Opinions on hunting

I was under the thought that it's illegal for the hounds to be allowed to purposefully kill the fox now....hence why the quad follows with the shotgun?

And I think the main argument for it is that amount of losses it would make throughout the whole equestrian field...jobs, eventers fittening, charity point to points, fun rides, hunter trials, hunts point to pointing, championships, horse sales, dealers, producers,pony club...etc. Knock on effect rather than the point just being about foxes being killed?
 
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But if there were mock hunts instead, that went over challenging terrain and were interesting for the participants with an interesting scent for the hounds, then would this not just replace the fox? Plus someone else would probably be paid to lay the trail, so that actually more employment. All those people do not spend what, £60 a day each just to kill a fox. they spend it for the ride and the social aspects and the fun. This can all continue without a fox. I think it's just people being stubborn and traditionalists. And there's more to the world than tradition. If there wasn't, then many endagered species would have been hunted to extinction.
 
£100 a day here :o

I fully understand being pro/anti and people can choose to have whatever thoughts they want on it[though saab interuptions are another topic all together.]etc...but it honestly just wouldn't be the same being on a 'mock hunt'. To me and a lot of others, the traditional of what it is, is what makes it and it's a way of life. It's not a day out to kill a face, it's a day out to follow and ride with the hunt plus many other social things. Most members out there stem from age old racing and hunting families. Get rid of hunting, you wipe out so many dynasties and livings.
If it converted to 'mock' hunts, it honesty would not and cannot be compared to the same thing.

Only my thoughts though...not meant to be taken any offensive way :) I'll always be pro hunting and fully support the cause.
 
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Binky01 said:
If it converted to 'mock' hunts, it honesty would not and cannot be compared to the same thing.
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I dont see how it cant be compared to the real thing if the only thing that is removed from the whole day is the simple fact of it not being a fox being chased. You can still have the social aspects and the pomp and ceremony that goes with the whole thing without chasing an actual fox.

I am neither strongly for or against by the way - I have read many viewpoints on many forums about fox hunting and while it doesnt sit comfortably with me that the killing of any animal can be considered a "sport", I have friends who are pro and who actively have hunted and now enjoy drag hunting in its place, and I have never thought any less of them for it.

I would love to go drag hunting and I know quite a few people who would or have actually gone on a drag hunt specifically because it doesnt involve an actual fox. The social aspect appeals to me, the riding appeals to me, the fleeing across the countryside with gay abandon with dogs afoot appeals to me, the hunt balls appeal to me, all of it appeals to me - its just the fox bit I won't do, and I know quite a few people who feel the same. I dont know anyone who has or would stop hunting simply because they werent allowed to chase or kill a real live fox.
 
I have always been pro hunting because of the tradition of it all, I HATE that 'them' in London village can tell everyone in the country what they can and can't do without knowing what is involved within the farming industry.:mad:

But .. saying that I go out mainly with the bloodhounds because it is faster:D

I don't understand why people still won't go hunting if the killing of a fox with hounds is illegal? surely it is now hunting a man who is dragging a smelly duster?:rolleyes:
 
I'm a bit neutral on it, understand both sides but don't agree with the foxes being killed by a pack of dogs - sorry!

However, having said that i'm pro-drag hunting. The horses, dogs and riders love it and it looks to be a fab day out. I'd love to go but I'm living in terror that my horse will tow me towards the jumps before executing one of his nasty stops ;) Boo! I'd have never ever even considered going hunting were it not for drag-hunting.
 
I'm not as anti as I feel I should be (iykwim) it should horrify me from (the foxes) welfare point of view ... but it doesn't particularly.

I can't be doing with all the justification that its for the good of the countryside and that the hunt are doing countryfolk a favour by killing the occasional fox? ... balls, it's for the fun of it/tradition/'a nice day out' etc and!!

The 'look at what they do to chooks and lambs' argument doesn't hold with me either, I don't like the devastation that drivers on mobile phones can do - wouldn't make it right to run the buggers into the ground and rip 'em to shreds though!!

