Somerset has been named the third worst county in England and Wales for fox hunting, according to shocking new data from The League Against Cruel Sports. Between August 2025 and March 2026, campaigners say hunters were seen chasing 55 foxes across the county.
In addition to the fox chases, the group recorded 94 incidents of what they term ‘hunt havoc’ in Somerset during the same period. These incidents involve hunting groups disturbing local communities—blocking public roads, trespassing on railway lines, threatening livestock, and sometimes displaying violence towards the public.
These figures emerge as the UK government consults on banning trail hunting. Although fox hunting was outlawed in 2004, trail hunting—where dogs follow a pre-laid scent—is still legal. Activists claim that trail hunting is often exploited as a cover for illegal fox hunting.
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Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “These startling figures show that the brutal blood sport of fox hunting is still rampant in Somerset despite the legal ban. This highlights the urgent need for stronger legislation to protect wildlife."
She urged locals to participate in the government’s consultation to help bring fox hunting to an end for good.
Nationally, the League recorded 488 reports of foxes being pursued and 1,220 cases of hunt havoc over the same period. Only 23 of the 624 monitored hunt meetings (just 3.7%) presented evidence of a trail being laid. Yet, even during those 23 events, 22 foxes were still chased, underscoring concerns over the legality of many hunts.
Calling for decisive action, Emma Slawinski added, “The time for change is now. Trail hunting must be banned, legal loopholes closed, custodial sentences introduced to deter offenders, and measures put in place to address reckless or ‘accidental’ hunting. Let’s transform Somerset from a fox hunting hotspot into a blood sports-free zone.”
The government’s consultation on banning trail hunting in England and Wales, launched in March 2026, is set to close on Thursday, June 18, 2026.