What are your opinions on this subject Uhu ? Don't think you can start such a potentially contentious thread without stating your views on the given subject.
IME, most of the hunting set are pretty average farmers (or they in my step-fathers lot) and really not 'Crispins' and 'Tristans' with double barrel names and nasal twangs !
My step father is part of the hunting lot (although his presence at hunts is very rare nowadays), I'm amazed that that my Mum went for him actually as she is vehemently anti-bloodsports, fox hunting with hounds in particular. He was present at the pro-hunting London rally in 2000 (i think it was 2000 anyway).
I'm fully aware that the fox is considered vermin in the countryside and I'm aware that numbers need to be kept down. However, hunting with hounds is really not the way to do it. Like CD says, a large number of hunts end without a kill, which kind of proves its ineffectiveness ! It really is just a jolly day out for most of the hunting set, which is sad