Fox Hunting...

Myth: Fox hunting is essential to control
Fact: The fox population is governed naturally, by the fox numbers by the availability of territory and food. Across the rural countryside it is estimated that the fox population is restricted to approximately four adults (three vixens and one dog) per 1000 acres. Cubs are born during Feb, March and April, reared through the summer and driven off by the parents when they reach maturity.

(1) Studies also show that if left to their own devices only tlle dominant vixen will breed with the others only helping to bring up the litter. Killing foxes does not reduce their numbers but provicles room for itinerant foxes to fill tlle vacuum.

Myth: The fox is a pest
Fact: The Ministry of Agriculture does not consider the fox to be a pest (2)

FOX PREDATION:

Lambs Up to 17% of all lambs are stillborn or die soon after birth. Many of these fatalities are removed by foxes. The Ministry of Agriculture considers that lamb losses to foxes are insignificant.

Chickens: 94% of all chickens are kept inside in intensive poultry units. Free range poultry can be securely housed at night and protected during the day by use of electric fencing.

Fox's Diet
Small animals such as voles, mice, rabbits, beetles, frogs, worms, birds and carrion. "The staple diet of a fox is not, as so many people apparently imagine, hens and ducks. Indeed it is probably true to say that not 5% all the foxes in Christendom every taste domestic poultry at all" (3)

1. Research work carried out by Dr. David MacDonald of Oxford University
2. MAFF Infestation Control Board 5.12.79 BFSS leaflet 1973
3. BFSS Leaflet

Myth: Hounds hunt naturally
Fact: Hounds have to be trained to hunt and those which show no inclination are destroyed.

Myth: The fox is killed by a bite to the back of the neck by the lead hound.
Fact: Not so... A BFSS (now Countryside Alliance) film produced to demonstrate that fox hunting is a humane method of control, clearly shows the fox being killed by being bowled over and attacked by hounds biting all parts of its body.

Cubbing starts early August. New hounds are entered into woods which are known to house neck by the vixen and cubs. The inexperienced hounds learn to kill the foxes which are unable to escape due to the earth being blocked. Those that do attempt to escape are driven back the riders surround the wood.

The chase can last up to four hours. A fox can outrun the hounds over a short distance. Foxhounds are built for stamina, not speed. Fox earths and badger setts are blocked to prevent the fox from going to ground."It is essential that hounds have their blood up and learn to be savage with their fox". The late Duke of Beaufort - a prominent Master of Foxhounds.

If a fox does find refuge it will probably be flushed out by terriers or blocked in and "marked to ground'' to be dug out by terrier men after the hunt.

Myth: Only old or sick foxes are killed
Fact: Hounds do not differentiate between "old and young" or "sick and healthy" foxes. Once in full "cry", it is impossible to stop hounds. Indeed the killing of cats and other pet animals by hounds which have rioted is well documented.

Hare Hunting...

Hares are hunted by packs of three different breeds of hounds - some 82 packs of beagles, 11 packs of bassets and 24 packs of harriers. Beagles and bassets are followed on foot, harriers on horseback. The season starts in September/October and ends in March/April - depending upon the harvest, sowing etc.

When hunted, reluctant to leave their territory, hares start by running in circles. As they tire, they are overwhelmed by the hounds superior stamina and killed. A pack is judged to be "well-bred" if it takes 60-90 minutes to run the hare to exhaustion and kill it.

HARE COURSING

The aim of coursing is for two dogs to compete against each other in pursuit of the hare. Hares are driven over a distance (approximately i/2 mile or more) into the coursing field by the "beaters". Two dogs are released by the "slipper" who gives the hare a recommended start of some 80 yards. The hares are usually tired by the time they reach the coursing field. The owners of the dogs are awarded points by a mounted judge according to his/her ability to turn the hare, which may or may not escape.

The hare can become the living "rope" in a tug of war between the two dogs. It may take several minutes before anyone reaches the dogs to put the hare out of its misery by breaking its neck.

