Fox Hunting

Do you have a view of fox hunting with dogs?

I will comment later.

Fox-hunting is the greatest sport on God’s green earth
Boxing Day hunts are a highlight of the year for those who love the beauty of our countryside

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Stuart Radbourne, master of the Avon Vale Hunt, toasts after gathering in the village of Lacock in Wiltshire for the annual Boxing Day hunt. Photo: Steve Parsons/PA
Looking for lobsters on the Essex coast
Chef Francesco Mazzei will do anything to create the perfect dish, including travelling to Colchester for blue lobster
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By James Delingpole6:43PM GMT 26 Dec 2015Comments885 Comments
I spent Boxing Day out hunting. I came home caked in mud, legs like jelly and half-cut on a mixture of sloe gin, cherry brandy and Whisky Mac. And as usual I offered up two silent prayers of gratitude – the first for my having survived another suicidal day in the saddle; the second for my good grace in having discovered – albeit rather late in life – the greatest sport on God’s green earth.
Everyone who hunts knows this. It’s why, 10 years after it was rendered supposedly illegal, the sport remains at least as popular as it ever was, whatever Tracey Crouch says. According to the latest research, some 80 per cent of hunts have either held on to their supporters or recruited new ones since the Hunting Act came into effect. As one of those new recruits, I can tell you why this is: because once you’ve tried it quite simply nothing else will do.
"Horses are herd animals and like nothing better than to hang out with a crowd of mates – especially if it involves galloping at reckless speeds..."
Hunting is so brilliant because it combines so many of the things that make life worth living: the matchless beauty of our countryside; the camaraderie of shared danger; the glamour of a mobile cocktail party; the spirit of a warehouse rave; the application of hard-won skills; the escapist joy of living purely in the moment; the thrill of the chase; dressing up in fabulous costumes; rampant sex and passionate affairs (well, apparently).
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Of all these, what I’ve come to enjoy most is the relationship you have with your horse. I don’t come from a riding background; I used to dislike horsey people. Once you’ve been out hunting, though, you get it totally. Your survival – it’s quite a dangerous sport – depends almost entirely on the wildly unpredictable, almost uncontrollably powerful beast between your legs. The bond between you during the four or five hours of a hunt is so intense it’s like becoming one united creature: no longer human and horse; more like a centaur.

And the weird thing is, your horse is even more up for it than you are. Horses are herd animals and like nothing better than to hang out with a crowd of mates – especially if it involves galloping at reckless speeds and flying over hedges. When horses in a field see a hunt go past or even hear a horn or the “music” of the hounds, they go almost insane with excitement.
The people who want to ban hunting – including celebrities such as Ricky Gervais – claim to be animal lovers. But in my experience, the people who love animals best – because they understand them so deeply – are the ones involved in hunting: the kennel man who cares for the pack of 40 hounds (never “dogs”); the huntsman who can think like both fox and hound and can marshal his pack like a battle fleet; the terrier men on their quad bikes; the riders and their cherished mounts.
Children: I haven’t yet mentioned them but I must for they are one of hunting’s greatest joys. Rosy-cheeked pony clubbers in ties and hacking jackets, vying, fence for fence with the adults. There’s no other activity on earth where children and adults can compete and bond on equal terms – same hardships, same risks, same buzz. Truly it’s a pleasure to watch.
"If, on occasion – whoops! – the hounds do chase a fox, things get rather exciting."
Then, of course, there’s the fox. It’s a complete misconception that hunting people hate foxes, let alone that they take pleasure when – only by accident, of course, these days – the fox gets despatched by the hounds.
Charlie (as he’s known) may be a pest and a villain but he’s also the hero. The fox that meets his maker after a 10-mile point (not that this happens these days; we can but dream) will live forever in the hunting hall of fame. (Which is more than can be said for the many thousands of foxes who die each year in the slower, more “natural” way of disease and starvation.)
If, on occasion – whoops! – the hounds do chase a fox, things get rather exciting. When you learn to ride there are all sorts of sensible rules about safety you follow: don’t jump when it’s too muddy or hard; don’t gallop round tight bends. But following fast-moving hounds gives you licence to ignore them all.
Afterwards, it feels a bit like it must do when you’ve survived a battle. Everyone’s amazed to be in one piece; you feel an extraordinary bond with those who have shared the experience. People who were strangers an hour before now feel like your oldest, most intimate friends.

