Hunting Act 2004 - Statement of Intent and Guidance

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Grove & Rufford Hunt on 9 February 2005, the following was adopted: “The objects of the Hunt are: to breed and maintain a pack of foxhounds in order to hunt foxes with hounds; to assist in controlling the fox population in the Hunt country at a sustainable level; to engage in equestrian activities with hounds and otherwise; and to organise social events. These activities are to be conducted only as permitted under the laws of England.” Under the Act, and as long as the Act remains in force, foxhunting as previously carried out will no longer be legal. The Committee of the Hunt has issued the following clarification and guidance to assist farmers and landowners, mounted and foot followers and the police and public. They are basically unchanged from last year and the year before.

When will hounds meet in the forthcoming season?
Hounds will meet from early September for organised hound exercise each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 7am in September and 8am in October. Hounds will be exercised out of covert and lines will be laid in covert and through root and fodder crops. Into October line hunting out of covert as described below will begin. The Opening Meet will be on Tuesday 26 October, the traditional start of the season, and thereafter hounds will meet as usual each Tuesday and Saturday at 11.00. Dress up to the opening meet ratcatcher, thereafter hunting uniform. It is important that members of the public realise that meets are for the purpose of legal hunting, and do not waste police time reporting supposed breaches of the Act.

What form will legal hunting take?
Hounds will hunt one or more lines which will be laid by nominated members of the Hunt under the control of Pete White, the “Line Master”. The intention is to make the hunting as natural as possible and to make hounds work, both to find the initial line and to follow it. It is not intended to mimic drag hunting where a pre-agreed line is followed at speed over pre-prepared jumps – all mounted followers capable of following a traditional Hunt will feel welcome. As in traditional hunting, mounted followers should follow and take instructions from the field Master.

What happens if hounds hunt and/or kill a fox whilst the Hunt is engaged in legal hunting?
Defra guidelines state :“Innocent bystanders who witness an illegal hunt, farmers whose land is used against their will, or people, including those engaged in drag hunting, whose dogs chase and kill a fox against their wishes will not be guilty of a crime. This is because people will only be hunting when they themselves intend to pursue the quarry animal.” Whilst acknowledging that the courts and not Defra will interpret the law, the Masters and Committee feel entitled to rely on this, which is in line with independent legal advice. There are a number of important consequences for followers:
No follower, mounted or on foot, must holloa a fox in the traditional manner.
No mounted or foot follower should interfere with hounds. This includes neither encouraging nor attempting to stop hounds which it is believed may be hunting a fox. Followers are spectators at the Hunt who have neither the knowledge to tell whether hounds are hunting a fox or the artificial line, nor the technical ability to stop hounds. Hounds will become confused by “amateur” interference and are likely to do the opposite of what is intended. Hounds hunting a fox or “hareing” will be stopped by the huntsman and whips, or occasionally by others specifically requested to do so by the Master. A mounted or car/foot follower who finds himself alone with hunting hounds should stay with them and attend to safety considerations, particularly road crossings, and then await the arrival of the huntsman. Followers who obey the above instructions will not commit any offence under the Act.

What is the position of farmers and landowners?
Farmers and landowners commit an offence only if they knowingly allow illegal hunting on their land. As the Hunt is committed to engage only in legal hunting and Masters will request permission to come onto the land only for this purpose, it follows that by allowing the Hunt onto the land, they do not commit an offence, even if (which will not be the case) the Hunt were then to break the law by illegal hunting. Defra has confirmed that under no circumstance can entitlement to payments be affected, even were a landowner deliberately to commit an offence under the Act.

How will the Hunt fulfil its intention to assist in controlling the fox population?
The Act permits the use of two hounds to flush a fox to be shot, and also the use of terriers under certain circumstances. The Hunt will be offering to help control foxes for as long as the Act is in force by these means, and farmers and landowners with a fox problem are invited to contact the Kennels.