife crime should be reported to the police. A government spokesperson said: “Licences can only be granted to farmers and land managers in order to support significant or long-term environmental benefits or to prevent serious damage, when no other humane options are suitable. All licence applications are rigorously scrutinised and where licences have been granted, both NatureScot and Police Scotland must be notified before any activity is undertaken, and can attend to monitor compliance. NatureScot and Police Scotland have carried out a number of visits to ensure that where dogs are being used to hunt foxes under licence, those doing so are acting in accordance with their licence and they will continue to do so.”
The Future of Fox Hunting in Scotland
The debate over fox hunting in Scotland is far from over. While the government maintains that the Act has effectively banned the practice, animal welfare groups remain skeptical, citing the loopholes and lack of rigorous monitoring. The upcoming hunting season will likely see renewed scrutiny of the licensing scheme and calls for further action to ensure that fox hunting is truly banned for good. Only time will tell whether the government will take steps to address the concerns raised by animal welfare groups and close the loopholes that may be allowing mounted hunts to continue their activities.
What Now for Fox Hunting in Scotland?
The future of fox hunting in Scotland remains uncertain. The League Against Cruel Sports and other animal welfare groups will likely continue to monitor the situation closely and to push for stricter enforcement of the ban. The Scottish Government will need to respond to these concerns and ensure that the loopholes in the legislation are closed to prevent the return of this cruel practice. The fate of fox hunting in Scotland hangs in the balance, and the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of this controversial practice.