Live and let live, I suspect the hardcore antis (and pro's for that matter) would find something else to be fanatical about if hunting was banned.

xx
 
I was anti when I joined HHO and still am. Nothing I've read or could read in the future will change that.
Closed minded? Nope.
I grew up in the country, hunted with the Eridge for many years both mounted and working with the terrier men. I know exactly what goes on hunting. I also used to regularly shoot (game and rough). Killing any animal in the name of sport just doesn't sit right with me these days.
It personally doesn't bother me that people do hunt. Thats an individual choice and should always remain so.
Only thing that really annoys me is the amount of rubbish spouted on both sides of the argument from certain quarters.
 
I am a 'non-hunter' but dont disagree with it. It is a huge tradition in England and I wouldnt like to see it go. The only reason I dont do it is I dont actually own my own horse but Im such a wuss at jumping Id have to just close my eyes :D
 
Aimeejay, if you wanted to go and rang the sec beforehand they would advise you on a good day for non-jumpers. Some hunts, like the VAGSB will divide into 2 halves, jumpers and non-jumpers, so you can choose if you don't want to jump.
 
rangerover said:
Aimeejay, if you wanted to go and rang the sec beforehand they would advise you on a good day for non-jumpers. Some hunts, like the VAGSB will divide into 2 halves, jumpers and non-jumpers, so you can choose if you don't want to jump.
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Oh, I never realised that, thanks for that :D
 
I don't hunt but also don't disagree with it. . . anymore. Before I moved to London I never really socialised with anyone who hunted and had a rather closed minded view on it. Since then I've met tonnes of different people some of whom hunt and Ive bombarded them with questions about it as it does fascinate me!
Then I joined HHO after someone mentioned about it and always read the hunting threads, some posts have been extremely educating and now I feel like I actually understand why it is necessary.

I think Id like the day out riding but I still am a bit girly over killing an animal! I dont disagree with hunting anymore though and if i hear an uneducated view on it I try to suggest reasons as to why it is necessary
 
I can understand why hunting would be enjoyable from a riding point of view but chasing a fox with a pack of hounds holds no appeal for me. I would feel thoroughly awful gaining enjoyment from chasing something down to its death, but that is just my own personal feelings and if other people wish to hunt then that's up to them.

I guess I am fine with drag hunting, though I can't really form an opinion on this as I don't have any knowledge as to what damage it can do to the countryside and what, if any, other problems I can cause.

Just for the record, I come from a rural area where my uncle has had to shoot foxes to protect his chickens - usually a fox proof chicken house is more than enough but one or two have been brave enough to come in the day when the chickens are out. However, this shooting isn't something fun, and I feel that it's far more humane than hunting. I just don't think that I could gain pleasure from anything which directly results in death.
 
Binky01 said:
£100 a day here :o

I fully understand being pro/anti and people can choose to have whatever thoughts they want on it[though saab interuptions are another topic all together.]etc...but it honestly just wouldn't be the same being on a 'mock hunt'. To me and a lot of others, the traditional of what it is, is what makes it and it's a way of life. It's not a day out to kill a face, it's a day out to follow and ride with the hunt plus many other social things. Most members out there stem from age old racing and hunting families. Get rid of hunting, you wipe out so many dynasties and livings.
If it converted to 'mock' hunts, it honesty would not and cannot be compared to the same thing.

Only my thoughts though...not meant to be taken any offensive way :) I'll always be pro hunting and fully support the cause.
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So you have agreed with everything i say, that it's for the fun and social aspect not killing a fox. Even that it comes down to tradition and stubbornnes. It won't be the same because there isn't a fox to kill. But the more people that laid a trail instead, the more inventive they would get at it with practice. It could be a very interesting day imo. And if people refuse to stop chasing a fox in the name of tradition and would rather sit at home than go on a drag hunt, then i think they are cutting off their nose to spite their own face. And it's not a very valid argument for havign a creature in fear of its own life for hours on end only to be ripped to shreds at the end of it. I think any life deserves better justification for its end than 'tradition'. Otherwise, the only different thing is the lack of a fox being killed at the end, and if that is the difference that people will miss so much then that's sad and sadistic and it should not be called a sport. If you want to kill a fox because it killed your chickens, then catch it in a trap and shoot it. Then you can get your smug gratification without the hastle of having to run after if for a whole day. ( the 'you's in there are not aimed at anyone, just the general hunting fraternity)
 
Will always support hunting - always have. Even better that my horse is a fantastic hunter and it doesnt turn him into a nut case!
 
