Can someone explain hunting to me ?

[Bettyboo222]

I know I sound stupid but I have never ever in my entire life hunted and I probably won't ever get the chance, but will someone explain to me how hunting still goes on when it is banned ?

I am very confused and I don't understand why if something was illigal there would be a forum for it

I'm not trying to cause an argument, I am just curious

 

[Echo Bravo]

But it's not illegal, most hunts now go on a trail, with just 2 hounds and an eagle or very large owl, so if the hounds do flush out a fox by mistake they let loose the bird. But did you know that if your dog chased a rabbit or hare(not sure about rats) you can get fined for that, as it's classed as hunting.

 

[Bettyboo222]

So what do they go on the trail of ? A real fox ?

 

[Echo Bravo]

A rider or runner, with a bag scented with fox pee I think.

 

[EllieandGeorge]

Most hunt's go on a drag hunt, which means a scented route for the dogs to follow, and the hunt of course.
But hunt's that are 'Harriers' For example, Rockwood Harriers, hunt hare's, which is not illegal.
Hunting isn't illegal, foxhunting is.

 

[Bettyboo222]

Thank you I was curious but didn't quite know who to ask

 

[combat_claire]

I'm not trying to cause an argument, I am just curious

When the Hunting Act 2004 came into force on the 19th February 2005 there were certain exemptions that existed within the legislation to protect falconry and shooting sports. These show the spite with which the Act was passed as there is no logic to the exemptions. Here are most of the exemptions and anomalies.

You can hunt a trail. This is pre-laid scent carried by a runner or rider on a quad or horse. It can only be laid a few hours before the meet and a skilled trail layer can simulate pre-ban hunting with the checks and casts for hounds and huntsman rather than being a hell for leather gallop over the largest timber in the country as drag hunting tends to be.

You can also hunt with 2 hounds, 3 hounds is illegal but 2 hounds is fine and dandy.

You can hunt exempt species - these include rats and rabbits, but exclude non-native creatures such as mink.

You can hunt wounded hares with any number of hounds if you have reasonable proof that there are shot hares on the land you intend to hunt that require dispatching. This wounding exemption does not extend to deer; even though the Deer Casualty Service operated by the Stag hound packs in the West Country is a vital service for deer injured in road traffic accidents. Being forced to search for wounded deer with only 2 hounds makes it far slower process before the injured deer can be treated or put down.

You can hunt for the purposes of research - this is used by the stag hound packs on Exmoor predominantly.

You can flush to a bird of prey; several packs have employed this exemption in a hugely successful manner. You are permitted to use as many hounds as you like in this exercise.

You can also flush to guns using as many hounds as you like.

You can exercise your hounds

You can use terriers below ground for the purposes of protecting game birds but not livestock.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Thanks for clearing up a couple of points that I wasn't sure of Claire.

 

[combat_claire]

I should just clarify that 2 hounds can be used to flush to a gun rather than it being legal to hunt with 2 hounds and to flush to guns with any number of hounds. Apologies for the confusion.

This is a useful guide to download and read for anyone that wants to understand the Hunting Act more fully.

http://www.countryside-alliance.co.uk/images/stories/pdf/C_H_Hunting_Handbook_sept_2005.pdf

 

[SusannaF]

Thanks for this thread – I was finding the hunt reports in H&H completely mystifying. I wish the hunt correspondents would be more specific about what's going on.

 

[Miss L Toe]

The Hunting Act is quite specific as to how it defines hunting, so the traditional "Hunts" are able to carry out hunting, but in a modified form,[seemingly it is better to shoot foxes nowadays], the Hunting Act is almost impossible to enforce, and police have better things to do, so many prosecutions are led by evidence from "antis", occasionally there are reports of successful prosecutions, but the fact remains the whole thing has been a bit of mess.
Draghunts are artificial hunts, with a trail laid by humans dragging a scent which hounds follow, they give people the opportunity to exercise horses cross country.
Personally I have no strong views either way, as I used to hunt as part of my lifestyle, my horse loved it, and to me it was a way of crossing farmland, with the agreement of the landowner. I never actually saw a fox being killed, and as far as I could work out, farmers asked the hunt to control the fox population, but not to the point of extermination!