Dare I bring up hunting?

[Amanda3266]

Just seen a report in The Times about Hare coursing. It said that even though this doesn't usually start this early - an event took place so they could fit it in before the ban.(?!)

Okay - I can just about understand the reasons given for fox hunting. I live in the country and am surrounded by hunting, shooting and fishing folk. I don't necessarily agree with all they say and do but I don't interfere with them. Each to their own etc. However, just what is the point of hare coursing? As far as I can see it's just a lust for blood. It was reported in the Times article that anti-hunt protesters there were taunted with pieces of ripped up hare and bloody foxes tails. Real nice!

So are you for the ban? Or against it?

As a lifelong country dweller I am going to nail my colours to the mast here and say "Thank God this is being banned" - anyone who taunts those who don't agree with them by brandishing bits of dead animal needs a kick where it hurts to stop them breeding any more like themselves. And "yes" I know that not all hunt people behave in this manner, I live among them. They are not well served though by the ar*eholes who do behave so shabbily.

Gets off soapbox.

Awaits abuse and protests from hunting folk

[ImuststopdrinkingBlossomhill]

Very against fox hunting. It is so, so cruel and unnecessary IMO. Can't see the point at all

[Tinker]

For the ban. Even more so when hear Otis Ferry type wankers talking about breaking the law because they don't like it. Oh, ok, I'll indulge in a spot of burglary because I don't like that particular law.

[paolosgirl]

For the ban. I've yet to hear an arguement (convincing or otherwise) as to why it has to involve the actual death of an animal. I can understand (actually, I can't, but each to their own etc) why the thrill of the chase might be what it's all about, as well as the social side of it, but can't understand why the hounds can't just chase a scent.
Then there is that horrendous custom of flushing out vixens and their newborn cubs (can't remember what it's called). It's not a class thing, or town v. country (I've lived in both) - I'm just completely mystified as to WHY???

[CarrieG]

FOR the ban. Why don't these ghastly people just draw straws & give the loser a necklace of aniseed balls & a 10 minute start before loosing the dogs?

[beansontoast]

lol lol lol carrieg

[Amanda3266]

Then there is that horrendous custom of flushing out vixens and their newborn cubs (can't remember what it's called

It's called "cubbing" and involves throwing baby fox cubs to the inexperienced hounds so they "get some practice". Even pro-hunting people don't agree on that one.

And Otis Ferry is a wanker. Very pleased to see that when his Dad got a lifetime achievement award thing and dedicated it to his son for his brave actions in storming the House of Commons he got booed off the stage. Quite right too.

[lilsmum]

definately.... for the ban!!! its disgusting!! and i will be glad all them hoity toity people will lose their jobs if it goes ahead!!!

runs for cover (just incase!!

[stupidgirl]

Ummm, last time I joined in one of these it turned into a major slanging match.

Suffice to say I used to be an active hunt sab and I am very much in favour of the ban, though I don't think it goes far enough.

[paolosgirl]

I hope it doesn't turn into a slanging match . I'd just like someone to explain it all to me.

[Amanda3266]

Yeah -don't want it to become a slanging match as such - just wondered how many people here support hunting. Don't think I'd have even started the thread if I hadn't read that report in the Times but it just made me so mad. Then again I am very pre-menstrual at present.

Just get cross when it turns into a country vs town thing - as though anyone in a town is not allowed an opinion - unless it agrees with their hunting thing in which case - of course you can have an opinion.

Personally I think they shot themselves in the foot with those stupid "Now they hate her and now they don't" with a nurse who goes hunting. Er... what was that reason about it being part of the livlihood? Of course - hospitals are rife with rogue foxes I quite forgot!

[paolosgirl]

I hate the assumption too, that because you happen to live in town (at the mo) you can't have an unbiased opinion...or that it's a class thing. It's neither IMO.

[Caligula]

I think it should be banned on the grounds of Otis Ferry alone.

I bet he's turned many previous pro's or not bothered's into vociferous antis.

[lilsmum]

i live in the country (middle of no where in fact) and i am REALLY against hunting.

[HunkerMunker]

I'm against the ban but don't do slanging matches on the subject.

[dinny]

I am against blood sports. Though LOVE horse riding - drag hunting can be quite good.
DH against the ban - for mainly socio-economic reasons.
ps hi, HM. I've been in Cornwall and away from laptop. How are you and handsome ds?