Hunting has a reputation for exclusivity. But it’s really not the case: you can do it too, if you want. Admittedly the horse hire and the kit and the “cap” don’t come cheap but what I mean is it’s not necessary to be the world’s greatest rider (I’m not) or even to be able to jump (there are always gates). The only things you do need are an appetite for speed and a steady nerve (though the booze does help) and a love of life. Perhaps you’ve left it a bit late to be ready for the hunt on New Year’s Day. But Boxing Day 2016 – why not? You’re not getting any younger…
James would love to hear from any hunts or any hunting folk who would like to assist him with his book Mr Delingpole's Sporting Tour (James@jamesdelingpole.com)

Foxhunting should be 'consigned to history', says sports minister
Tracey Crouch restates opposition to repealing Hunting Act, as poll shows 83% think ban on hunting with dogs should continue

Foxhunting is a “pursuit for the past” that should be “consigned to history”, the sports minister has said, as an estimated 250,000 spectators turned out to watch Boxing Day hunts across the UK.
Tracey Crouch suggested that parliament has “better things to be concerned with” than fulfilling the government’s pledge to hold a vote on repealing the Hunting Act.


Top Tory leads rebellion against relaxation of foxhunting ban

Read more

A recent survey suggests that more than 80% of the public oppose legalising hunting with dogs again, after it was banned in England and Wales by the Labour government in 2004. The Conservatives’ 2015 general election manifesto promised to “give parliament the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a government bill in government time”.
An attempt to relax the law was abandoned earlier this year after the SNP signalled that it would join Labour and Tory opponents in the division lobbies, rather than abstaining because the change would not affect Scotland.
Crouch is a patron of the Conservatives Against Fox Hunting group, known as Blue Fox, and in a statement issued through it she said: “Foxhunting is a pursuit from the past and like the overwhelming majority of the population I believe that is where it should stay, consigned to history. I believe that the legislation as it stands today requires better enforcement, and parliament has better things to be concerned with than bringing back hunting foxes with hounds.”


Tracey Couch is a patron of the Conservatives Against Fox Hunting group, known as Blue Fox. Photograph: Nick Ansell/PA
The survey by Ipsos Mori, conducted on behalf of the League Against Cruel Sports (Lacs), found 83% of respondents thought the ban should continue – 84% in rural areas and 82% in urban areas.
Opposition to legalising foxhunting has risen from 72% in 2008, according to Lacs. Director of campaigns, Tom Quinn, said: “We have a lot of new information about what people think about hunting and none of it is good news for the small but obsessed minority who want to kill animals for fun.
“Opposition to legalising foxhunting is higher than it has ever been. We believe this reflects that as a nation the vast majority of us are repulsed at the thought of killing animals for sport.”
Longstanding foxhunting opponent, Sir Roger Gale, Tory MP for North Thanet, said: “Support for the hunting ban among Conservative MPs has snowballed over the past year and is now at an all-time high,” he said. “In the early days, I was one of very few Conservative voices speaking out against foxhunting. The recent increase in numbers of Conservative MPs who have now come out publicly against the repeal of the Hunting Act means that any attempt to repeal the act at this stage is doomed to failure.”
Shadow environment secretary, Kerry McCarthy, said it was “absolutely clear that the British public do not want to see a return to hunting with hounds”.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/26/foxhunting-should-be-consigned-to-history-says-sports-minister


Anyone found to be taking part in this ILLEGAL activity, should be hunted down by a pack of dogs until they are exhausted, then ripped apart by them.

I'm ashamed to say I really don't care.
There are so many other far more important things to worry about in the world that foxes rate so far down the list as to be non-existent for me.

