Foxhunting: your views please?

Question

Go nuts! I'm not going to put my opinion, I don't want anyone to be influenced. I want some good, solid arguments for and against.

Arguments not accepted (unless you can prove that they are true): Any reference to foxhunting as pest control; foxhunting is cruel (be more specific please)

Thanks for all your opinions so far, keep them coming! I forgot to say, please state what country you are from and any information that you feel contributes to your beliefs. Thanks!

BTW I'm talking specifically about foxhunting. This is the pursuit of a fox on horseback using hounds, now banned(ish) in the UK. Please don't dispute shooting or any other type of hunting unless it's relevant to your argument.

Answer 1

Okay, maybe I am a killjoy. It is an old tradition dating back from when foxes were destructive, but now they raise the fox just so they can chase him, with their beagle dogs, the people on horseback in their cute little outfits making the horses run. Maybe everyone is enjoying it except the fox. It just looks like such a waste of time, money and effort to me. Riding in the Grand National and races I understand, but foxhunting?

Answer 2

There are so many misconceptions about foxhunting in the United States. Foxhunters in the United States hunt for the thrill of the chase, and not for the kill. This is why virtually every U.S. foxhunt does not carry the terriers (in England, they were using terriers to kill foxes that went to ground). Many U.S. hunts now hunt coyotes rather than foxes. A kill of either a fox or a coyote is a rarity. On the rare occasions (and it is rare, many hunts go years without any kill - coyotes and foxes are smart) where there is a kill, the hounds dispatch the quarry very quickly.

The ban on foxhunting was class warfare (though most of the foxhunters I know are not rich by any means). It reminds me of the anti-fur people (and I would never buy fur) who throw paint on old ladies wearing fur but not bikers wearing leather because the bikers would beat them senseless if they did. Foxhunters are viewed as an easy target, even though very few animals are killed by U.S. foxhunts in a year. The larger hunting groups are far more organized and kill way more game - so why do the anti-foxhunting people have such a high profile?

Foxhunting clearly is not pest control, because there aren't enough kills to make any difference one way or the other.

Feral dogs and cats kill thousands of animals every year, yet there is no uproar. Pet cats that go outdoors kill birds, including some endangered birds. Loose dogs kill far more foxes and coyotes in any year than foxhunters.

Unorganized foxhunts that use hounds (but not the organized English style foxhunts) do hunt for the kill, yet there is no opposition to this type of hunting in the U.S. There are far more unorganized hunts. Again, this suggests a class warfare motivation rather than any animal destruction or cruelty issue.

Answer 3

i think of it truly is an extremely wasteful element to do, and that the attitudes of a few of people who participate are very undesirable. some people who holiday with the quest are impolite and snobby. human beings use the excuse that foxes are vermin. this is authentic in some aspects, besides the undeniable fact that foxhunting would not somewhat do something approximately it. driving around all day each couple of weeks won't seize adequate foxes to have an result on what share chickens are killed on the community farms. of direction, it would not help that the hounds are allowed to kill the fox- it ability a painful dying for the fox and numerous canines that are too risky (and used to being in packs) to be re-homed.

Answer 4

I know this is an issue in the UK. i'm in the US.

I don't hunt personally. I even make an effort to guide flies out of my kitchen rather than swat at them!

I know there is a long tradition of foxhunting that is important to many people.

I will be anxious to read other answers so I can learn more.

Answer 5

Obviously, if any animal population gets out of control there are safety concerns. In the case of foxes or any other predator the lack of prey can cause them to attack domesticated animals and livestock. In Illinois and Indiana unchecked coyote populations have resulted in many such deaths. I grew up in a heavy farming area in Illinois and the density of coyotes and raccoons was outrageous. From time to time the conservation department allows permits to harvest both. As far as cruelty goes...would you rather be morning the loss of "Wile E." or the family terrier?
To sprcpt: So you think it's okay to slaughter animals up to the point of endangerment? The 'logic' escapes me...

Answer 6

Foxes, unlike creatures like deer, are not in danger of overpopulation to the point of starving them selves to death as a whole population.

So hunting them for population control is not a matter of necessity for the survival of that species.

However, fox hunting should not be banned due to the fact that they are not endangered. If they are hunted to the point of becoming endangered the hunting of them will stop.

The conservation department regulations assure this balance by allowing the hunting but not in the numbers that would be harmful to the species.

Many people in my family including myself, hunt for our meat. It is more cost effective and you don't get all those nasty hormones and whatever else they inject in farm raised animals.

Answer 7

It is a sport that came down from long ago, and now they hunt to carry on tradition, sort of nasty because it is useless killing, I mean we wouldn't tolerate the killing of, say, a soccer goalie as sport. Real fix hunting to be rid of a fox that is preying on your chicken (or whatever) at least has a positive purpose. But Fox hunting for sport is right up there with bird (c**k) fighting and dog fighting.

Answer 8

Oscar Wilde described the foxhunt as, "The unspeakable in hot pursuit of the uneatable." To me, that says it all.

Answer 9

The Fox and the Hound

Answer 10

I think fox hunting on horseback and Tally Ho is horrible!
But here in the states, we kill our wolves, and coyotes, if they think the populations are too big! I don't like that either! Nature has its own balance, and it should be left alone!