“@Michael139
Yes I do hate you for being cruel ! Also well said 2ladybugs”

“@ Michael139
These animals feel pain and suffering like any wild or domesticated creature, the trouble with hunters like yourself is you are desensitised to wildlife and do not see these animals suffering. You talk of your "fun" again this just shows you and your fellow hunters are CRUEL and the unfeeling people you are. Foxes are not brought onto this earth for you or like minded people to chase and rip apart with your hounds. You do not eat them, also you should not be playing god to say which ones should survive or not. You may dismiss me Michael with my claims of the cubs but take a look at the evidence, the Sinnington hunt was found with two fox cubs being fed and kept in cages. Other huntsmen have on many occasion been very honest and told of the reasons for artificial earths they admit it. They feed the foxes to keep them coming back to the earths, then they cover the earths entrances to keep the foxes in till the hunt is around to make sure there is some to chase and rip apart for their "fun"
You are either a liar Michael or you have not got a clue as this goes on and some huntsmen have admitted it.
As for "biodiversity in the UK is being destroyed by predators no longer being properly controlled" This is yet another excuse you pro's are using. The worst predators who destroy biodiversity is the human race. I think people like you should be properly controlled so lets keep the ban !”

“No vote on europe but yes to one on hunting. Glad Dave has his priorities right. Whenever a piece comes up about hunting I love to read the conflicting rubbish spouted by 'sportsmen' and 'counytrymen'. Am suprised half of them know how to write. Throwbacks”

“No vote on europe but yes to one on hunting. Glad Dave has his priorities right.”

“No vote on europe but yes to one on hunting. Glad Dave has his priorities right.”

“Should have said "but I take great exception"”

“@Michael139

I would not have commented on here except I take great exception to your last sentence "The antis don't hate us for being cruel, they call us cruel because they hate us."

My fondest love is a hunter and yet I am still anti hunt. He accepts my opinions and my love for wildlife. Some of my best friends both male and female are hunters. I HATE none of them or any of you. I do hate the killing of wildlife for no legal/humane reasons.”

“@Synsister With respect, I disagree. Of course it would be wickedly cruel to chase a domesticated animal, but foxes are wild animals and quite different. Google the recent report by the Veterinary Profession about how important it is to approach the management of wildlife for what it is - wildlife. They very properly make the point that foxes just don't see the world like a domesticated animal, its in their nature to hunt and be hunted.

You might also read the piece in today's Telegraph about how biodiversity in the UK is being destroyed by predators no longer being properly controlled, on the back of similar logic to your own. And bear in mind that no one wants to make foxes extinct - we want and need a balanced, healthy fox population in the countryside and hunting is an ideal way to control numbers, cull the sickly foxes in particular, to disperse them and keep them wary of people.

As for breeding cubs for training hounds - what utter nonsense. I think you're misunderstanding how young hounds were introduced to hunting via "cubbing": hunting younger foxes in the autumn. As for artifical earths and baiting - these are the preserve of gamekeepers drawing in foxes to shoot.

But you're quite right I do think hunting is fun. That doesn't mean I delight in the death of anything; just that there is fantastic sport to be had from following behind a useful and humane facet of countryside management. The antis don't hate us for being cruel, they call us cruel because they hate us.”

“@Synsister With respect, I disagree. Of course it would be wickedly cruel to chase a domesticated animal, but foxes are wild animals and quite different. Google the recent report by the Veterinary Profession about how important it is to approach the management of wildlife for what it is - wildlife. They very properly make the point that foxes just don't see the world like a domesticated animal, its in their nature to hunt and be hunted.

You might also read the piece in today's Telegraph about how biodiversity in the UK is being destroyed by predators no longer being properly controlled, on the back of similar logic to your own. And bear in mind that no one wants to make foxes extinct - we want and need a balanced, healthy fox population in the countryside and hunting is an ideal way to control numbers, cull the sickly foxes in particular, to disperse them and keep them wary of people.

As for breeding cubs for training hounds - what utter nonsense. I think you're misunderstanding how young hounds were introduced to hunting via "cubbing": hunting younger foxes in the autumn. As for artifical earths and baiting - these are the preserve of gamekeepers drawing in foxes to shoot.

But you're quite right I do think hunting is fun. That doesn't mean I delight in the death of anything; just that there is fantastic sport to be had from following behind a useful and humane facet of countryside management. The antis don't hate us for being cruel, they call us cruel because they hate us.”

“@ Michael 139, It really infuriates me when you pro hunters keep coming up with your excuses for killing wildlife. Your reasons for hunting include- Pest control, maintain a healthy population, and the one that is the most accurate- For fun. But when I hear "It ain't cruel" and it's "humane", I despair. I put it to you Michael, if your dog were to be chased by a pack of animals, horses, hunters, spectators, dug out of covers etc, chased till there is no escape or energy left to even try, then ripped apart, would you not think this was cruel ? A life is a life and no matter what shape or form it feels pain and fear, to do this to a life is CRUEL.
You are just on your jolly day out with your friends and do not think that during the chase and kill there is nothing wrong it's all in the name of keeping a healthy population ! NO this is not the case, hunting is indescriminate and not just killing the weak, sick or old. Your hunting fraternity also maintain artificial earths and feed foxes, this has been proven, also breeding cubs for training the hounds. Tut tut Michael, you are all controlling fox numbers not because you see them as pests but so there are plenty to hunt and fit so you can have a longer chase on your "fun" days out.
I will stick to hiding treats for my dogs as I do not feel the need to join your aggressive, chase and kill days out for a "buzz"”