I like animals, sure, but isn't this a way of keeping down "vermin"?
Are foxes still considered vermin to farmers etc?

Fox hunting with or without dogs is a good employer, many would be out of work if they did not work in the countryside.

It can't be a good employer - FOX HUNTING IS ILLEGAL AND IS GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

It's barbaric. Same as tiger poaching, bull fighting, whaling etc, and should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Remember these are living creatures, being torn apart in the most god awful way- FOR FUN!

Not because they are vermin.
Not to protect chickens.
Not to keep down numbers (at which it is ineffective at anyway).

For fun. Some humans dressed like peacocks say ride around on horses thinking they are some legendary Greek huntsman or something.

It is disgusting. It should remain banned. It should not be allowed to waste parliamentary time even bringing it up a relaxation of the ban in the commons

Eilzel wrote:It's barbaric. Same as tiger poaching, bull fighting, whaling etc, and should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Remember these are living creatures, being torn apart in the most god awful way- FOR FUN!

Not because they are vermin.
Not to protect chickens.
Not to keep down numbers (at which it is ineffective at anyway).

For fun. Some humans dressed like peacocks say ride around on horses thinking they are some legendary Greek huntsman or something.

It is disgusting. It should remain banned. It should not be allowed to waste parliamentary time even bringing it up a relaxation of the ban in the commons

+ 1,000,000

eddie wrote:I'm ashamed to say I really don't care.
There are so many other far more important things to worry about in the world that foxes rate so far down the list as to be non-existent for me.

I like animals, sure, but isn't this a way of keeping down "vermin"?
Are foxes still considered vermin to farmers etc?

Eddie, if you ever saw it happen, you'd be against it.  I had a friend traumatised by being 'bloodied' as a child.  A hunt also ripped apart a much loved cat belonged to a friend of my Mum, and another friend of theirs (a farmer) threatened to shoot them if they trampled on his crops again.

sassy wrote:It can't be a good employer - FOX HUNTING IS ILLEGAL AND IS GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

I mean it is a GOOD EMPLOYER for those it EMPLOYS or they would be out of a job.

How many 'meets' have you been to??????????

Stormee, get it through your head.  It's barbaric, it's not coming back, it's ILLEGAL and 85% of the population, INCLUDING COUNTRY PEOPLE, are against it and despise it.

I have to say this statement that 80% of people are against Fox hunting is pie in the sky, i'v never been asked, neither has any one else I know. This is a figure that's pulled out of the air by anti-hunters. Most people, if the truth was known, could not give a toss about it, it's something that they don't think about. The Media always bring it up on Boxing Day, it makes good tv to show people on their horses dressed up in hunting clothes, makes people think,"look at those snobs. Total bollocks, most of them are ordinary people,[Coal miners for example]. Lets get it clear, they may be torn apart as some people put it, but the first hound or two that reaches it will bite the neck and kill it instantly! Saying all that i'm not fond of it myself but would not stop others from doing it. [can't call it a sport though].

No it isn't.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fox-hunting-poll-reveals-74-6066347

The MIRROR is a labour supporting paper, the SUN is a Tory one. I don't believe everything I read in either one. I respect you opinion, please respect mine. We will agree to differ, ok?

Nicko, sorry but it's not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of fact.  Poll after poll by different pollsters has shown that the majority of the country do not want fox-hunting re-introduced.

The poll being quoted by The Mirror wasn't done by them, it was done by the BBC.  And I fail to see what it being a 'Labour paper' has to do with it, as the majority of Conservatives are against fox-hunting as well.

sassy wrote:

VICTOR! How did you get such a lovely photo of 'em, sassy?

I am against fox hunting.

It inflicts barbaric levels of cruelty and suffering onto the fox that anyone who claims to care about animals and supports this should be deeply ashamed of themselves!

I care about cruelty and barbaric treatment of Human Beings. BUT, WHY IS IT when I see pictures of little children suffering I think, what a bloody shame. But when I see pictures of animals suffering I sometimes get something in my eyes

If one owned 40/50/60 chickens, ducks or similar and Charlie got at them in your pen the chances are most would die and he would maybe carry one/two away and bury them, it is a awful massacre to behold.

