A notorious fox hunt has been accused of rampaging through the Scots countryside terrorising foxes with a pack of hounds – despite a landmark ban on the blood sport.
It’s claimed huntsmen pursued foxes with bloodhounds in the Houston area of Renfrewshire last Saturday under cover of an official NatureScot fox control licence.
Campaigners said the incident “made an absolute mockery” of Scotland’s new, supposedly watertight ban on fox hunting that came into effect in October 2023. Activist group the Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs captured footage of what they claimed were “multiple hunting offences” carried out by members of the Lauderdale Hunt – including a pack of dogs chasing a terrified fox over open countryside.
Controversially, the new legislation allows for fox control licences to use packs of dogs in “last resort” circumstances such as to protect livestock, but strict animal cruelty guidelines must be followed. However, critics have long warned this could be yet another loophole for huntsmen to exploit – after an earlier 2002 ban was deemed ineffective.
Foxhounds are led through countryside in the video posted by the Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs
The Record exclusively revealed last year how more than 40 licences had been issued in the first six months of the new ban – but just two of these were monitored for compliance by NatureScot. Some three quarters of these licences were for packs of dogs of 20 or more. We also told how the infamous Lauderdale Hunt, based in the Scottish Borders, had obtained a licence.
Now, we can reveal members of the Lauderdale travelled some 100 miles last weekend to Houston, Renfrewshire – formerly the stomping ground of the notorious Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Foxhounds hunt which folded last year. Images from Glasgow Hunt Sabs show a fox running for its life into woods, chased seconds later by a pack of hounds.
The group claimed no shooters were in position to dispatch foxes once they were flushed out of hiding, as is required under legislation. And huntsmen refused to call hounds back once they hared off after the fox, despite shouted pleas from the activists to do so.
Video taken by activists shows a fox running
Footage taken by activists shows dogs running
Glasgow Hunt Sabs say they don’t know the fate of the fox, and also claim the hunt later moved into three other woods. In a statement, the group said: “We were in total shock to see the hunt go into the first wood with no shooters in position and start hunting. We know under licence that strict conditions need to be adhered to.
“To us, this was making an absolute mockery of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023. But when these hunts aren’t being monitored by NatureScot, then why wouldn’t they do what they really want to do – chase foxes?
“In fact, when NatureScot do bother to monitor these hunts, they are given prior notice. It’s a joke. NatureScot say that these licences must only be given out in exceptional circumstances when all other avenues of fox control (ie: putting up fences) have been exhausted.
“However, in this instance a huntswoman travelled almost 100 miles to a new area and moved between multiple woods over a vast area. Were all of those woods marked on the licence?”
They added: “The simple fact is, we are the only people monitoring these hunts and they are acting just like they did before.” Police Scotland and NatureScot have been made aware of the incident.
Anti-blood sports groups suggested those involved should face prosecution and have their licence revoked. Robbie Marsland, Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “This footage appears to show a pack of foxhounds chasing a fox.
“Whatever excuse those involved come up with, chasing foxes is exactly what the new law banned. We are confident that NatureScot and Police Scotland will treat any law-breaking with the seriousness it deserves.
“We look forward to hearing that the individuals concerned will never again get anywhere near a license and will also likely find themselves facing charges of illegal hunting in a Sheriff’s Court.
“There is a small group of people in Scotland who seem determined to continue this odious so-called sport. It’s past time they recognised that they simply can’t get away with this kind of behaviour in Scotland anymore.”
One of those at the scene in Renfrewshire
Rowan Hughes, spokesperson for the UK-wide Hunt Saboteurs Association, added: “We thought Scotland was leading the way for the country in relation to blood sports, setting an example to England and Wales. But actually, it seems that hunts are deliberately being allowed to break and bend the rules wherever they are.
“This is yet more evidence that licensing is not working and needs to be changed. The only solution at this point is an all-out ban – without one, hunting will clearly continue.”
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A new ban on hunting with dogs came into effect last year which it was hoped would be watertight – placing a two-dog limit on hunts unless a special licence is sought strictly for reasons such as protecting livestock or wildlife. When packs of dogs are used under licence to flush out foxes or other wild mammals from an area, NatureScot guidance states: “Once the wild mammal breaks cover, the dog handler must recall their dogs and the wild mammal should be dispatched by a legal means as soon as reasonably possible, or allowed to escape.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm that a complaint has been made following a fox hunt in the Renfrewshire area on Saturday, January 4, 2025. Enquiries are at an early stage.”
A NatureScot spokeswoman said: “We are aware a complaint has been made to Police Scotland.”
Since the new ban, the Lauderdale Hunt, established in 1910, claims to have pivoted to cruelty-free hunts where bloodhounds chase human runners instead of foxes – so-called “clean boot hunts”. The Lauderdale Hunt has been approached for comment.
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