General Chat

Against and I don't think foxes kill for pleasure they are "programmed" to kill whatever is available to them. In the wild that would probably be one rabbit or bird at a time but as we keep large quantities of chickens enclosed they kill them all.

Grampa agree with your first post , isnt that what man's hunting instinct was supposed to be all about??? your second post is the way we wishful thing in lifeLOL>.. I agree if foxes are a torment to lambs, sheep poultry or anything else a farmer has to make a living off, he does have a right to protect his interest. Where I live its seen as ok to have a ransom out every few years on MAGPIES, I am not the biggest fan of this bird, but I hate the way it's seen as a delight to hang up how many you can kill as trophies. CROWS (not my particular favourite either) but they are hung from posts, alive while their mates sit beside them and starve to death watching their mate die a slow tormented death, this is supposed to discourage other crows from entering a field, is that the true meaning of SCARECROWS, I had never seen anything like this when I lived in London, never thought any of this could be happening, but it does, this is not an isolated case (by the way incase you cityslickers are paronoid about the Countryside I do not live in England anymore, so I am not talking about our own backyard here) So you won't worry so much. Killing foxes and rabbits and hanging from your belt with a big gun over your shoulder is seen as a triumph against vermon??? according to the I.S.P.C.A. these animals are vermon and anyone is allowed to shoot them, yet I never have seen anyone carry any of the millions of RATS we have here OR even more millions of MICE this way???I suppose that would not be much of a trophy. I do not think anyone could call foxhunting a SPORT does this not make us as bad as the packs of dogs or wolves who really do these things for survival? The Badger who is baited here and ransomed more often than any other animal (TB being the excuse, in his case). There is no excuse for mass extermination of any animal, whether it be under any pretext such as vermon, TB, or there are just too many of the blighters as with the magpies and crows. Japanese the seals the whales............ Where will this end, there are probably too many humans some need a lot of our resources, well maybe we will not hunt them down we can just turn away and pretend they are not there or they may even go away................. OK I am off my soap box its off my chest and my Guinness awaits. Love to you all Pat x

In my opinion the so called Upper Classes only exist because their Ancestors were the biggest Brawlers. If a different fighter had been slightly better with his sword a thousnad years ago any one of us could be the Ruler of our Country. Jim

Totally against. Let them ride the horses and dogs across fields for fun and exercise but leave the foxes alone. If they are a pest, let the farmers deal with them as they would other pests. We used to have a lot of foxes in our area. Would often see them when walking along the road or at times they would come in the garden. I often heard them at night. For the past 4 years there has been no sight or sound and many others are saying the same. Perhaps they have reduced in numbers which is further reason for not hunting them. The sights tonight in London ought to make the protesters ashamed of themselves. They are fighting for something which is seen as an upper class past time and they were behaving worse than those involved in a pub brawl. Jacky

It makes me sad to see folk justifying this kind of behavour and live in hope that we can be less selfish and care more about other species on this planet who have just has much right to be here as we do. Nature always has a way of sorting things out but we do tend to stick out ore in and cause chaos . Patx

Lamping is called spotlighting in Australia, it is a nessesary job on farms to keep down the foxes and rabbits, the hunt clubs that operate in our area never seem to get foxes and the foxes kill wildlife and stock,something has to be done, but i dont agree with Hunting as a sport. Theresa Australia

Am not really for or against - lived in country for many years and husband is country born and bred - but has anyone ever seen the devastation caused e.g. when a fox has got in amongst poultry? A fox kills not because he is hungry but for enjoyment. In saying that I always have believed that when a fox went 'to ground' he should be left there and not dug out. Also whilst control is needed, humane culling should be used -not to be torn apart by the hounds. Only saw the early afternoon news but I did wonder if those who caused the trouble actually were supporters of the movement as we all hear all the time of people who will join any demo merely to start trouble.

We claim to be higher up the evolutionary chain therefor why do we persecute those poor creatures below us. We are carnivorous by design(vegatarian by choice) we should only kill what we need to eat not for sport. Pat x

I'm completely against it. It's a sadistic and backward practice. Although some may argue that it's their livelihood, I don't think that justifies fox hunting.

My point being that lamping can kill foxes and humans. Hunting with dogs kills foxes only. Any human casualties due to a fall are a risk the partisipents are willing to take as in any other occupation or sport. If hunting is banned then lamping will only increase. Other forms of fox control, eg poison bait, can be indiscriminate. I am neither for nor against hunting. All i ask is the safest form of control. This ban does not address that problem. It will probably make matters worse. Bob

And anyway, if people are often being killed accidently in any `sport`, then maybe we should start looking into possibly banning that. Human lives are too precious to waste on these hunts.

Husband has just explained about the Lamping situation, how tragic!! never heard of Lamping before - but none of these situations will stop just because a law has been enforced. AGAINST - totally barbaric!!!!! Jude sarf wales

Definition: Lamping involves the shooting of foxes and ground game at night with the aid of powerful lights. Hunters' lamps can illuminate areas up to 300 metres away, and are sometimes fixed to a vehicle. The reflection of the lamp light in the eyes of the quarry startles them and helps direct the lampers' aim. Well only time will tell.

The current bill only outlaws hunting with dogs. Any other form of hunting would still be lawful. Bob

No as there wouldn't be any hunting. Anyone caught doing it would be punished so further incidents would not occur.

Just one thought. Following the death last week of the young lad lamping. following a similar event a few weeks ago. Will this activity and these acidents increase with a ban on hunting? Bob

definately AGAINST!!! its barbaric!!! susie

AGAINST its cruel, barbaric, out of date, Its an excuse when they say its to control the number of foxes rising. Why cant they be killed humanly? Instead of being torn apart.... Elaine x

Marion I'm the same as you - country bred and against the bloodthirsty nature of the hunt - I'm not against vermin control as long as it's not along the lines of the miximatosis thing.

Seems to be just something to take the heat off of other issues. Diane