A stray dog may do the same... but they are not subjected to the same brutality as a fox by hunting it with a pack of hounds and horses. ..


If one did have chickens or ducks then they should ensure adequate barriers and fences are in place as protection.



However the foxes diet largely consists of other animals and insects that are troublesome to farmers...


The red fox eats a wide variety of foods. It is an omnivore and its diet includes fruits, berries and grasses. It also eats birds and small mammals like squirrels, rabbits and mice. A large part of the red fox's diet is made up invertebrates like crickets, caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles and crayfish... and rats...

Stormee wrote:

sassy wrote:It can't be a good employer - FOX HUNTING IS ILLEGAL AND IS GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

I mean it is a GOOD EMPLOYER for those it EMPLOYS or they would be out of a job.

How many 'meets' have you been to??????????

It's barbaric. It isn't designed to cull foxes and it's not a sport either....it just gives fat arsed countryfolk a cheap thrill to see an innocent creature ripped limb from limb.
It's absolute bollox to say the hounds would had to be put down, they were/probably still are in some parts bred for the purpose.
Whats wrong with chasing a false scent anyway.....or if some have to have blood lust the scent of one of their own.....I might even ride on that chase.

Syl wrote:

Stormee wrote:

I mean it is a GOOD EMPLOYER for those it EMPLOYS or they would be out of a job.

How many 'meets' have you been to??????????

It's barbaric. It isn't designed to cull foxes and it's not a sport either....it just gives fat arsed countryfolk  a cheap thrill to see an innocent creature ripped limb from limb.
It's absolute bollox to say the hounds would had to be put down, they were/probably still are in some parts bred for the purpose.
Whats wrong with chasing a false scent anyway.....or if some have to have blood lust the scent of one of their own.....I might even ride on that chase.

Tally Ho !!!!!!!!

On a fox hunt day more often than not Charlie evades the hounds.

Oh whoopee doo, it's only terrified and exhausted, so that's ok then!!!  FGS!!

Stormee wrote:On a fox hunt day more often than not Charlie evades the hounds.

You love your foxes....are you playing devils advocate here?

Syl wrote:

Stormee wrote:On a fox hunt day more often than not Charlie evades the hounds.

You love your foxes....are you playing devils advocate here?

You know me Syl.,

I do have a attachment for Charlie but I also like to inform the uninformed, those who do not know much about them without googulin.

Stormee wrote:On a fox hunt day more often than not Charlie evades the hounds.

Lucky them... but irrelevant to the levels of cruelty and suffering inflicted on the ones who don't get away.


All the arguments for this brutal pursuit are deeply flawed and easily shown to be waffle.

sassy wrote:

eddie wrote:I'm ashamed to say I really don't care.
There are so many other far more important things to worry about in the world that foxes rate so far down the list as to be non-existent for me.

I like animals, sure, but isn't this a way of keeping down "vermin"?
Are foxes still considered vermin to farmers etc?

Eddie, if you ever saw it happen, you'd be against it.  I had a friend traumatised by being 'bloodied' as a child.  A hunt also ripped apart a much loved cat belonged to a friend of my Mum, and another friend of theirs (a farmer) threatened to shoot them if they trampled on his crops again.

But don't foxes kill cats and pet rabbits? P
And what about bullfighting? Isn't that barbaric too?

Oscar Wilde wrote,

"The unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable."

Have any of you ever fed and watched foxes?

Tommy Monk wrote:I am against fox hunting.

It inflicts barbaric levels of cruelty and suffering onto the fox that anyone who claims to care about animals and supports this should be deeply ashamed of themselves!

Great shout,Tom.
Our local hunt were sued for trespassing over private land and causing considerable damage.
3 sheep were also killed by worrying from the dogs.
The hunt paid out a lot of damages and were subsequently disbanded as the members were banned from the village shop and local pub.
And the sabateurs caused absolute mayhem towards the end.

