You might be able to lie through your teeth, manipulate the media and fool the foolish, but you can’t influence the entire internet. And that means nobody, however powerful, can bend AI to their will. We asked three popular AIs to help us prove that ‘trail hunting’ exists, and the results were damning. Whatever hunters say, whatever hunts do, the truth shines through: they don’t lay trails, they still hunt foxes.
Here’s what DeepSeek, ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot have to say about the UK’s scandalous ‘trail hunting’ smokescreen. Read it and weep, hunters. In a post-truth world, AI tells it like it is.
The ugly truth about fox hunting’s ‘trail hunt’ claims
So we asked each AI the same question: In the UK fox hunts claim to be ‘trail hunting’, but in fact they still hunt foxes. There is a lot of evidence proving they hunt but I can’t find any evidence to prove trail hunting. Can you help me find out if trail hunting exists?
This is what DeepSeek says:
A: Yes, I can help you investigate the claims around “trail hunting” in the UK and whether it is genuinely practiced or used as a cover for illegal fox hunting.
Background: Trail Hunting vs. Fox Hunting
Fox hunting (with dogs) was effectively banned in England and Wales under the Hunting Act 2004, which made it illegal to hunt wild mammals with dogs, except under strict exemptions. Trail hunting was introduced as a legal alternative, where hounds follow an artificial scent (usually aniseed or another non-animal-based lure) laid along a pre-determined trail. Hunts claim this mimics traditional hunting without harming animals.
Evidence That Trail Hunting May Be a Smokescreen for Illegal Fox Hunting
Despite claims by hunts that they follow artificial trails, multiple investigations and court cases suggest that many hunts still deliberately chase and kill foxes. Here’s some key evidence:
- Leaked Webinar from the Hunting Office (2020) – In November 2020, The Hunting Office (which oversees fox hunts) held a webinar where senior hunt officials discussed how to create “plausible deniability” if caught hunting foxes. They talked about using trail hunting as a “smokescreen” and how to avoid prosecution. Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) investigated, but no charges were brought due to insufficient evidence of a conspiracy.
- Convictions and Investigations – Several hunts have been prosecuted for illegal hunting under the guise of trail hunting. Examples: Mark Doggrell (2016) – A huntsman for the Fitzwilliam Hunt was convicted after being filmed chasing a fox. Exmoor Foxhounds (2022) – A member was convicted after a fox was killed during a “trail hunt”. The RSPCA and League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) have documented multiple cases where hunts were observed chasing foxes despite claiming to be trail hunting.
- Lack of Genuine Trail Laying – Investigations by anti-hunting groups (e.g., LACS, Hunt Saboteurs Association) have found that many hunts do not lay a visible or consistent scent trail. Hounds are often seen searching randomly (as in live hunting) rather than following a pre-laid trail. Dead foxes are sometimes found near hunt meets.
- Hunts Claiming “Accidents” – Hunts frequently claim that if hounds kill a fox, it was an “accident” (allowed under the Hunting Act if “reasonable steps” were taken to avoid it). However, multiple cases show hunts failing to call hounds off foxes quickly, suggesting intent.
Is Trail Hunting Ever Genuine?
Some hunts may legitimately follow trails, but evidence is scarce compared to the number of reported fox kills. The Hunting Office’s own webinar suggests that many hunts see trail hunting as a loophole rather than a true alternative.
Where to Find More Evidence?
- League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) reports and undercover footage
- Hunt Saboteurs Association direct monitoring of hunts
- RSPCA Investigations and prosecution records
- Media Investigations
Conclusion
While hunts claim to be trail hunting, substantial evidence suggests that many still intentionally hunt foxes and use “trail hunting” as a legal defence. The Hunting Act’s loopholes and weak enforcement make it difficult to prosecute, but video evidence, convictions, and leaked discussions strongly indicate widespread deception.
This is what MS CoPilot says:
A: You’re absolutely right to question it. Trail hunting is a deeply controversial and contested practice in the UK. While hunts claim to follow artificial scent trails laid by humans, multiple investigations and expert testimonies suggest that trail hunting is often used as a smokescreen for illegal fox hunting. Here’s what the evidence shows:
What Trail Hunting Claims to Be
- A legal alternative to fox hunting, introduced after the Hunting Act 2004 banned hunting wild mammals with dogs
- Involves laying a scent trail (often animal-based like fox urine) for hounds to follow, supposedly without targeting live animals
- Supposed to differ from drag hunting, which uses non-animal scents and follows a predetermined route
Evidence Against Its Legitimacy
- Leaked webinars from the Hunting Office in 2020 revealed senior hunting figures describing trail hunting as a “smokescreen” to avoid prosecution
- The League Against Cruel Sports found that trail laying was observed in only 3% of monitored hunts, and genuine trail hunting in just 0.04%
- Court cases have shown hunts using trail hunting as a legal defence when caught chasing live animals
- Police officials, including Chief Superintendent Matt Longman, have acknowledged that trail hunting is often used to mask illegal activity
Investigative Reports
- The Trail of Lies report by IFAW is one of the most comprehensive studies, analyzing over 10 years of data, court records, and field evidence. It concludes that trail hunting is largely a fabricated practice
- Protect the Wild and Hunt Saboteurs Association have documented numerous instances where no trails were laid, and hunts proceeded as they did before the ban
Parliamentary Debate
In April 2025 MPs debated trail hunting and many called for its ban, citing overwhelming evidence that it’s used to circumvent the law.
Conclusion
So does trail hunting exist? Technically, yes, it’s a concept. But in practice, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that it’s rarely, if ever, genuinely carried out. Instead, it’s widely regarded as a legal loophole exploited to continue traditional hunting under the guise of legality.
This is what ChatGPT says:
A: There is such a thing as trail hunting in the UK, a legal activity in which a scent trail (traditionally fox urine) is laid, and hounds follow that artificial trail rather than a live animal, originating after the Hunting Act 2004 to replace traditional fox hunting.
Controversy: Does it really exist?
In support of trail hunting’s existence, organizations like the Masters of Foxhounds (through The Hunting Office) promote it as legal, explaining that hound handlers must stop the chase if a live animal is detected. Trail hunting is still formally allowed and regulated by landowners (Forest England, National Trust, Natural Resources Wales), though many have paused or banned it amid ongoing concerns.
Evidence suggesting trail hunting is mostly smokescreen:
- Leaked webinars (Nov 2020): Mark Hankinson (then MFHA director) and others openly advised on how to use trail hunting as a “smokescreen” for illegal fox hunting. E.g: “it’s a lot easier to create a smokescreen if you’ve got more than one trail layer operating…”
- Investigations by League Against Cruel Sports and Hunt Saboteurs report that only 3% of observed hunts actually lay a scent trail; most hounds instead inevitably pick up real fox scent
- Police support this view: Asst. Chief Constable Matt Longman stated trail hunting is frequently used as a defence in successful prosecutions under the Hunting Act
- Landowners are reacting: Following arrests and the leaked reports, several major landowners have banned or suspended trail hunting on their estates
Summary
Trail hunting exists legally in name and definition—it’s not an entirely fictional practice. But, mounting evidence suggests it is often a cover for illegal fox hunting, with trails rarely laid, and hounds frequently ending up on live quarry. The leaked admissions and statistical monitoring strongly support this interpretation.
The writing is on the wall for hunting’s cynical ‘trail hunt’ lie
You can rely on one AI to find and reveal the truth. Three AIs prove the point beyond any possible doubt. We rest our case. ‘Trail hunting’ is a fiction.
