Fox Hunting

[scavenger]

Can anyone tell me why do people kill fox's?. What damage do they do to the country side?

[Brains]

HI Scavenger

essentially, foxes do little damage (take some lambs, take some chickens and other birds), certainly not enough to warrant the persecution they've suffered over the years. Hunting foxes has never been a major part of population control as not enough were ever killed this way; it is, and always has been, about people enjoying themselves. I have many beefs with the way the hunting ban was introduced, but on thewhole am glad that the basic legislation is there - even though it's full of holes

Brains

[haddonite]

Originally Posted by Brains

HI Scavenger

................ glad that the basic legislation is there - even though it's full of holes

Brains

......so many holes, it makes it almost impossible to police!

Neil

[RobF]

Foxes are a major predator of ground nesting birds, some of which are schedule 1 species, Hen Harriers for example.

Many conservation bodies control foxes on the quiet.

Rob

[Kayleigh]

Peolpe who keep chickens have said that foxs chew the legs off most of the birds in the coop and leave them for dead. The fox does't take them for food. But don't cats kill for the sake of it too. They don't get hunted down.

[PhilBriggs]

There is a very common misconception that fox’s will enter a chicken coup, kill all the chickens and take only one. Yes the fox will usually kill them all, but left to its own devices will return to eventually take all the chickens which are then buried or stored for leaner times. Usually after the initial commotion, the owner of the chickens are alerted, have a pot shot at the fox which is then afraid to return. Hence’ they kill all and take only one’

And members are correct in relation to the hunting bill. Its a complete waste of time and as a cop on the ground, cannot enforce it. We had the legislation with regards hunting with dogs in Scotland a year before the legislation came into force in the rest of the UK. To my knowledge only one case has got as far as court and was subsequently thrown out due to the loopholes. The only good thing with regards the legislation is that it has given us more powers in relation to hare coursing.

Phil

[Brains]

Originally Posted by RobF

Foxes are a major predator of ground nesting birds, some of which are schedule 1 species, Hen Harriers for example.

Many conservation bodies control foxes on the quiet.

Rob

HI Rob

that may well be true in some areas - and I have no problem with predator control where it can be shown to be necessary - but the 'hunting' of foxes, as we understand that term today, is another matter. That has always been said to be about predator control, but has never really been so. If foxes need to be controlled, then shoot them. But demonstrate that it's necessary first!

Brains

[pheonix]

fox hunting is a traditional way of controlling a predator that would come and take all of your chickens if it had the chance, and if those chickens were your lively hood would you do it? it stems from a time when it was neccercary, though foxes will still take fowl and lambs given the chance.
it annoys me when people say that it is just for fun, people having fun and a good ride out comes as a by product of the initial task.
as for shooting them - get a good clean shot on a fox so that it dies quickly and dosnt suffer? the chances are very slim
although it may not be pleasant at least when hounds catch a fox it is quick, and although there are other methods of control are they actually better for the foxes welfare? anyone i know that goes shooting would never shoot a fox (unless it was the aim to control foxes eg on a farm).
if you go out shooting you shoot at any fox.. if hounds are out they may only catch the old, ill or weak, therefore aiding the population.
if you go shooting there is no set time when you can kill a fox, what happens to the cubs when the vixen gets shot?.. if you hunt foxes they respect their breeding times and give them an unofficial close season.

all in all it may not be 'nice' but in my head the plus points far outway the minus points....

[Jonny]

I am not in favour of fox hunting, I do not like the thought of mr fox getting ripped up by a pack of dogs, but saying that, I am not in favour of the government saying to the hunt (who have been hunting for eons) no, you cannot hunt anymore. Think I will stop there..................Jon (on the fence)

[SteveA]

Please stop regurgitating this nonsense phoenix; if a fox kills livestock, it's usually down to poor husbandry.

"they respect their breeding times and give them an unofficial close season" - where does 'cubbing' fit in then?

And hunts that operate in the cereal growing districts with no stock to 'protect' from foxes that they themselves import?

People having a ride out and the rural jobs they support are the only plus points.