As part of the Hunting Act's pest control exemptions, farmers and gamekeepers can use up to two dogs to flush foxes from cover to be shot. This makes an important contribution to land managers' ability to control foxes. However, upland farmers have said that the two-dog limit is impractical on this terrain, which can be vast, difficult and often covered by woodland. They have asked for more flexibility, bringing the law closer to the position in Scotland.
The Government intended a debate and vote on fox hunting in 2015 but this was blocked. This situation is unlikely to change in the forseeable future.