Hunting

Hunting was banned in Scotland in 2002 and England and Wales in 2004. However, these bans have not been properly enforced, the attempts to eliminate or weaken them continue, and hunting is still legal in Northern Ireland.

Click on the menu above to read information about our anti-hunting campaigns.

Mink Hunting

Mink are medium-sized river-dwelling animals, similar to otters and ferrets, and the ones found in the UK are native of North America. They are non-native to the UK but were introduced here in the 1920s by fur farmers, before either escaping or being released into the wild to form colonies. Mink spend up to 80% of their time in their dens, sleeping, grooming and eating food they have carried home.

Hunts began to target mink after their initial quarry, otters, were depleted in numbers and it become illegal to hunt them since 1978. Unlike otters, mink have small territories (less than a mile of river bank) so once they have been spotted by the hunt they tend not to go far. Mink hunting is banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004 as it bans the hunting of wild mammals with dogs (regardless if they are native or not), but we believe it still continues.

Sign our petition to stop the killing of animals by hunts

What is mink hunting?

During a mink hunt, the hounds are followed on foot as they walk or swim along riverbanks while the mink frantically attempt to escape. The huntsmen controlling the hounds often carry a long stick. There is an official hunt uniform consisting of jacket, breeches tucked into long socks and boots, plimsolls or hockey boots as footwear.

Once scented, the mink is chased before being caught or escaping underground or up a tree. If caught, the mink is pulled apart by the pack. Mink below ground are dug out and killed or bolted by a terrier so it can be hunted again by the hounds. Once in full swing the hunt goes up and down the river in a small area chasing the mink from one refuge to another which can last up to two hours.

In addition to the cruelty to the mink, hunting on the riverbanks can cause disturbance to other river dwelling species including otters.

In 1980, the mink hunting packs were recognised by the British Field Sports Society, and then they formed their own association. Mink packs which were formerly otter hunts tend to have more otter hounds, and normally hunt at their traditional meets.

Contrary to most other types of organised hunting that take place in winter, the mink hunting season usually runs from April to early October, and takes place along rivers and streams where the mink live.

There are 17 registered mink hunts in England and over 20 unregistered packs. They each keep between 12 and 16 hounds. Although the main type of hound used is the otterhound (which is a shaggy looking breed about the size of German Shepherd dogs), a pack of mink hounds could be drawn from other types of hounds.

A mink on the grass looking at the camera

Mink trapping

Some believe that mink, as a non-native species, are detrimental to river ecosystems in this country, and are a ‘pest’, although it could be argued that in fact mink are just replacing other native predators such as otters which have now disappeared in many regions, partly because of hunting. The UK government offers advice on how to trap mink.

Regardless of whether mink is an invasive species or has already been naturalised enough in the UK ecosystems to be considered part of them, the League believes that mink should not be hunted for sport, and if the species needs controlling then hunting with dogs should never be used, as we believe this is an inhumane method of wildlife management.

The League believes that mink should not be hunted for sport.

How can I help stop mink hunting?

Contact your MP and ask them to urge their party to keep and strengthen the hunting ban
Join one of our supporter groups to help us raise awareness that mink hunting still takes place
Share this page on your social media

DONATE TODAY JOIN THE LEAGUE

Find out more

Read our The Case against Hunting report
Read our report The conservation problems of hunting with dogs
Read Prof. Stephen Harris' report The impact of hunting with dogs on wildlife and conservation
Read Hunting with dogs: past, present but no future
Read The Burns Report: Hunting with Dogs, which contains more detailed evidence on the suffering of hunted animals

Latest

Fox hunting figures show the scale of the killing

The shocking scale of fox hunting still taking place in the British countryside 14 years after the blood sport was banned has been highlighted by a new set of figures.
Shooting under pressure in Wales

Read the latest from our Senior Public Affairs Officer, Bethan Collins, as she gives the latest in Wales describing how the shooting industry is under increasing pressure.
Trophy hunting is exploitation, not conservation

Following Saturday's march for the survival of wildlife, our Regional Campaign Manager, Emily Lawrence describes the disturbing reality of trophy hunting as it happens here in the UK under our very noses.
Calls for permanent hunting ban on National Trust land

Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports is calling on the National Trust to turn hunt licence suspensions into permanent bans at three of its properties.