If and when foxes need controling it should be done by a man with either a shotgun (at suitable ranges) or a rifle sufficient for the job (something not less than .22 winchester magnum round)

and they are NOT cute cuddly fluffy things, they are dirty disease ridden vermin, mostly full of fleas tick and mange(the are also viscious)

their diet includes lambs...one fellow on my permission had 3 until he met 46grams of BB at 15 yards

he was to all appearences fit and healthy

but on examination proved to be infested with the above ..   I bagged him, sealed him up and slung him in the farmers incinerator....and itched for 3 days......

OH and that bloke with those 3 in that photo, wants shooting along with them foxes....
(technically he's breaking the law .....I'll leave you to figure out why)

and YES Stormee...they are indeed "vermin"

Lord Foul wrote:If and when foxes need controling it should be done by a man with either a shotgun (at suitable ranges) or a rifle sufficient for the job (something not less than .22 winchester magnum round)

and they are NOT cute cuddly fluffy things, they are dirty disease ridden vermin, mostly full of fleas tick and mange(the are also viscious)

their diet includes lambs...one fellow on my permission had 3 until he met 46grams of no5 at 15 yards

he was to all appearences fit and healthy

but on examination proved to be infested with the above ..   I bagged him, sealed him up and slung him in the farmers incinerator....and itched for 3 days......

OH and that bloke with those 3 in that photo, wants shooting along with them foxes....
(technically he's breaking the law .....I'll leave you to figure out why)

and YES Stormee...they are indeed "vermin"

No he's not, he's in Ireland lol

sassy wrote:

Lord Foul wrote:If and when foxes need controling it should be done by a man with either a shotgun (at suitable ranges) or a rifle sufficient for the job (something not less than .22 winchester magnum round)

and they are NOT cute cuddly fluffy things, they are dirty disease ridden vermin, mostly full of fleas tick and mange(the are also viscious)

their diet includes lambs...one fellow on my permission had 3 until he met 46grams of no5 at 15 yards

he was to all appearences fit and healthy

but on examination proved to be infested with the above ..   I bagged him, sealed him up and slung him in the farmers incinerator....and itched for 3 days......

OH and that bloke with those 3 in that photo, wants shooting along with them foxes....
(technically he's breaking the law .....I'll leave you to figure out why)

and YES Stormee...they are indeed "vermin"

No he's not, he's in Ireland lol

depends on their animal welfare laws then...note I did say "technically"

and being in ireland doesnt make him any less of an idiot....

Lord Foul wrote:If and when foxes need controling it should be done by a man with either a shotgun (at suitable ranges) or a rifle sufficient for the job (something not less than .22 winchester magnum round)

and they are NOT cute cuddly fluffy things, they are dirty disease ridden vermin, mostly full of fleas tick and mange(the are also viscious)

their diet includes lambs...one fellow on my permission had 3 until he met 46grams of BB at 15 yards

he was to all appearences fit and healthy

but on examination proved to be infested with the above ..   I bagged him, sealed him up and slung him in the farmers incinerator....and itched for 3 days......

OH and that bloke with those 3 in that photo, wants shooting along with them foxes....
(technically he's breaking the law .....I'll leave you to figure out why)

and YES Stormee...they are indeed "vermin"

If you are shooting foxes with a shotgun the better way is for them to be driven towards standing guns to ensure a higher outright kill rate.

It can also be do standing on the back of a moving Landrover type of vehicle but you need to be close enough.

A scoped rifle from the back of a stationery Landrover type is a good method with a powerful lamp, squeaking Charlie up is a good ruse but you do need something above a standard .22 calibre bullet.
IMO a .243 der rifle is the better option.

.22 wmr is quite sufficient up to 80-100 yards

.243 is over powered on my permissions..(not that I would mind having one   )

shotgun from MOVING vehicle...????? Is that even LEGAL??? (hint...read the general licence)

the one I got was a lone marauder...

no need to drive him ...bait and wait...

