fenboy Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 (edited) A story in my local paper today . A gamekeeper who did not have the heart to shoot a Fox , think he is in the wrong job,or surely it could not be he is a terrier man on a hunt and was relocating it Game keeper kept pregnant fox in tiny barrel TWO men using terriers to flush foxes from underground dens put a live pregnant vixen in a tiny barrel because the gamekeeper “didn’t have the heart” to shoot her as the law required. Police were called by children’s home staff to investigate a report that shooting was taking place and men were in their field on April 25 last year, Spalding magistrates heard. Officers went to Fen Road, Holbeach, and found gamekeeper John Bycroft (67), who is the terrier man to the Fitzwilliam Hunt, and Jamie Round (24) nearby with an open horsebox with a plastic barrel inside. The barrel measured just 75cms high and 30cms across and contained a live fox. The court heard Bycroft intended to release the fox elsewhere, but police ordered her to be freed on the spot. Bycroft, of Weston Hills Road, Low Fulney, denied one offence under the Hunting Act 2004 and one under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, but both were proved at the end of a two day RSPCA prosecution. He was ordered to pay a total of £2,065 – comprising fines of £525 for each offence, £1,000 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Jobless Round, of Penny Hill, Holbeach, denied identical offences. He was acquitted of the Hunting Act charge but found guilty of the Welfare Act charge which involved confining the fox in a barrel with insufficient light, space, ventilation and a suitable environment to exhibit normal behaviour. Round was fined £165 and must pay £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Beris Brickles, prosecuting, said Bycroft asked for and was denied consent to be on the children’s home land. The court heard the fox was caught on a dyke bank outside the home’s boundary fence and Bycroft had written consent to be on the neighbouring land. Bycroft and Round said all that happened on the children’s home land was digging to free a terrier that was trapped underground. Magistrates found neither man breached the trespass element of Hunting Act law, but Bycroft alone breached the provision requiring him to shoot the fox as soon as reasonably practical. Solicitor Daven Naghen said Round did not have a gun and expected Bycroft to shoot the animal. Mr Naghen warned against ascribing human feelings to the fox as its ten minutes in the barrel could have been the happiest of its life. Solicitor Rachel Stevens said Bycroft is held in high regard as a gamekeeper and felt shooting the fox would have caused unnecessary suffering to her cubs. There were ground nesting birds on the site where she was captured and he wanted to release her elsewhere Edited May 3, 2012 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Involved in hunting,capturing and keeping the fox,I've an idea what they were possibly planninng. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 (edited) Involved in hunting,capturing and keeping the fox,I've an idea what they were possibly planninng. I'm intrigued, surely not worth it for fox hunting is it? Awaits thread turning to chaos... Edited May 3, 2012 by LondonLuke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Not for hunting The probable intention was to educate some terriers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I'm intrigued, surely not worth it for fox hunting is it? Awaits thread turning to chaos... I love hunting, I know a lot of people involved, so it's best I leave it there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 i wonder what the fox is going to buy with its £15 victim surcharge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted May 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 i wonder what the fox is going to buy with its £15 victim surcharge I dont know but it must be chuffed as according to the defence it may have spent the happiest time of its life in the barrel and then came out of it with £15 quid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artschool Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 i wonder what the fox is going to buy with its £15 victim surcharge Lol, how about a little fox sized bullet proof vest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I liked that story. Mmm.... Rachel Stevens.... briefs.... hourly rates... happy thoughts ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I liked that story. Mmm.... Rachel Stevens.... briefs.... hourly rates... happy thoughts ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 i wonder what the fox is going to buy with its £15 victim surcharge £30 they both had to pay £15! PErhaps they had a great idea for a TV show? How does one put a GPS collar on a wild fox? Without capturing it and restraining it for a period of time? I saw a fox today middle of the day having a nice trot down the road... but was much darker than normal fox :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Educating terriers, very much doubt it. You'll hear various stories about hunts supposedly rearing cubs with and without a vicky, you'll also hear plenty of stories surrounding artificial earths if you dig deep enough. Some things are true, some things aren't. Speculation is a wonderful thing seeing as we definitely don't know the full facts based on the news article. Probably one of those topics best not discussed/speculated upon in the public domain. Won't do hunting any favours. Those that know already know, and those that don't probably never will. :yp: FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 Educating terriers, very much doubt it. You'll hear various stories about hunts supposedly rearing cubs with and without a vicky, you'll also hear plenty of stories surrounding artificial earths if you dig deep enough. Some things are true, some things aren't. Speculation is a wonderful thing seeing as we definitely don't know the full facts based on the news article. Probably one of those topics best not discussed/speculated upon in the public domain. Won't do hunting any favours. Those that know already know, and those that don't probably never will. :yp: FM As a terrier man in a previous life, i think the least said the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 Educating terriers, very much doubt it. You'll hear various stories about hunts supposedly rearing cubs with and without a vicky, you'll also hear plenty of stories surrounding artificial earths if you dig deep enough. Some things are true, some things aren't. Speculation is a wonderful thing seeing as we definitely don't know the full facts based on the news article. Probably one of those topics best not discussed/speculated upon in the public domain. Won't do hunting any favours. Those that know already know, and those that don't probably never will. :yp: FM well said that man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.