Global dog fighting network exposed

Our courageous undercover investigators, together with the BBC, have exposed the cruel world of dogfighting.

DONATE
Horse racing

Race horses are being fatally injured on a regular basis at race-courses all over the UK. The high numbers of injuries and fatalities of horses involved in horse racing has led many to call for the most gruelling races to be banned.
Hare Hunting and Hare Coursing

Much of the debate over hunting with dogs focuses on foxes, yet hares and deer are also traditionally hunted in a similar way. In fact, before the Hunting Act was passed, one third of hunts in Britain targeted brown hares with packs of beagles, basset hounds and harriers.
Greyhound Racing

The hidden side of greyhound racing includes dogs kept for long periods in lonely kennels, painful injuries from racing and training, illness and neglect. Shockingly, thousands of surplus dogs die or disappear every year. The League believes dogs should not suffer or die for entertainment or for the profit of the dog racing industry.
Bullfighting

Bullfighting is perhaps the most well known spectator “sport” involving the killing of animals for entertainment. It has already been banned in most countries, but each year tens of thousands of bulls are maimed, tortured and killed for entertainment across the world.
Trophy Hunting

Trophy hunting is the stalking and killing of wild animals with guns or bows and arrows with the purpose of obtaining part of the animal as a trophy. This multi-million pound international industry not only takes place in countries like Africa, but also in the UK.
Badger Cull

Thousand of badgers have being killed by the UK government in the ‘badger cull’ since 2013. Help us stop the unjustified and inhumane slaughter of a protected species.
Snares

A snare is a thin wire noose set to trap animals which some people view as being a pest or threat, usually foxes and rabbits, but also other animals, including pets. In their desperate struggle to escape, animals may be strangled or suffer horrible and life-threatening injuries, or a lingering death.
Deer Hunting

Deer hunting is less well known than fox hunting, but while currently only three registered hunts chase red deer with hounds in England, this practice inflicts some of the greatest cruelty wild animals suffer at the hands of people.
Trail Hunting - The Truth

Hunting mammals like foxes, hares and deer is illegal in the UK. Many people however remain confused when they hear terms like ‘trail hunting’, ‘drag hunting’ and ‘exempt hunting’. This page explains what these terms mean.

Working for the League

As a team, we share the same passion – to stop animal cruelty in the name of sport. We are a tight knit team and we work hard within a fun, relaxed environment. We also offer something many employers don’t – an office full of friendly dogs!
Fox Hunting

Hunting was banned in England and Wales in 2004, but the law has never been properly enforced, and attempts to weaken or repeal it continue. The hunting law in Scotland is weak, and hunting is still legal in Northern Ireland.
Hunting on National Trust Land

Many people have been shocked to learn that illegal hunting is taking place on National Trust land.
Foxes

Foxes use 28 different vocal calls to communicate, and often form a pair that lasts for life. Foxes wag their tails to greet family members - just like dogs. More fox facts here!
Why The League

Hurting and killing animals for ‘sport’ is one of the principal causes of animal cruelty in the UK: tens of millions suffer and die each year for ‘leisure’ activities. We’re here to protect those animals.
Bullfighting

Bullfighting is perhaps the most well known spectator “sport” involving the killing of animals for entertainment. It has already been banned in most countries, but each year tens of thousands of bulls are maimed, tortured and killed for entertainment across the world.
Stand up for animals Join the League

Help stop animal cruelty in the name of sport.
JOIN
Strengthen the Hunting Act

The Hunting Act 2004 is the law which bans chasing wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales – this basically means that fox hunting, deer hunting, hare hunting, hare coursing and mink hunting are all illegal, as they all are cruel sports based on dogs chasing wild mammals.
Greyhound Racing

The hidden side of greyhound racing includes dogs kept for long periods in lonely kennels, painful injuries from racing and training, illness and neglect. Shockingly, thousands of surplus dogs die or disappear every year. The League believes dogs should not suffer or die for entertainment or for the profit of the dog racing industry.
Dog Fighting

Dog fighting as a ‘sport’ was banned in 1835, as even then it was considered barbaric. But this horrific form of dog abuse continues.
It's time to take a stand against dog fighting.