Victory! National Trust Bans Trail Hunting on Its Land
Update:
Victory! After National Trust members took action for foxes, deer, and hares by voting for a ban on trail hunting, the charity has confirmed it will stop issuing licences for the activity on its land. The vast majority of members and the National Trust’s board of trustees saw trail hunting for what it really is: simply a cover for hunting with dogs.
Original post:
Trail hunting is often used as a smokescreen for hunting and killing wild mammals – as revealed by a leaked webinar conducted by The Hunting Office and other senior hunting officials.
This October, National Trust members have the opportunity to vote to ban trail hunting on National Trust land. It is vital that they seize it.
Trail Hunting Is a Smokescreen
The trail hunting façade began after hunting with hounds was made illegal by the Hunting Act in 2004. During this activity, hunters spray a cloth with an artificial scent and drag it near foxes’ habitats. If the dogs, while following the artificial scent, chase and kill a fox, the hunters can claim it was an accident and therefore escape punishment. Often, they deliberately conduct trail hunts in ways that make it very likely such “accidents” will occur.
Animal advocates have long suspected that trail hunting was a con. Leaked footage from a hunting lobby webinar, released late last year, seemed to confirm that this is the case, as senior figures were recorded discussing ways to circumvent the law and make illegal fox hunting less obvious to observers and authorities.
In light of the fact that the Hunting Act is being grossly violated – and foxes are suffering as a result – the National Trust is considering a ban on trail hunting on its land. If the ban comes into place, it will be a huge blow to the hunting lobby and a big win for animals.
We must close the trail hunting loophole and prevent foxes from being violently ripped apart for the amusement of hunters.
How National Trust Members Can Help
National Trust members can help animals by voting for the ban now. Here’s how:
The deadline to vote is 11:59 pm on Friday, 22 October.
Vote online:
1. Go to the voting website.
2. Log in by entering your first and last names, membership number, and postcode.
3. Click on the “AGM Resolutions” button.
4. Appoint the chair of the meeting as your proxy.
5. Select the box “FOR” the resolution to ban trail hunting.
6. Vote on any other motions, should you so wish, or leave them blank.
7. Click the “Next Page” button.
8. Review your choices, then click “Submit”.
Vote by post:
1. Find the voting form in your orange AGM booklet. This will have arrived in the post with your September issue of the National Trust Magazine.
2. Fill in your first and last names, membership number, and postcode, and sign the form.
3. Appoint the chair of the meeting as your proxy.
4. Put a cross in the box “FOR” the resolution to ban trail hunting.
5. Vote on any other motions, should you so wish, or leave them blank.
6. Review your choices.
7. Return your form by post to the following short address: Freepost Civica Election Services. Please be sure to post your vote in time for it to arrive by Friday, 22 October.
How Others Can Help
If you’re not a National Trust member and can’t vote for the ban, there are other ways you can help prevent animals from being violently killed by hunters.
Urge Boris Johnson to ban all imports of hunting trophies by signing our petition now:
