Former Hunt Master Adapts Practices Amidst Ongoing Controversy and Calls for Further Bans

“There’s only so many times you can turn a deaf ear to being called murdering scum,” remarked Byron John, a former fox hunt master, with a smile. He delivered the comment light-heartedly, a common manner when addressing sensitive and emotionally charged subjects. Despite nearly two decades passing since the prohibition of fox hunting with dogs, Mr. John states he remains engaged in a “fight for survival” to preserve aspects of the activity he cherishes. Conversely, Dafydd Hughes’s struggle takes a different form: for 14 years, he has tracked hunts across north Wales, aiming to disrupt them and exert maximum effort to abolish hunting in all its manifestations. The practice of hunting has evolved significantly from its historical execution. Mr. John informed BBC Wales Live that for the past ten years, he has advocated for a hunting method where hounds pursue a human runner instead of a fox. Other hunting groups have embraced trail hunting, which involves dragging a scent-soaked rag, such as one imbued with fox urine, along a path for the hounds to track. This method is designed to mimic hunting without animal fatalities, though detractors assert it can serve as a “smokescreen” for actual illegal hunting. Last year, the Scottish government prohibited trail hunting and restricted the number of dogs used in hunts to a maximum of two without a license. Mr. John now expresses concern that a potential ban on trail hunting by the UK government could compel him to disband his Three Counties Bloodhound group. The UK government declared its possession of “ambitious plans to improve animal welfare.” In the mid-2000s, shortly after the ban was enacted, Mr. John served as the leader of the Carmarthenshire Hunt in rural west Wales. This position, which he had aspired to since childhood, was one he progressively recognized he could not maintain. He commented, “In the run-up to the ban it very much felt that it was a class war.” He further added, “You felt you were doing a pest control job for the farmer. But there are other ways in place now of doing that.” Concluding, he stated, “The world is changed.” The period following the ban has been characterized by unpleasant, occasionally violent, confrontations between hunting groups and saboteur organizations, who allege that hunts are violating the law. These saboteur groups frequently endeavor to employ the hunts’ own equipment against them, acquiring replica horns and whips to attempt to divert the hounds. Certain saboteurs contend that existing legislation has proven ineffective and have consequently undertaken efforts to halt the hunts themselves. Dafydd Hughes declared, “I’m at the point where it needs to be a complete ban on all types of hunting, simulated or not.” He has dedicated the last 14 years to tracking hunts throughout the north Wales countryside. Initially, he distributed leaflets on high streets as a member of an animal rights organization. However, a particular incident prompted him to adopt a more direct approach, as he recounted: “We were approached by one of the hunters from our local hunt who started shouting abuse and saying what a great day they’d had killing foxes the week before. “So, the week after, just the three of us turned up at that hunt.” In contrast to many saboteurs, the 46-year-old, Dafydd Hughes, does not conceal his face and willingly participated in an on-camera interview. He stated, “I presume the hunts absolutely hate us. We ruin their day. You’ve got to try to keep a cool head though. It’s not easy to join a sab group – and it shouldn’t be. You have to interview people who want to join, you don’t want troublemakers.” Mr. Hughes, who was previously convicted of assault for pushing a hunt supporter, acknowledges that violent occurrences are possible. However, he affirmed that the groups make efforts to screen prospective members for “red flags.” He explained, “We’ll check out their social media and things. We need people who are interested in stopping fox hunting, not people who want to come out and fight.” Mr. Hughes expressed his belief that numerous hunts had “already folded” and experienced “membership down” in recent years. In 2012, Mr. John decided to step down from his hunt, having lost faith that the ban would ever be reversed. Subsequently, one Christmas, while his partner was visiting family, he impulsively acquired a pack of bloodhounds. He currently possesses 41 of these dogs, which he has trained to track human scent. He commented, “I was having a taste for what else could be done, another way forwards.” Following research into available alternatives, Mr. John established the Three Counties Bloodhounds, a group that engages in “clean boot hunting.” He clarified that this practice involves participants dressing in “all the strange gear” and utilizing dogs and horses in a manner highly similar to fox hunting, with the key distinction that the hounds are trained exclusively to follow human scent. He remarked, “We keep finding these absolutely eccentric people, who want to run ahead of a pack of hounds.” The seasoned hunter stated his belief that their method represented the optimal approach for “keeping tradition alive,” yet conceded that the “older generation” views him as “a Judas” who has “sold out.” He observed, “We get it from both sides.” He further opined, “I think in every form of life or any activity or any passion, there’s going to be extremes.” Mr. John explained that his group instructs its runners, who are employed by the hunt to evade the dogs, to steer clear of badger and fox dens, along with any other wildlife that might be disturbed. However, he expressed concern that insufficient public understanding could result in their hunt being prohibited if the UK government revises the law once more. Mr. John remarked, “There have been so many instances of law breaking [by hunts].” He added, “It’s been brought to the forefront by social media. We feel that everyone gets tarred by the same brush and it’s not good. We feel the hostility and I think it’s unfair.” A spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance stated that the organization believes the existing Hunting Act is effective, with any prosecutions for unlawful hunting serving as evidence. Rachel Evans, representing the Countryside Alliance in Wales, asserted that saboteurs have “no place” in rural areas. She further commented: “The tactics that the hunt saboteurs are using, trying to disrupt the day, such as using sprays and loud noises and hunting horns even – that can distract the hounds from their work. Then the huntsman has to concentrate to pull them back in line and keep them out of danger. The saboteurs obviously have no regard for the welfare of horses and hounds.” A spokesperson for the UK government declared: “This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation – that is exactly what we will do.” They added, “We will ban trail hunting that allows for the illegal hunting of foxes, deer, and hares.”