Fox hunting 'more popular' according to CA

[Ukwildlifeo]

The coutryside alliance have claimed more than 300,000 turned up at the traditional Boxing Day hunts.

Fox hunters claim growing support - Yahoo! News UK

Key quote from this is:

Mr Bonner said the Hunting Act was a "bad piece of legislation, apart from being passed for bad reasons", and said if the Conservatives won the next General Election the law would be changed. "It will take a change of government to change it. David Cameron has consistently said he will allow a free vote," Mr Bonner added. "At the very least next year will be the penultimate Boxing Day under the Hunting Act."

Something to look forward too

They should be closing the loop holes and fixing the problems with it, not taking us backwards

[The Woodman]

The local hunt appears to me to have as strong a following as ever. They have even openly advertised for a huntsman in the local paper this week.

I wonder why nothing appears to be done in respect of policing the Act generally. Ocassionally individuals get prosecuted under the Mammals Act but I get the feeling that if an organised hunt were to be interrupted by the Police, especially here in Cumbria , there would be wholesale disorder.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

The local hunt appears to me to have as strong a following as ever. They have even openly advertised for a huntsman in the local paper this week.

I wonder why nothing appears to be done in respect of policing the Act generally. Ocassionally individuals get prosecuted under the Mammals Act but I get the feeling that if an organised hunt were to be interrupted by the Police, especially here in Cumbria , there would be wholesale disorder.

There are a couple of reasons I've seen suggested. One is that when the law was passed, here was a bit of it that said any arrests and prosecutions would not count towards the polices figures so they have no motivation to do anything.

Throw in the fact many senior policeman are in the masons (who's first loyalty is to a fellow mason, not the law...) along with many of the hunt organisers and that the local chief of police is friends with or involved with the hunt, its no wonder the only people ive seen arrested are the hunt protesters (and the odd member of hunting staff, usually only then for attacking a protester)

[willing to learn]

I for one would be glad for foxhunting to return. Foxes would get a break from being shot poisoned snared and trapped on mass. Its made gamekeepers job a lot easier. Plus its another reason to keep well managed countryside.
Regards
Colin

[The Woodman]

I cannot think of any other activity where the participants have so much passion about what they do. For many who have hunted all their lives, having hunted with their fathers and their fathers before them, it has become more than just an opportunity to kill foxes.
I'm more than aware that this subject has been well and truly aired before and have no doubt that there will be many detractors but the truth is that there are people who care for hunting. I am not one of those but know those that do through the course of my work.
I'm also hesitant about persuing this thread but the comment has been made and from my observations here in south Cumbria it appears to be correct.
There is also nothing that divides class like hunting. The mounted shires packs dressed in their attire appear to me to cause an amount of resentment (I don't think that's the right word) that isn't present with the fell packs.
Fell packs usually have no mounted followers - except those who ride quad bikes - and from my experience comprise members of the farming community.
There is also a social aspect to the meet and for a few, it is a rare occasion when they can meet other like minded individuals to talk about more than hunting.
Go to any provincial livestock market and see what I mean. A man who works long hours for little reward in some remote Lakeland valley enjoys the chance to converse with his fellows whether it be at the market or at the hunt meeting.
It's very easy to complain about hunting for whatever reason. My words here are not in praise or complaint of hunting but try to convey the deep passion for it from what I've seen and heard from those involved and perhaps why it is becoming more popular.

[Tony O-P.]

If they wanted to stop "THE TOFFS" killing foxes, rather than ban dogs they should have thought about banning it from horses! Cn you imagine those overweight out of condition class climbers struggling to keep up ! ! !

Then farmers in the lakes would still be able to go about the job as they have down for hundreds of years. They are not Southern puffs but follow the hounds on foot. Cheers, Wassail, etc, Tony

[Vectisbirder]

Time to renew my League Against Cruel Sports membership, I think...

[postie]

Can anyone explain something that confuses the heck out of me about fox-hunting??

What do foxes do that is so terrible that they need to be controlled?

OK, they might bother some sheep, or kill some chickens, I guess that is one reason. BUT, don't foxes also kill rabbits? Which I thought would be doing the farmer a favour...

I'm not a bunny-hugger or anything :lol: , and I'm not against most forms of hunting. It just seems so pointless to hunt and kill something that is not only inedible, but might be doing a service to farmers by controlling the pests like rabbits, mice and rats.

[Deerhunter]

Originally Posted by postie

Can anyone explain something that confuses the heck out of me about fox-hunting??

What do foxes do that is so terrible that they need to be controlled?

OK, they might bother some sheep, or kill some chickens, I guess that is one reason. BUT, don't foxes also kill rabbits? Which I thought would be doing the farmer a favour...

I'm not a bunny-hugger or anything :lol: , and I'm not against most forms of hunting. It just seems so pointless to hunt and kill something that is not only inedible, but might be doing a service to farmers by controlling the pests like rabbits, mice and rats.

I can help you with this......

Foxes need to be controlled because they kill lambs. Not all of them, just some.

You are right foxes also kill rabbits. It is good to have some foxes around.

But even the foxes can't keep up with the rabbits some years.

[Deerhunter]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

The coutryside alliance have claimed more than 300,000 turned up at the traditional Boxing Day hunts.

Fox hunters claim growing support - Yahoo! News UK

Key quote from this is:



Something to look forward too

They should be closing the loop holes and fixing the problems with it, not taking us backwards

In what way do you think they should close the loop holes?