Figures show the scale of fox hunting carnage in the countryside

Nearly 1,000 incidents of fox hunts wreaking havoc in the countryside or involved in suspected illegal hunting have been recorded by leading animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports during the last hunting season.

The figures, show the scale of the carnage fox hunts caused in just five months in England and Wales between the beginning of November and April – 621 cases of hunt havoc and 361 incidents of hunts being involved in suspected illegal hunting.

The hunt havoc included hunts trespassing on private land and railway lines; running amok on roads; chasing livestock and people’s pets; incidents involving the welfare of horses and hounds; badger setts being damaged to prevent foxes fleeing; people being intimidated and caused mental distress; and the chasing of other wildlife such as deer.

The suspected illegal hunting involved 315 cases of a hunt being seen chasing a fox.

Chris Luffingham, deputy CEO of the League Against Sports, said: “These figures show that fox hunts are out of control, still brutally chasing and killing animals and exhibiting a shocking range of anti-social behaviour that is blighting rural communities nearly 20 years after hunting with dogs was supposed to have been banned.

“It’s time for change, time for politicians to step up to the mark and for hunting laws to be strengthened.”

The figures are collated by the League from reports by members of the public into our Animal Crimewatch reporting service and by people that monitor hunts’ behaviour.

• The incidents occurred across 47 counties involving 108 hunts.
• The counties with the highest number of incidents were (in order) Gloucestershire, Dorset, Yorkshire, Somerset and Cheshire.
• The worst offending hunt was the South Dorset Hunt followed by the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt, Warwickshire Hunt and Flint and Denbigh Hunt.

When cub hunting figures are added in – a barbaric activity which takes place from August to October in the run-up to the hunting season known as 'cubbing' – the total number reaches 1,367 with 841 incidents of hunts wreaking havoc and 526 cases of suspected illegal hunting. 400 foxes were seen being chased by hunts.

Fox hunts have come increasingly under the spotlight this year, including the Avon Vale Hunt for digging a fox out of the ground to be thrown to the hounds, and most recently the Cotswold Hunt for burying a fox in a den.

Chris Luffingham added: “It beggars belief that 18 years after the fox hunting ban came into force, hunts are still marauding around the countryside and getting away with their disruptive and callous activities.

“Politicians have a responsibility to ensure law and order is being upheld and need to crack down on what amounts to a rural crime wave by the hunts – the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened to end the misery being inflicted on the lives of both people and animals.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The full set of data for the fox hunting season 2022-23 is enclosed below.

Attached is an infographic which shows the scale of hunt havoc and suspected illegal hunting in England and Wales between the beginning of November 2022 and April 2023.

For more information or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 07496 496454 (24hrs) or email pressoffice@league.org.uk

Fox Hunting Season 2022-23 Statistics

Statistics from the hunting season November 1st 2022 to April 1st 2023.

Statistics in brackets include reported incidents from the cub hunting season running from August until the start of the hunting season in November.

General Overview

Incidences of a hunt suspected to be illegally hunting: 361 (526)

Individual incidents of hunt havoc: 621 (841)

Hunt havoc/illegal hunting occurred in 47 (50) different counties

Number of hunts involved in illegal hunting or hunt havoc: 108 (122) (out of circa 170 fox hunts)

Number of reports of a fox being visibly pursued: 315 (400)

Reported kills: 24 (33)

Reported suspected kills: 16 (24)

Hunt havoc

Road interference: 129 (183)

Railway trespass: 7 (8)

Other trespass: 180 (220)

Livestock worrying: 55 (80)

Domestic animal worrying: 22 (29)

Chasing other wildlife: 60 (64)

Sett interference: 43 (57)

Horse and hound welfare: 40 (64)

Public mental distress: 38 (52)

Conduct of the hunting party: 47 (84)

County Breakdown

Five counties with the most combined incidents of hunt havoc and illegal hunting (Nov 2022 to April 2023)

Gloucestershire: 90    55 incidents of hunt havoc, 35 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Dorset: 88 55 incidents of hunt havoc, 33 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Yorkshire: 67     43 incidents of hunt havoc, 24 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Somerset: 66     42 incidents of hunt havoc, 24 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Cheshire: 52              32 incidents of hunt havoc, 20 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Five hunts with the most combined incidents of hunt havoc and illegal hunting (Nov 2022 to April 2023)

South Dorset Hunt: 49                           34 incidents of hunt havoc, 15 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Blackmore and Sparkford Vale: 43         24 incidents of hunt havoc, 19 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Duke of Beaufort: 38                              25 incidents of hunt havoc, 13 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Warwickshire Hunt: 36                           23 incidents of hunt havoc, 13 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Flint and Denbigh Hunt: 32                    19 incidents of hunt havoc, 13 incidents of suspected illegal hunting

Reports of a fox being visibly pursued by hounds in the top five counties

Gloucestershire: 31 (39)

Dorset: 29 (48)

Somerset: 24 (30)

Yorkshire: 22 (26)

Cheshire: 17 (18)

Find out more

Take a look at our work against trail hunting, shooting, snares, dog fighting, greyhound racing, mink hunting, and more.