You should report it to your local police station with the details of those organising and participating in the hunt. You should also, if possible make those involved in the hunt clear that you have not granted them permission to use your land as it is an offence to knowingly allow your land to be used for hunting.
No, it is the hunting of any wild mammal with dogs that is banned. Hare and deer coursing are also now offences under the new legislation. The exceptions to this rule are rabbits and rodents.
Foxes can still legally be controlled by certain methods as long as it is carried out by an authorised person. For more advice speak to a Police Wildlife Crime Officer or local pest control firm.
Fox hunting is illegal; it was banned by the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.
There are exemptions in that Act to allow certain types of pest control; please see the link in Related Information for details.
Hunts invented the activity of trail hunting after the hunting ban came into force. This is a non-lethal sport where the hunt follows a pre-laid trail rather than chasing a fox.
If you believe a hunt is using trail hunting as a cover for illegal hunting, this can be reported to your local police force. Every division in Police Scotland has a Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer and there is also a network of part time Wildlife Crime Officers across the force.
These officers can be contacted to report crime or to seek advice on wildlife crime matters. Call Police Scotland on 101 to report a wildlife crime or email Contactus@scotland.pnn.police.uk .
If an illegal hunt happens on public land, you may wish to raise a formal complaint. Hunts may only use Scottish Forestry land under a strict licence. Breaching that licence can mean the hunt are no longer allowed to use that land. Similarly, conservation bodies such as the National Trust Scotland, Woodland Trust or local charitable trusts or parish councils will take a dim view of law breaking on their land and may remove any 'sporting rights' they have given the hunt.
