The Duke of Buccleuch hunt in woodland near Selkirk in the Borders last year

Moves to tighten the law on foxhunting could lead to its demise, according to landowners who risk prosecution for any breaches by hunts using their estates.

After 16 years of Scotland’s ban on hunting with hounds, the Scottish government has responded to complaints from animal welfare campaigners that the legislation is ineffective and has allowed illegal hunting with dogs to continue.

Following a review by Lord Bonomy, one of Scotland’s most senior judges, a new proposal would place an onus on landowners to ensure that no one who uses dogs to stalk, search for or flush wild mammals on their land commits an offence — or else face prosecution themselves.

The umbrella group Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) said that making landlords liable for the