Hare coursing takes place between September and March each year.

Between 600 - 1000 hares are killed each year through organised coursing events. Many of these hares are taken away from the highlands and transported to the event where they will be killed.

Modern intensive farming methods and the widespread use of toxic pesticides and herbicides are known to have contributed to the serious decline in hare numbers.

The U.K. Biodiversity Steering Group Report of December 1995, identified the brown hare as one of the UK's most threatened and declining species. The Government of the day included the hare in its conservation programme.

Deer Hunting... STAGHUNTING Deer are hunted by 3 packs of hounds in the West Country In 1997 a pack of Buckhounds operating in the New Forest were disbanded. The West Country packs hunt Autumn Stags (mature Males) from August to October. The hinds (females) are hunted f'rom November to February and the Spring stags (young males) during March and April. The deer to be hunted is selected by a member of the hunt known as the "harbourer", who also checks out the position of the deer on the morning of thc hunt. Around 10-15 hounds are used at the start of the hunt. Once the stag is on the run, it emits a strong scent which in theory, enables the other hounds to follow and not be distracted by other deer. However it is known for hunts to start the chase after one deer, only later to change and pursue another. The stag starts by running fast and with ease and can clear hedges, ditches and other obstacles. Whenevcr thc huntc-d animal sceks sanctuary, it will be driven out by hunt supporters. Chases can last hours. Stags will try to seek sanctuary in rivers. Documentary evidence shows stags been driven into the sea. If a stag does find sanctuary in a river it will attempt to hold the hounds at bay. When the hunt arrives, the stag will be killed with a shotgun or pistol. Film footage taken during a hunt shows a stag being held under water by hunt supporters whilst they waited on the arrival another member of the hunt with the humane killer. HIND HUNTING The hind hunting season lasts from November to February, the hinds may well be pregnant when hunted. Some hinds may also have the previous year's calf in tow. Often the calf is killed by the hounds and the hind runs on for another few hours before finally being caught by the hounds. CULLING Nationally, at least 80,000 deer are killed each year by shooting. This method accounts for approximately 99% of the annual cull Gulling is essential to remove the old, the sick and the infirm and to prevent over-population. A skilled marksman using a high powered rifle fitted with telescopic sights will kill a grazing deer instantly and hun1anely. Deer hunting using slower-running dogs and exhausting the animal over a chase which can last up to 7 hours over a 25 mile chase is inhumane. In April 1997, Prof Patrick Bateson produced a report which concluded beyond doubt that hunting deer with hounds causes unacceptable suffering. On the strength of this report the National Trust has banned deer with hounds on their land. Despite this overwhelming evidence hunts have declared their intention to continue hunting whilst it is still lawful to do so. It is illegal to hunt deer with hounds in Scotland.

Drag Hunting...

All forms of hunting with hounds can be replaced with Draghunting where the animal is substituted by an athletic person.

There is no violence involved, no damage to property or the horses involved, no trespass or livestock worrying.

There are already around 31 bloodhound/draghunts in Britain.

Draghunting offers a humane alternative to bloodsports and retains the packs of hounds, horses, the pageantry and employment of those concerned.

Indeed, with public opinion widely in favour of ending hunting with hounds, there is every reason to expect that more of Britain's half million horse riders will be attracted to follow hounds once the killing of animals is eliminated from this pastime.

Drag hunting could also be used to replace hunting with hounds as the qualifying criteria for point to point races.

*The Countryside Alliance leaflet on Draghunting as an alternative gives the main reason for Draghunting not being a replacement other forms of hunting as being the lack of "country" available. However, if Draghunting were to replace all other forms of hunting with dogs, this is not an issue.

At a Countryside Alliance meeting at the Conservative Party Conference in October 99 In Blackpool, Countryside Alliance members in attendance called for this leaflet to be Withdrawn as "it gives the anti's amunition"