Hunting on land without permission

P

Polos Mum

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 September 2012
Messages
6,381
Location
West Yorkshire
Visit site
Possibly not the right place to ask but struggling to find anything elsewhere - my neighbour is at the end of his teather with our local hunt coming over his land when he has expressly and specifically asked them not to, he's not anti hunting but thye cause a lot of mess (25 hounds and 30+ horses today at full pelt through the middle of 3 cropped fields today)

I keep suggesting he talks to them and repeats his request for them not to use the land when it's wet but he wants to get the law involved - any sensible middle ground suggestions?
 
I think it is possible to get something, an Injunction? But that is going to be costly as it is a civil matter, not anything that police would be interested in. And then there is the problem of enforcement. He could sue for damages too, if he could prove it. But how much actual damage has been done?

The best thing would be to telephone the Master and give him/her a blast.
 
Padlock the gates?

I hunt regularily and we are always made aware of land we are NOT to cross - occasionally hunds will run amok and our huntsman will go on foot to retreive them.

As a landowner it might be an idea to contact the MFHA and lodge a complaint with them - I assume they would take very dim view on the actions of this hunt and take the issue up.

I would be very angry if this was my land and is sadly what gives hunts a bad reputation.
 
Last edited:
The best thing he can do is find out the name of the Chairman of the hunt and write him a strongly worded letter explaining that he doesn't want hounds or the field across his land and that despite his repeatedly saying this he is being ignored. Hopefully if he makes it clear that his next step would be to a solicitor the correct people will be told that they must not cross his land.
 
If they have gone through crops/damaged fencing they could be charged with criminal damage, so it would be a police matter.
I think firstly I would be ringing the master and having a serious chat, they don't do themselves any favours by behaving like this, something which they really should take on board more.
 
Sadly it's all agricultural land so no gate/ fencing - every time it happens he calls and gives them a clear and firm expression of his displeasure !! To no effect sadly.

There is no such thing as tresspass

Criminal damage requires proof of intent to cause damage - clearly this isn't their intent - just a sad consequence

I do appreciate a couple of staff to collect hounds but this was everyone today and through the middle of crops not even around the edge.

Maybe a bill might make them remember next time?
 
Reminds me of the photo posted on here a couple of years ago. Lovely picture of the hunt riding across a field but ignoring a sign in the foreground saying something like ' Hunt do not ride across this land'.
 
I would suggest the fact they ride straight across the crops shows intent to cause damage, after all what else is going to happen in this weather!! Plus surely those who live in the countryside understand about riding ROUND the crops!! Beggars belief. If they won't listen its time to involve solicitors.
 
Polos Mum said:
Not sure - I'd have thought so, would it make a difference if he didn't?
Click to expand...

Of course , if the sporting ( the rights to hunt and shoot game ) belong to someone esle they have the right to exercise them .
It's still bad manners though IMO.
If he's a tenant it's very common for the sporting rights to be exercised by the land lord and not be included in the tenancy,
 
Just what I was going to say Goldenstar. If he doesn't own the rights he may be as well contacting the landlord first.

And no such thing as trespass??? I think there is... Is a tort...
 
Some land do have covents on them for sporting right, do he own land or rent? It is common land as you say there are no gates? and they can't transpass? confused need to check deeds

I would defo go down the route of Chairman or MFHA, as he clearly expressed that the hounds are not welcomed, due crops. Normal hunt can't operate without landowner permission? so again confused I hope it does get resolved
 
Are you in Scotland, OP, to say there's no such thing as trespass? I know the right to roam is very much in force up there, but a field of horses and hounds is not on, surely?
 
Oh right sorry - he owns the freehold, holds shoots himself and lets people come on to shoot the deer so yep he owns the rights - there are no rights of way over his land either (footpaths or bridleways) , it's not common land - just typical in this area for land not to be fenced (crops tend not to wander off ;0) )

And again sorry to be clear - there is nothing the police will consider as trespass
 
The sporting rights can be split so he would need to be clear about that.
He needs to approach the chairman of the hunt directly .
I think MFHA has a code of conduct but don't know much about that I am afraid .
I know the hunt MrGS is on the committee of are very careful not to go where there are issues .
I am a member of the countryside alliance and when we had an issue with a wayward shoot they where very helpful in helping me get it sorted.
 