Talking about Foxes. This morning I was up at 3.30am, made a cup of tea, sat down and heard loud hissing from back garden, opened curtain and saw young cat standing with fur raised facing large Dog fox. Old cat who was asleep on couch instantly shot across room and through cat flap and with no hesitation leaped at the fox and went straight for his throat. By the time I got the door open Fox was fleeing down the road with cat after him. Meanwhile young cat had ran into living room and was standing on top of bookshelf trembling. After about 5 min's old cat returned spitting brown hairs out of mouth.If I had not got up that early young cat could have been killed! Old cat will have tin of Tuna later!

Good one old cat!

For 'Old Cat' it's all in a day's work. Ya gotta reward him right now, so's he knows what it's for.

He polished off a medium tin of Tuna, and, he left a bit for young cat! I never thought this would happen, old cat"scruff" is a neutered male 10 yrs,
young cat Mitzie is a 2yr old spayed femail, [have I got that right?] any how, they are lying together on couch, never done that before, amazing!

Lord Foul wrote:.22 wmr is quite sufficient up to 80-100 yards

.243 is over powered on my permissions..(not that I would mind having one   )

shotgun from MOVING vehicle...?????  Is that even LEGAL??? (hint...read the general licence)

the one I got was a lone marauder...

no need to drive him ...bait and wait...

Bait and wait is OK if you do not have other means at your disposal.

I like to stand with 12 bore plus Alphamax 5s and have Charlie driven by beaters towards me.

Also I like to stand on the back of a Landy with a lamper and powerful lamp scanning for their eyes and then calling them. With a .243 you can get them farther away when they stop.

We have plenty of deer around hear.

I could tell you some stories.

yep I would agree with you stormee...a .243 will give you greater range, but i like to be 100% sure.

also my permissions are in the main flat as a witches tit with small-is  fields and a lot of hedges...

so charlie usually meets his maker at around 60 yards with the WMR

lets face it...if you cant get within 60 yards ..its time to stop stalking charlie

If I get a lamp shy one ..I use 900nm 940nm infra red...which they cant see... (the normal 830nm they can to an extent) Or I will use a light amplifier like a yukon(but I dont like them...too much swaping and changing and rezeroing of tele's)

never had one get up and walk off yet...

my favourite tactic is to sit up a tree and eat my supper....charlie usually turns up at the point I'm pouring scalding hot coffee whilst balancing the cup on my leg....

The geeza who issues licences in this area has just retired and shoots at night with my son, he is mega strict. My son has far too many guns, a waste of money as he sticks with favourites.
We got the blacksmith to make us a shooting perch/ chair and climbing aid all in one, at the moment it is situated just on the outside of a spinney facing open fields, you can see for miles.
A friend has a magnificent herd of fallow deer on his estate but only shoots those which are showing signs of ailing. Rarely are they seen from the road but they are a fabulous sight which cost hima fortune to look after. .

http://www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/file/Hunting_for_Kids.pdf

I've given my opinion on hunting with dogs many times, and it hasn't changed. I find it quite strange how some people go on about it as if it's still legal. I hope that any "accidental" fox hunting with dogs will be investigated. It's a bit stupid to boast about that kind of thing on the internet.

It appears the police turn a blind eye Miss Ragga, it is more than difficult for them to actually get to the 'kill', you need to know the land, terrain, have a special vehicle and be able to get through locked gates, the gamekeeper and or his assistant are the only ones usually driving on an estate on hunting day, too dangerous.

Stormee wrote:It appears the police turn a blind eye Miss Ragga, it is more than difficult for them to actually get to the 'kill', you need to know the land, terrain, have a special vehicle and be able to get through locked gates, the gamekeeper and or his assistant are the only ones usually driving on an estate on hunting day, too dangerous.

Well done to the hunt monitors who manage to get evidence without getting into trouble themselves. Also, if someone is openly admitting that the dogs go after foxes re a particular hunt, clearly the police have a duty to investigate.

I reckon plod has been told to look the other way and have a few pints in the local, yes it does happen