There is zero tolerance for wildlife crime in the National Park. Dartmoor National Park Authority are actively engaged with Devon and Cornwall Police through the Dartmoor Rural Crime Initiative and with other statutory bodies such as Natural England to ensure that those who commit a wildlife crime are prosecuted.

Dartmoor National Park Authority does support legal activity on our land (just over 1% of the National Park) and through our rangers and the general public ask that any illegal activity is reported to Devon and Cornwall Police.

The Hunting Act 2004 made it illegal to hunt wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales. This law does not apply to trail hunting where the group  follow a scent along a pre-determined route instead of a live animal.

All hunting activity must accord with the provisions of the Hunting Act.

The hunting rights on Dartmoor are almost exclusively in private ownership. The majority of hunting activity on Dartmoor is facilitated by private landowners who provide individual consents.

Officers of the Authority meet with the hunts and landowners on an annual basis. We also work closely with Devon and Cornwall Police as the relevant law enforcement body for this area.

The Authority owns approximately 1% of land within the National Park. On our land we licence activities that are in accordance with the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004  to  ensure any activity is legal and responsible.