Thanks Goldenstar - the countryside alliance is a great suggestion

They are not allowed on the land either side and the next farm over either so I suspect this particular hunt is less careful rather than my neighbour just being unlucky.
 
I would suggest that he writes to the secretary of the hunt concerned and asks for a written reply acknowledging receipt of his letter and agreeing to comply with his request not to hunt across his land.

If this is not forthcoming then write a letter to the fox hunting association advising them of the less than courteous behaviour of this particular hunt and asking them to contact them and let him know the outcome.

They can then ensure that this hunt toes the line.
 
Is this a proper foxhound pack or a drag/bloodhounds pack and whereabouts are you as that depends on which governing body you could complain to; no good going to MFHA when it's a drag or bloodhound pack?
I echo to find out who the Masters and the chairman are plus the secretary and to ring them all up; if he has neighbours that hunt with them he should make his feelings made to them too as nobody wants unhappy neighbours; I know ours locally go out of their way to keep neighbouring farmers happy.
 
Dreadful manners on the hunt, fully deserve the repair bill. Even if the hounds stray that is no reason for the field to follow them through the middle of fields!

Where I am we have excellent relations with the local hunt, even though we don't allow them over our land. Luckily we can padlock all gates, but the hounds could get over the devon banks if they wished, but they are capably controlled by the hunt staff. Not only do they never trespass, they also let us know when they are hunting in the area which allows us to decide how to manage our horses.
 
OrangePepper said:
I would suggest that he writes to the secretary of the hunt concerned and asks for a written reply acknowledging receipt of his letter and agreeing to comply with his request not to hunt across his land.

If this is not forthcoming then write a letter to the fox hunting association advising them of the less than courteous behaviour of this particular hunt and asking them to contact them and let him know the outcome.

They can then ensure that this hunt toes the line.
Click to expand...

This.
 
Hunts dislike electric fencing- so I suggest he fences, with posts, not the little stakes, all around the land, and across into a few little paddocks- he ll never see riders on there again
 
And people wonder why riders and hunting gets a bad name in some areas !
It doesnt sound like there are shared sporting rights on the land, im pretty sure you'd be informed of this when buying.
I would be livid at this continuing, lets not forget, its not a one off, if this was my land I would expect full recompense to make things right. Why should the land owner who explicitly requests no hunt to pass over the land be out of pocket at his crops being trashed.
And why should he need to put up electric fencing to keep out people who really shouldnt be there.
A strongly wordrd recorded solicitors letter to the hunt master is the way to go with an enclosed bill for all damages and losses, as was suggested further up the thread
 
cornbrodolly said:
Hunts dislike electric fencing- so I suggest he fences, with posts, not the little stakes, all around the land, and across into a few little paddocks- he ll never see riders on there again
Click to expand...

He should not have to go to the trouble and expense to keep them off his land, while it may prove difficult to stop hounds at times there is no excuse for the field to gallop across the land if he has asked them not to go on it, the masters and hunt chairman should know where they are not welcome and the field master should be able to keep the field under control even if the huntsman needs to go and retrieve the hounds.
 
cornbrodolly said:
Hunts dislike electric fencing- so I suggest he fences, with posts, not the little stakes, all around the land, and across into a few little paddocks- he ll never see riders on there again
Click to expand...

He has around 250 acres I can't imagine the cost or time/ hassle of having to put up electric fence round the outside of it and make gates so he can get in and out where he needs to, and keep checking it as with all the wind we've had recently my wooden post and electric around 12 acres takes a bit of tidying up each morning!

Thanks all - I've got the name and number of the chairman for him and suggest he speaks to the MFHA and countryside alliance for advice - it's a shame because they are in other ways lovely to deal with - always e-mail to let everyone know they are in the area so we can keep horses in if needed and when I've collected a stray hound and called them to collect it they came over a few days later with a box of chocolates to say thank you.
 
Sounds like you are on the case, now. How incredibly rude of the hunt to ride over land which they have been specifically asked to avoid.

I have previously also written to the the editor of Horse and Hound naming and shaming a local hunt which I was having repeated problems with, and sent a copy of this communication to the hunt to show them that I meant business, and would not be fobbed off with yet more false, weasel words of reassurance.

Some hunts are their own worst enemies.
 
Never heard of anything like this! (Not saying its not true though OP!)
Is he quite timid? Dreadful manners from the hunt of course, but I know if my OH were to make a call like that he'd only have to make it the once...

Good luck with the mfha :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top