[HunkerMunker]

[Titania]

I am so FOR the ban. I can't stand anything that causes any animal pain of any kind, including animal testing and hunting of any kind. Just my opinion.

[dinny]

Not too good - my dad in hospital with suspected heart attack. Back home for now but not sure how long for (had to leave dd here while went down to Cornwall with ds).

[HunkerMunker]

Oh hun, I hope your dad's better soon. Big hugs - feel free to email and if I can do anything (I know I'm not that local to you, but I do travel!), let me know.

[dinny]

Thanks, has been the worst week of my life. Will try and mail when get a minute. xx

[expatinscotland]

MUCH against fox hunting and hare coursing. There was this awful photo in today's The Metro of a hare about to be torn apart by hounds. The look of terror in his eyes isn't s/thing I will soon forget. There is NO need for that in a civilised society. As for those who say their job is at sake, well, hey, when the oil industry crashed, all those folks had to go out and find s/thing else to do - ditto when mining and ship-building went downhill.

[Caligula]

Quite. It's funny how all those people who went on about modernisation in the eighties are now suddenly concerned about people's jobs. They didn't care about shipbuilders', steelworkers' and miners' jobs, did they.

[Gizmo]

Ummm, OK, I know I'm about to be shouted at here - and lord knows I'm used to it - but I'd just like to make a small factual observation.

Cubhunting does not consist of throwing foxcubs to hounds. The way it works is this:

In late August/early September the young hounds come back to kennels from being 'walked' at the homes of local hunt supporters. They are taught to operate as part of the pack by being kennelled and exercised with the mature hounds.

At roughly the same time, foxcubs (generally born Feb - Apr) are leaving the family den and learning to hunt for themselves and support themselves. They are often all still in the same close geographical area, though - perhaps the same large wood.

This can create a problem for stock farmers or shoots, since domestic poultry is generally a softer target for young foxes so having three or four of them in close vicinity is asking for trouble.

So those farmers that support hunting will ask hunts to come and disperse/kill some of the young foxes in areas they know there are a number of them.

This gives the chance for the hunt to train young hounds and do the farmers a favour (which is part of their raison d'etre).

These are small, informal meets before the main season starts. From September, perhaps twice a week, the pack (and any followers who can be arsed to get up at 6.00 am) will meet and go to 'draw' (ie run the hounds through) the area which has the foxes in. The hounds will flush out the foxes and catch some. The hunts will generally be shorter (in distance) than full blown hunts later in the season, for several reasons: the young hounds aren't fit for a full hunt and because there are still crops in the ground so you can't go as far. The hunt staff stop the hounds running on for more than perhaps a half mile or so, perhaps confining them to the limits of a large wood.

Typically, the whole thing will be over by about 10.30. The hounds may catch one or two young foxes per week using this technique.

By the way, what we are talking about here is the fox equivalent of adolescents, not children. Obviously that doesn't make any difference to the morality of the exercise - if you believe it's cruel, it's cruel to a fox whatever age it is - but I do think it's worth getting the image of a small cub being thrown to a pack of hounds out of your head, because that is definitely not what happens.

There you go. Form an orderly queue on the left, ladies, to take a pop at me. No pushing at the back

[SenoraPostrophe]

I'm broadly for the ban, and ocasionaly rabidly in favour when i see idiots on the telly saying things like "I feel sorry for the police because now we've got to be martyrs and go to prison" - now there's a man with his priorities sorted.

Totally agree on the livlihood argument - my arse do 50,000 jobs rely on hunting alone. (or whatever the figure was).

On the "vermin control" argument: MAKE BETTER CHICKEN COOPS. We had some chickens killed by a stoat and I do know how it feels, but I don't want to kill all stoats in the area: that would be silly.

OTOH I think the whole thing is a ridiculous waste of parliamentary time and has given undue prominence to the countryside Alliance, which puports to represent rural interests, but as far as I can see, only really represents rich rural interests.

[Caligula]

Gizmo, I love your metaphors - it's not like throwing cuddly babies, it's more like 'orrible backchatting teenagers!

I can think of a few teenagers who I wouldn't mind throwing to the hounds...and a few permanent adolescents...