What has made you 'get off the fence'

[Jenz]

With all the chat about Lush, it got me thinking how I feel about hunting and just wanted to ask you all too.

Mainly aimed at those who weren't sure either way but went one way or the other because of something that swayed you.

Or has this been over done (opinions on hunting)? I'm quite new on here. Sorry if it has.

For me...
I've never been really into hunting. I used to work at a point to point yard so obviously went because of that. For my own horses, most haven't really been suitable. The one who I thought would be went doolally at his first and last hunt, so that's the reason I didn't go again!
But I think it's a large part of the horse world. For the bridleways and tack shops they support and keep open. A great way to exercise, teach manners, get confidence over jumps etc.
And the bit I don't like about antis is their perception that hunting people are posh and rich. That's the bit that probably tips me towards being pro, just to be anti that perception!

I hope this stays friendly, but would like to hear what you think.

 

[JenHunt]

I guess I've never been anything but Pro-hunting... but a couple of things have re-inforced it for me....

I was captain for the field sports society at Uni, and Clarissa Dickson-Wright was the rector. She used to come clay shooting with us, and managed to get some awesome speakers for our annual ball. One of these was the chairman of the scottish CA, who was also a huntsman, a grouse shot, and an all round nice guy. He said that the number of foxes the hunt had killed (shot) since the scottish hunting ban had come in was 4 times what it had been in a good year previously!

I've seen 2 or 3 little tack shops close since hunting has changed, and they've gone because a number of people, particularly the older generation, aren't hunting now so their business has declined. Also rising costs and the competitive nature of the likes or rideaway, robinsons and derby house have contributed.

whilst out walking a while ago with my dad we came across a cat caught in a snare left for a fox. Fortunately no serious damage was done (a few scratches for all 3 of us, and a dehydrated cat), but what if we hadn't walked past then? how long would the cat have been there? Hunting is discriminate, is survival of the fittest, is quick and decisive. Snaring, shooting, trapping, gassing, poisoning etc isn't any of those things.

 

[Jenz]

We were all scared for the small tack shops, farriers and saddlers etc. when the change came in. It's so sad that you know of tack shops that really have suffered.

Thanks for your reply. People have made comments regarding Lush that most of the nation don't care about hunting but most people no absolutely nothing about it, good or bad. So there must be lots of people that find out more and it sways them.

 

[A1fie]

The hunting ban ironically. Learned to ride only a couple of years ago. Never had strong opinions on hunting beforehand, I guess if pushed I would probably have been on the side of the anti's.

After I learned to ride I read up on hunting - everything I could find both pro and anti opinions and the more I read the more I came to the view that hunting was not cruel.

I began to believe that a law passed on people's prejudices was inherently wrong - there was so much misconception and half truths in the media.

I hated the fact that the main opposition to hunting was from people who had no concept or understanding of hunting and did not want to learn.

I disliked the prejudice shown to people who hunt - the view that they were blood thirsty toffs when the people I saw who hunted were devoted to their animals would feed and care for them before themselves.

I decided that I wanted to get involved and show my support and add my voice to their cause.

 

[Simsar]

I grew up in a large town near London and when I was young constantly had the Anti's opinion forced upon me and being young and impressionable took there nieve view on things as gospel up untill I was 16/17 . I then left home and moved to the country and decided that I could not base my opinion on a one sided knowledge of hunting so spoke to as many people in the hunting community and went to a few meets to see for myself, I am now a true convert and having been in the firing line of the Anti's several times now realise that they are not about animal welfare at all they are only about spreading hatred for things that they do not understand or even want to try to understand.

Plus if I hadn't changed my mind I would never have met the Misses!! :grin:

 

[Scratchline]

He said that the number of foxes the hunt had killed (shot) since the scottish hunting ban had come in was 4 times what it had been in a good year previously!

