clear this up for me?

[E13]

Well firstly what *exactly* did the Hunting Ban actually ban?
And what is hunting nowadays?

I'm not talking about drag hunting; I've heard conversations where people talk about hunting and someone saying "well I drag hunt", and we all know that hunting goes on...but if it was banned, surely it's illegal - so how is it allowed? Did the ban only refer to hunting foxes with hounds; what is different about the current hunt that allows it to continue?

*DISCLAIMER* I am not out to cause an argument, and am not taking sides, I'm just a novice that would like to understand a little better!

 

[Countryman]

Right the Hunting Ban made it an offence to hunt wild mammals. Hunt doesn't necessarily mean kill - just chasing a fox is now against the law. However it is only the hunt staff and others controlling the hounds who are liable to prosecution - there's no law banning following.

Therefore nowadays, most hunts hunt within the law usually by Trail Hunting. This is similar to drag hunting in that hounds follow a prelaid trail not a live quarry, but it is designed to mimic a fox hunt in every way possible, almost so people can't see the difference so they have an enjoyable day.

A fox-based drag is used to lay the trail, which is usually laid in a covert coming away from it, so the hounds will draw coverts just like they did traditionally, only now they are searching for a trail not a fox. They'll follow the trail across Country , just like a traditional hunt, check sometimes, losing the scent and having to regain it again, And eventually ends. The whole day trail hunting is meant to simulate fox hunting as much as possible.

Most hunts may also offer landowners, farmers and keepers a fox control service during the hunt, whether that is using a whole pack and a bird of prey or 2 hounds flushing to a gun (exemptions in the ban), or using a terrier to bolt a fox in an earth for shooting.

 

[happyhunter123]

E13, I'm sure you asked exactly the same question a few months back?

 

[E13]

Haha yes, I think I asked something similar!! But I completely forgot what was said, and stupid me didn't think of finding the old thread *rolls eyes*. I was talking to a colleague about hunting, only briefly, and it led me to ponder what I think of it (namely that hunting an animal for sport is wrong but there are positives in terms of exercising and stimulating the horses and hounds, and being a community in a sense), and I was thinking about drag hunting and wondered how hunting itself was different!

 

[Bigrob34]

I was watching The Gadget Show a few months ago, and there was a number of volunteers who ran from the hunt. Basically, they get scented and a ten minute head start and then the hounds are released to track them.