Hunting has effectively been stopped on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land, with the issuing of licences to hunts currently suspended.
In a Freedom of Information request seen by the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) last week, the MOD confirmed that 11 hunts had applied for licences to use MOD land for so-called ‘trail hunting activities’ ahead of the new hunting season, but that no licences had been issued.
Further, in an article in the Telegraph on 12th September, an MOD spokesperson confirmed that no licences would be issued until the outcome of a ministerial review was clear.
In the same statement, the spokesperson said that the Government was elected on a mandate to improve animal welfare, including by banning ‘trail hunting.’
This follows campaigning from the HSA and work on the ground by local sab groups in recent years, including a focus on the Royal Artillery Hunt who hunt on the Salisbury Plain Training Area, and the Sennybridge Farmers Hunt on the Sennybridge Training Area in Wales.
A HSA spokesperson said:
“It’s high time that hunts were stopped from using MOD land, and we eagerly await confirmation that no future licences will be issued for the smokescreen that is ‘trail hunting’ – which has resulted in animals being hunted and killed on MOD land up and down the country.”
“The HSA now calls on the Government to call time on the remaining hunts that are kennelled on military bases – freeloading at the expense of taxpayers and allowing them to carry out their cruel pastime.”
Support our vital work by becoming a member.
We are the only organisation that works directly in the field to save wildlife through direct action.