The above is the reason I am now anti hunting after over 40yrs of not being bothered. I do not believe fox hunting as was before the ban was about controlling the population. IMHO that was just an excuse and I firmly believe chasing an animal for any length of time to then have it killed by dogs is cruel. As shown above in your post, the present fox control is STILL not about controlling the fox population. It is just about slaughtering foxes for the sake of it in anyway that can be found legally.

I am sick to the back teeth of this rubbish excuse to repeal the act ' many many more foxes are being killed now than before'???
If this is the case why do the hunts not control themselves before they wipe out the animal they claim to only want to control?! Why keep hunting if you have culled enough for the year?!
I became an anti because I stopped believing that the hunts care about foxes enough to control their own actions and behaviour whilst hunting. The more stories I hear about how many foxes the poor hunters are 'forced', to shoot now the more I absolutely believe I was right to become anti hunting and pro population control. And, if that means government making new laws I am all for it and those who hunt have only their own lack of any sort of humaness to blame!

 

[Simsar]

Scrathline if hunting folk are as cruel and blood thirsty as you think and it is not about controlling the population then why when otter hunting was still allowed was it the hunts that first noticed the decline in the poulation and therefor stopped hunting them??? It would be the same if the fox population dramatically dropped the hunts would be the first people to notice and they would be the ones who be the first to try and help save them. Hunting folk are not barbarians they are custodians of the countryside and as such know better than anyone how to deal with country issues.

 

[Scratchline]

Nice speech but completely misses the point. The amount of foxes now being shot by hunts is many,many times greater than before the ban we are told by the huntsmen. This information is used as part of the arguement for repeal.

Either the fox population warrants that increase and hunting as was is unecessary. Shooting being the way forward.
Or, hunters are 'really', concerned that numbers are so dramatically being reduced by shooting that we 'must', have the act repealed to protect fox numbers?

If the fox population warrants so many being killed this efficiently with guns why repeal and allow a sport that is inaffective and most people believe cruel?
If it is the latter and too many are being killed then why are they being hunted and killed so regularly and in such great numbers by hunts in the first place FGS?! Hardly custodial if this is the case and absolutely barbaric killing of an animal whose numbers doesnt warrant such slaughter.

Which is it????

 

[Simsar]

Or, hunters are 'really', concerned that numbers are so dramatically being reduced by shooting that we 'must', have the act repealed to protect fox numbers?
You hit the nail on the head!!
The amount of foxes now shot has increased as we are no longer allowed to hunt them, however it is not necessisarily the hunts that are the ones shooting said foxes in such large numbers.
Hunting as it was, was not inefective it maintained a HEALTHY population. Shooting is indiscriminate!!
I feel that you are the one missing the point the whole hunting argument is based on what people feel based on opinions formulated by those who really don't have the first idea of how the countryside works( see my above post, I used to be one of you but chose not to be so nieve).

P.s Don't even get me started on badgers

 

[Scratchline]

The amount of foxes now shot has increased as we are no longer allowed to hunt them, however it is not necessisarily the hunts that are the ones shooting said foxes in such large numbers.

Yes they are. The hunts are doing so and giving the figures compared to how many they killed before the ban. That is my complaint.

Hunting as it was, was not inefective it maintained a HEALTHY population. Shooting is indiscriminate!!

So now the hunts just kill foxes ( in massive numbers), for the sake of killing.

I feel that you are the one missing the point the whole hunting argument is based on what people feel based on opinions formulated by those who really don't have the first idea of how the countryside works( see my above post, I used to be one of you but chose not to be so nieve).

If I didnt shoot, if I didnt pest control, if I wasnt born and bred in the country and if I didnt have many friends who hunt with the North Cornwall hunt your attack about ME being naive
may have more substance to it. Instead it is little more than ignorance and stereotyping sadly by you!

 

[Simsar]

Thats certainly not how it is with the hunt near us!

 

[JenHunt]

Scratchline - the number of foxes WAS greater... past tense.

as soon as the hunts realised what was going on they reduced the number of days they were hunting, only hunted areas where the farmers had a specific problem with foxes.

 

[Gamebird]

Marrying an MFH's son!