talk till morning
For the Love of Ideas
Trail hunting is an activity which involves a human-laid fox scent being sought and pursued through countryside by foxhounds and mounted riders. It differs to drag hunting as the foxhounds are trained to track and chase live quarry over a route which has not been predetermined.
In other words, if a group of huntsman and their hounds happen to come across the scent of a live fox, and unknowingly pursue it (as the riders follow behind their hounds) then the 'accidental' killing of a fox can occur. A loophole in the legislation that reveals the sinister side of Britain's idolised countryside.
The National Trust, the organisation charged with maintaining that countryside, currently permits trail hunting on it.
I spoke to William Morton, public relations officer for the League Against Cruel Sports,
Peter Martin, chairman of the Badger Trust, and Hellen Benyon, a National Trust member who was submitting a proposition in favour of outlawing trail hunting on Trust land.
Since this conversation the proposition was rejected at the National Trust's AGM.
the hunt: didn't we make this illegal?
>To Hear the Full Podcast, Click the Player Below<
A malnourished red rox peers up hopefully at the photographer. Source: Vic Harkness
John King has written a response to this Conversation. To read 'Townies' are not the only ones who despise this pastime' , click here.
To find out more about the League Against Cruel Sports click here. For the Badger Trust click here.
As of the Hunting Act 2004, fox hunting is now illegal in the UK.
But some claim it still persists under the guise of a new name; trail hunting.