Well - let's have some hunts organised over the next 5 weeks - but with MP's and bankers as the quarry instead of foxes!

They can be televised - would be compulsive viewing.

But the hounds must be allowed to eat what they catch!!! :D
 
brucea said:
Well - let's have some hunts organised over the next 5 weeks - but with MP's and bankers as the quarry instead of foxes!

They can be televised - would be compulsive viewing.

But the hounds must be allowed to eat what they catch!!! :D
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I like your thinking but why would you be so cruel as to make the hounds eat what they caught :eek: Poor hounds :p
 
FWIW, I don't hunt, nor do I agree with the hunt... having spent my entire life living and socialising amongst those who do hunt, I feel that I am making an educated decision in my disagreeing with the hunt, and I've also learnt to accept everybodies views and opinions and hope that if I don't preach, they won't either, which seems to work well enough most of the time.

However, as it is up for discussion... :D
I have spoken to many people, had many a civilised discussion, with both pros and antis, in an attempt to understand both sides, and made my decisions based on what I have heard from lots of peoples' views.

I understand and agree that the foxes have to be controlled, and I see the damage they can do to chickens, etc. but what I find doesn't sit well with me is when the entire village joins in and makes it into a 'sport'. Blood sport seems somewhat archaic, yet this seems to be one of the only blood sports that is still socially 'acceptable' (in some cases) under the pretence of 'tradition'. Yet it seems that perhaps just the farmer and his huntsman would make a much more effective, less morally controversial, team for the job.

I also find the arguments for hunting somewhat confusing... in many conversations I've had with 'pros', I've been told that 'fox hunting is the most effective form of pest control' in one sentence, followed by the admission that they actually only ever catch the old and infirm in the next sentence.... so surely these weaker foxes are not the culprits that are causing damage to the farmer? So how is that effective pest control?

I can't help thinking that the arguments 'for' are a little muddled and nobody is quite sure what they are supposed to say when defending their 'sport'... so just say what has been fed to them, regardless of the fact it quite often doesn't make sense. And then, when all else fails they bring out the 'it's tradition' card, which I find a poor excuse based on the number of ancient traditions that are no longer practiced due to being considered immoral. From these observations I have come to the conclusion that it is quite often the people who are 'pro' hunt who are in fact making uneducated decisions, not in fact, as is quite often assumed, the people who are 'anti' hunt... although I'm sure there are exceptions to all rules on both sides, I do not mean to generalise.

I hope the above makes sense, I wrote it in a rush, trying not to get caught at work, lol.
 
My opinions haven't changed at all since joining the HHO forum quite some time ago. I simply don't go on the hunting thread at all. Its too nasty in there and the same arguements just happen over and over. I'm a 100% anti by the way (but my boyfriends father used to be a hunt master!).
 
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I agreed most of the subscribers aren't there to go out to kill a fox, however, I cannot see any hunt member [ie, actual hunt members, whipper in, master, etc] who's an age old hunt member and family, being happy or getting any enjoyment out of a 'fake' days hunting. Plus, how could you be sure they wouldn't find a fox or other animal out anyway? It's still in countryside.
I've always gone for the theory the fox is killed in a way nature would end it anyway....hunted by the hunter, jus the way it's the same with it's prey. More natural than a trap or other ways imo.
90% of the time we've staring right at the fox and the hounds are oblivious to it and not even picked up scent.

For me, I just love it and it's my way of life, being in the heart of the BF country and having meets from ours etc....that's just me though. Been going hunting since I was younger and it's just part of me now :)
 
brucea said:
Well - let's have some hunts organised over the next 5 weeks - but with MP's and bankers as the quarry instead of foxes!

They can be televised - would be compulsive viewing.

But the hounds must be allowed to eat what they catch!!! :D
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Now THIS sounds like a sport! Id prefer fox vermin over Banker/MP vermin anyday!
 
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