It has been four years since hunting with dogs was made illegal.

But is the ban working? CHARLOTTE PERCIVAL investigates.


WHEN hunting with hounds was banned nearly four years ago, tempers flared countrywide. Hunting has been enshrined in Yorkshire life for years, claimed hunt supporters. People were interfering with a tradition they did not understand, they said, hounds would have to be put down and foxes, as pests, would be out of control.

Meanwhile, protesters who had fought vigorously for the Hunting Act to be enshrined, said that foxes would be saved, hunts would be no more and humanity had prevailed.

Yet almost four years on from February 2005, when the Hunting Act 2004 became law, the passion on both sides remains as strong as ever.

Recently, this was highlighted at the tradition Boxing Day meets, when large crowds turned out at Easingwold Market Place where the York and Ainsty hunt met, Blakey Topping, where the Farndale Hunt held its meet, and Kirkbymoorside Market Place, which was brought to a standstill by 50 riders and hordes of residents and visitors to the Sinnington Hunt. Also, Derwent Hunt, pictured here, met at Thornton-le-Dale.

Most hunts have survived the ban because exercising hounds, following a scent trail laid earlier and flushing out foxes to be shot are still legal.

But is the ban having much effect? We asked two men who regularly accompany hunts...


THE HUNTSMAN – Tim Easby, master of the Middleton Hunt

IF THE Hunting Act set out to protect animals then it is failing, according to Tim Easby, master of the Middleton Hunt.

Support for hunting is as healthy as ever, he says, and the law has made other methods of pest control more prominent, such as snaring, trapping, gassing, poisoning and shooting by lamp at night.

“I think the sooner it is repealed for the sake of wildlife, the better,” said Mr Easby. “I think it has done absolutely nothing for animal welfare at all. The only things that suffer are the things it is trying to protect; deer, fox and hare.”

Recent hunt turnouts have been extremely encouraging, says Mr Easby.

In fact, the ban may have served to increase its popularity, as people don’t like being told what to do.

“I don’t think a single hunt in the country has packed up,” he said.

“There seems to be more demand than before, and more support. Certainly in the countryside, people have been just fed up of being told what to do.”

Initially, huntsmen were worried about their hounds, he said, and although there have been problems, it has been easy for them to adjust and people are continuing to breed the dogs.

There has also been a lot of effort to keep the spirit alive by maintaining the tradition and the same level of spontaneity as before.

With three meets a week during hunting season, as well as balls, parties and carol services, Mr Easby is confident the sport will continue to grow in popularity and that the Hunting Act will eventually be repealed.

“I’m optimistic it will be repealed and we can have some form of regulated hunting,” he said.


THE HUNT SABATEUR – Lee Moon, spokesman for the Hunt Saboteurs’ Association

THE Hunting Act is not working, says Lee Moon, spokesman for the Hunt Saboteurs Association – which has a group in York – but it could, if it were strengthened.

“The police aren’t enforcing it, hunts up and down the country are killing foxes left, right and centre as if there is no ban and we are seeing that week after week,” he said.

“The act makes it so difficult to get a conviction because you have to prove the intent of the huntsman. You could have 50 hounds chasing a fox but you have to prove the huntsman intended for the hounds to chase and kill the fox.

“That’s where it falls down.”

There are also many loopholes, said Lee. For example, if a hunt is accompanied by a bird of prey, the dogs are allowed to flush out a fox out if the huntsmen intend for the bird of prey to kill the fox.

He said the situation was so bad the association was still carrying on its work as if the act had never been brought in. But saboteurs cannot be present all the time. When they are, they use scent duller and horns to put the hounds off the trail and give foxes the best chance of escaping.

However, it is not enough.

“In the middle of the countryside I shudder to think of what goes on when there’s no one there. It’s bad enough when we’re following.

“We see foxes being chased and dug out in direct violation of the law. What we really need to see is the Hunting Act strengthened and for a recklessness clause to be included.”