Although The Hunting Act has been law since 2004, and still is to this day, many organised hunts are illegally taking place. Dogs are still used to kill wild animals under the name of trail hunting. This is where a urine scent is used for the dogs to follow and if those dogs begin to follow the scent of a live fox and attack it, it is only said to have been an “accident”. Part of the hunting act allows them to take dogs to areas where they know foxes are living. 
Drag hunting is the process of using bloodhounds to search for a human runner. This method never uses an animals scent and is not used in areas where foxes are likely to be. This makes for less “accidents” during drag hunting and more during trail. 
That is why we believe it should be law for dogs used (whether it be drag or trail) to be muzzled throughout. This will hopefully prevent any dogs attacking foxes and those who used unrestrained dogs will be prosecuted as they have the intent to harm. 

Dogs used for flushing purposes to get an animal out of a den or set must also be muzzled. Falconers often use hounds to flush animals from their den and send a falcon to chase the animal. However, in most cases the Falcon never has its hood removed and the animal is left for the dogs to chase and attack.

The current laws make it all too easy for people to find loopholes and evade prosecution. These hunters who believe they are above the law and think no one can stop them need to understand the law will get tighter until their cruel pastime is abolished for good.