Badger Trust supports the proposed changes to the Hunting Act, which continues to have a significant impact on badger setts across England and Wales. Despite guidance from their own representative body, the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), recommending the withdrawal of terriermen and associated activities, the majority of fox hunts continue to block badger setts.
One of the key roles of a terrierman is to block holes and other potential escape routes to prevent a fox from going to ground when pursued by hounds. This practice routinely results in the illegal blocking of badger setts. A fox will instinctively seek safety underground when chased by a pack of hounds, making sett blocking integral to traditional fox hunting practices.
The blocking of badger setts for hunting purposes was banned on the introduction of the Hunting Act 20 years ago. However, this has been ignored, and sett blocking is carried out on virtually every hunting day by terrier men across the country.
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