Trail hunting will be banned in England and Wales as part of a new animal welfare strategy to be published by the government on Monday.
The practice involves leaving an animal-based scent trail for dogs to follow in lieu of an actual animal, while a group of hunters follow the pack on horseback.
It remains legal since the 2004 hunting ban came into effect, because it does not explicitly involve the killing of animals.
However, the government, which has made a clear commitment to implement the ban, says the practice is being used as a “smokescreen” for hunting wild animals.
Hunting with dogs has been a tradition in some parts of the UK for centuries, but the Hunting Act 2004 placed restrictions on the practice.
The law prohibited the use of dogs to hunt wild mammals (including foxes, hares, deer and mink) in England and Wales.
Trail hunting involves laying out a trail using a rag soaked in animal scent that dogs can chase. The intention is to replicate the chase through the countryside, without the need to kill animals.
In April, the anti-hunting group League Against Cruel Sports said nearly 1,600 incidents were recorded nationwide during the last hunting season, including 397 reports of fox persecution.
Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner said revisiting the issue of trail hunting was “completely unnecessary”.
He said: “It is incredible that the government wants to waste more parliamentary time on the hunt.
“This issue was resolved 20 years ago as far as the Labor Party is concerned, but they don’t seem to be able to leave it alone.”
Bonner also spoke about Labour’s relationship with rural voters, adding: “People across the countryside will be surprised that after Labour’s attack on family farms and its neglect of rural communities, they think banning trail hunting and trapping used for fox control is a political priority.”
The British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) has previously said that trail hunting is “vital” for rural communities as it not only brings money into the rural economy but also supports physical and mental wellbeing.
One farmer told the BBC: “I would be rejected if I publicly rejected hunting.”
They added that banning trail hunting “reinforces the narrative that [Labour] “They don’t care and are imposing urban values on people who don’t understand.”
Ministers will consult on the details of the ban in the new year.
Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said the government would begin work on implementing the plans.
“In our manifesto we said we would ban hunting on trails, and that is exactly what we will do.
“There is concern that trail hunting is being used as a smokescreen for wildlife hunting, and that is not acceptable.
“We are working on the best approach to take the ban forward and will hold a consultation to seek views in the new year.”
Trail hunting is already banned in Scotland. Hunting with dogs remains legal in Northern Ireland.
