Hunting - what is now legal exactly?

[ladyt25]

I do not know the ins and out of the hunting 'rules' now since the law changed but would be grateful if anyone could enlighten me as to what is deemed legal now when a hunt is out after foxes?

I was under the impression there was a rule relating to the amount of dogs / people allowed and how the fox is killed - is this correct?

I ask because I came across our local hunt today whilst I was out walking my dogs - was a little confused as they were in an 'odd' area (never seen the hunt there before although is still part of the estates land technically) and they were obviously not trail hunting. I also noticed the hounds and huntsmen were in a wood which the particular part is a protected nature reserve. I do not believe they should have been in this area.

Those who go hunting - do your hunts often go into areas they haven't got permission to be in? I think it is a little irresponsible to be honest, the area they were in, along with being a protected nature reserve is also a well used footpath with many dog walkers and families about. i heard some gun shots as I walked further and assumed it was the hunt. I just think this is a little unsafe when there are 100s of acres of estate land they could have been on instead.

What are your views on this?

 

[ladyt25]

It is a public footpath and a nature reserve with some special protections in place (I am not sure what exactly). I was not in the nature reserve but on a footpath that passes by it. My dad is the local parish council chairman and he does not think they should have been in there at all. As I say i am not sure the gunshots were from the hunt as there are sometimes shoots in the vicinity but I had not heard any shots until I met the hunt or indeed after the 3 shots were heard.

My other query was I thought there was some regulation to do with the amount of dogs that were allowed to be used now when hunting a fox?

 

[rosie fronfelen]

for a start, if it was a mounted hunt there wouldn't be guns, there are only 2 hounds to be used legally and i would think it was a drag anyway. there is no limit to the number of hounds( not dogs) that can be taken if this was the case. i wouldn't ASSUME anything as that can be biased and damaging.have you proof that they were actually on a fox???

 

[ladyt25]

That's why I was asking the question. I do not hunt, although I have been out with this hunt on a trail on one occasion. I have no clue whether they were after a fox or not BUT there were in a very, well strange place to be as they do not to my knowledge hunt across that part of the village usually and i can't therefore see why a trail would have been set through that route.

I walked right past the horse so do not assume the area they were in I could see perfectly well. The question will be brought up with the secretary as I think the main concern was they were in this protected wooded area. As I said with regards to the guns I don't know whether this was anything to do with them but I was unsure as to how hunting is really carried out these days and thought the fox did have to be shot now and did not know whether this was common practice for this to be done where horses were in tow or not.

I am not about to go accusing anyone of anything, I do not suspect for any reason this hunt were doing anything they shouldn't hunting wise, it's just the overall feeling was they maybe shouldn't have been where they were.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

Lady T, one must remember that hounds cannot differentiate between where they should and shouldn't be!! it could be that the hunt had gone to this particular place to retrieve them- just a thought.

 

[combat_claire]

Lady T, one must remember that hounds cannot differentiate between where they should and shouldn't be!! it could be that the hunt had gone to this particular place to retrieve them- just a thought.

And a skilled whipper in, cracking his hunting whip to turn hounds back can produce a sound that sounds like a gun going off.

There are also plenty of bird scarers that produce loud bangs that carry for miles.

Flushing to guns is an exemption utilised mainly by the Scottish packs, as their Hunting Act is rather differently worded to the one covering England & Wales.

 

[ladyt25]

Thank you for your replies, you have answered some of my queries. I do know dogs do not know where they should and shouldn't be and it is quote possible the dogs had gone off on their own 'hunt' but, with respect you do not know the specific place I am talking about. I was just wanting clarification as to what was deemed legal with regards to hunting foxes.

I know there are bird scarers (although the farmer does not have them in that field) and also there are often shoots going on in the area it just seemed coincidental that's all.

Again, thankyou for your input.

 

[joe_carby]

if its on the estate and the powers that be that own the land say yes they can go in a nature reserve no problems in times of this crap drag hunting nonsense you have to use any slither of land you can use so that you dont annoy farmers by damaging land for no apparent reason. why should we not put hounds through cover. it doesnt meen were hunting just letting them go through a trail may have started at the end of the wood to simulate the hounds taking a cover through and flushing a fox at the end of it. bird scarers can be heard literally for miles also.

 

[Maisy]

As far as I am aware, and I could be wrong.....

You can 'flush' a fox with a pack of hounds for an eagle (and perhaps a gun?); &

If you are actually 'hunting' a fox, there can only be 2 hounds;

This is how I understand it anyway.......