Trophy Hunting - Option Three is not an option

In November, Defra launched a consultation into trophy hunting that posed four options. One proposal – Option three – was a complete ban on all hunting trophies entering or leaving the UK. On reading the document I was in absolute disbelief that this has snuck its way into the consultation and outraged that Defra has allowed it.

Option three comes without a clear definition of trophy hunting. As a result, it could have devastating impact on the future of shooting. It seems that no one has paused for thought and considered the far-reaching impact on even a non-shooting community.

Without a clear-cut definition or a whole host of derogations, Option three will impact billions of pounds worth of trade and go far beyond the intentions of this consultation. Take the everyday leather belt for example. Crafted as an animal by-product that could come from a hunted or farmed species, will Option three restrict the import and export of a simple leather belt?

This throwaway proposal, that was surely only placed there to appease the loud cries from animal rights’ extremists and wayward celebrities, has set the hares running and placed Defra down a dangerous and unchartered path.

Away from the multiple unintended consequences Option three would cause, the notion of banning UK exports of hunted species places the debate on the front doorstep of the shooting community and BASC. Shooting tourism in the UK is of vital importance to the rural economy, and implementing unnecessary restrictions only places its future at significant risk.

With the animal rights lobby staring upon on an open goal, they are making full use of their renewed optimism that ‘all’ trophy hunting will be banned. Lobbying efforts supporting Option three stench of sensationalism and anthropomorphism that has the potential to cause untold damage to British shooting.

Defra will say that the options presented fit an array of opinions and not all of them will be taken forward. However, by allowing Option three to even be tabled has given the antis a platform to further publicise their campaign and set an unnecessarily high bar for any future consultation.

Trophy hunting however, you wish to define it, is understandably a controversial topic. On the one side you have got the short and sweet argument that all hunting is cruel, on the other side you have a myriad of long-winded counter arguments that describe the benefits from sustainable hunting. Add into the mix an extreme minority calling for bans and potentially graphic pictures of hunters smiling next to their quarry, and the topic of trophy hunting quickly becomes bread and butter for the tabloids.