For nearly two decades, English fox hunters have struggled against a ban that has nearly extinguished their historic practice.
The tradition of fox hunting with packs of dogs, a practice dating back centuries, was outlawed in England in 2005. The legislation, passed after an extensive parliamentary debate driven by animal welfare advocates, remains in force. Public sentiment is strongly against the practice, with 80 percent of Britons believing it should remain illegal, according to YouGov.
Now, a new campaign is emerging, led by Ed Swales, a pro-hunting advocate who established the lobbying group Hunting Kind in early 2022. Swales aims to leverage the Equality Act, which protects individuals from discrimination based on characteristics such as age, race, sexuality, and religion, to classify a pro-hunting stance as a protected belief.
Swales argues that if the law can protect various beliefs like atheism, pacifism, and ethical veganism, then a pro-hunting position should be similarly safeguarded. “If someone can be ‘anti-hunt,’ then there should be legal recognition for being ‘pro-hunt,’” Swales asserted.
Swales, aged 55, plans to initiate a series of anti-discrimination lawsuits to set a legal precedent that might eventually challenge the ban on fox hunting. “Hunting is deeply embedded in our cultural heritage,” he stated. “We’ve been engaging in it for millennia.”
While hunting in general remains legal in England, with activities such as shooting deer, rabbits, and ducks permitted during specific seasons, the fox hunting community is preparing for potential new restrictions. The Labour government, recently elected, has pledged to ban trail hunting—a practice where dogs follow a scent trail, often made from fox urine, rather than pursuing live foxes. This move could further affect traditional hunting practices.
The British Hound Sports Association, which supports and regulates hunting with dogs, argues that trail hunting enables enthusiasts to continue their sport in a way that complies with the law. However, animal rights activists contend that trail hunting can conceal illegal fox hunting, as dogs may inadvertently track real foxes during these simulated hunts.
Chief Superintendent Matt Longman, the lead police officer on fox hunting in England, noted last year that illegal hunting remains prevalent, with trail hunts often taking place in natural fox habitats. “Foxes frequently end up being captured and killed by the dogs despite the intention to follow artificial trails,” explained Josh Milburn, a political philosophy lecturer at Loughborough University who researches animal rights.
In recent weeks, Swales has circulated a survey among fellow hunters to identify potential discrimination cases. He reports that many respondents have experienced verbal abuse or intimidation during recent hunts. Additionally, two venues have canceled events for trail hunting groups this year following pressure from anti-hunting activists. “They were informed, ‘We are canceling your events due to significant pressure from anti-hunting groups,’” Swales noted.
Some critics argue that the planned legal actions are a diversion from the broader animal rights debate, which hunters have largely lost in public opinion. “By portraying fox hunters as a persecuted group, they are shifting the focus from animal welfare to human interests,” commented Dr. Milburn.
Others question whether the hunting community—a group traditionally comprising some of the wealthiest landowners in Britain—requires such legal protection.