Fox Hunting is a subject most of us have an opinion on. It has come under much debate, & has caused a lot of friction between those wishing to keep it as a Country sport, & those who declare it a blood sport & want to see it banned. Hunt Campaigners see foxes as a menace, killing farmers stock, game & attacking crops & they consider there sport an essential part of Countryside life, helping to keep the fox population down. In their eyes it is not a cruel 'blood sport' & it is suggested that hunting dogs kill foxes far quicker than by other controlled means, this being the least cruel method, as they go straight for the throat normally causing almost immediate death.
Some 250,000 foxes are killed every year by one means or another. You can not change the predatory instincts of foxes or the views of farmers or gamekeepers who seek to protect their stock or game. If hunting were abolished the fox population would be managed by other ways such as snaring or shooting, largely with shotguns.
Against
Anti-Hunt Campaigners, consider that hunting foxes is nothing more than a cruel blood sport enjoyed by the few. They argue that foxes are not the menace, & a number of people feel so strongly about it that they become hunt saboteurs in an attempt to disrupt hunts.
To this end both anti-hunt & pro-hunt lobbies are large in numbers & the feeling is so high that the government find themselves in the middle of a difficult situation, to whatever way they turn.
Many MPs and others have been misled into believing that there is widespread public support for a bill to ban hunting.
In fact public attitudes are confused in relation to country sports as a Poll taken in August 1997 showed:
- 29% of the population would support a ban on fishing
- 54% would support a ban on game shooting
- 63% would support a ban on hunting
But Only 39% believed that Parliament should pass legislation to ban hunting.
For
Reasons for supporting fox hunting:
- Foxes are not endangered or protected.
- The method of hunting is conducted in accordance with recognised and enforced codes of practice, which minimise the suffering to the animal.
- The activity also plays a significant role in the control conservation or management of the
species and its habitat.
The images we normally see of fox hunting are usually superficial and distorted.
The people who follow the hunt on horses are not there to witness the death of the fox.
They come for what they hope will be an exciting ride across beautiful countryside.
Labour would be foolish to close off one of the most important routes available, particularly as it is supported by 95% of farmers who welcome the hunt on their land. As it provides a welcome source of income as well as one of the most important focal points in the community.
Each hunt’s supporters’ club brings together hundreds of men and women from all social backgrounds in a way which few other sports or activities could match.
On the whole many people are against fox hunting but feel no reason for the sport to be banned as its your choice to get involved or not. It has been around for so long that there is not much point banning it now, the only reason for people worrying so much is because of the way in which the fox is killed and would prefer a more humane way in which it is done. A recent poll, which involved one hundred members of the royal veterinary surgeons, revealed that 66% of them didn’t see any problem with hunting. From this essay you can see that hunting needs to be looked at thoroughly before the eventual outcome is decided.
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