Trail hunting will not resume on land belonging to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) after a senior huntsman was convicted of using the sport as a “smokescreen” for illegal fox hunting.

The Welsh Government environmental body, which manages large areas of land in the Welsh countryside, has chosen not to renew its Master Agreement with the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA).

As permissions for all trail hunting activity were covered by the MFHA agreement, including access only permission for Hunts that wished to cross NRW managed land, it has been decided to end all trail hunting activity.

Trail hunting includes the use of conventional hunt groups with horses and hounds following a scene along a predetermined route with the aim of hunt participants enjoying the activity without the death or suffering of other animals - such as foxes. Fox hunting has been banned in the UK for more than ten years.

The decision not to renew the agreement follows in the footsteps of the National Trust, whose members voted to impose a ban on trail hunting in late October.

However, the decision to end the agreement was suspended in November 2020 following a police investigation into webinars involving huntsmen discussing the practice.

According to NRW, in October 2021, MFHA director Mark Hankinson, was found guilty of encouraging the use of legal trail hunting as a screen to carry out the unlawful chasing and killing of animals.

Dominic Driver, Head of Land Stewardship for NRW, said: “We have carefully considered the court ruling and our role before coming to a decision at the Board meeting, which we held in public session. The Board has decided not to renew our agreement with the Master Fox Hounds Association.

“The outcome of the court case against a senior leader of the MFHA has resulted in a loss of confidence in the organisation’s ability to ensure its activities are carried out within the law and terms of its agreement.

“In order to assure ourselves properly that trail hunting on our estate wasn’t being used as a cover for illegal activity, we would have to invest in skills and resources that we currently don’t have, to police it properly. Given what has historically been a minor use of the land we manage, this does not represent good use of our limited resources.

“As all trail hunting was managed under the same agreement, all trail hunting activity on the NRW-managed estate will end with immediate effect.”

Despite support from animal rights groups like the RSPCA, it has been condemned by the Countryside Alliance who were present at the meeting where the outcome of an internal review of trail hunting was announced.

The Countryside Alliances director for Wales, Rachel Evans said: “We are concerned that the decision taken by NRW today is a purely political one, fuelled by the Welsh Labour Government’s ongoing attack on the rural way of life.

“This decision comes after a similar ban was implemented on game shooting, an activity which is incredibly important to the Welsh rural economy. It is indeed disappointing, but not wholly surprising that, NRW have again channeled the political wishes of the Labour government in Cardiff.”

The Countryside Alliance said that “although disappointing, the decision is not going to have an impact on a huge number of packs”.

It also said that it will continue to campaign for hounds to be permitted access to NRW land again in the future.

The Countryside Alliance also said that NRW confirmed that they are not aware of any packs that have applied for a trail hunting licence this year, with “just a couple of packs applying for a licence in 2020”.