Televised Fox Hunting On The Evening News

[GHE]

9 hours ago, Mice! said:

I hadn't watched the video because I was in work when it was first posted, but I've just watched it three times.

It doesn’t really show anything,  the terrier is pulled clear and taken well out of the way to make sure the hounds don't do it harm.

Someone from the hunt pulls out a fox, hard to say if it's alive or dead, but he has a good grip on it, the second fox bolts and a muppet can be heard giggling,  but we were all young and excitable once.

The camera follows the running fox then pans back to the other hounds surrounding the huntsman no doubt ripping into the fox.

I'm amazed people on here are put out by this, I was expecting something horrific. 

I've watched videos of mixed packs ratting,  lots of shouting and whooping,  some behaviour I might not like, like stamping on a rat, but people get caught up in things.

Really? Then shoot high clays, I've seen pheasants so high they are unshootable,  once heard a gun say he thought they were starlings. 

The shooting world is far from pure, things go on that shouldn't that I won't say on a public forum,  but hundreds of thousands of birds raised to be shot for sport, yet the shooters are pointing their finger at the hunts?

It smacks of double standards.

Hundreds of thousands? It's actually 53 MILLION

[Mice!]

1 hour ago, London Best said:

No. I wouldn’t take up clay shooting because there is no excitement, it’s like watching paint dry.

Very honest answer, folk shoot pheasant because it's exciting,  because it's sociable,  because it's a challenge,  not because they need to ear the birds.

On a small shoot most birds will be taken home, no issues,  but shoots taking hundreds of birds a week!

6 hours ago, 12gauge82 said:

Got to be honest, I wouldnt say I was put out by it, just that it looked very poor and Joe public who are already disgusted at fox hunting would find it abhorrent,not to mention the fact it was totally illegal. 

Going off the replies on here I expected a wriggling screaming fox being pulled apart by the hounds, there was none of that, it didn't look much different to digging down to a ferret and drawing out a rabbit.

I'd still say the majority of those riding to hounds are happy with a laid scent trail, they'll enjoy the day, the company the challenge of the ride and the whole spectacle,  I love going in a country pub with loads of fox hunting memorabilia on the walls, it's a part of the countryside. 

11 minutes ago, GHE said:

Hundreds of thousands? It's actually 53 MILLION

I new it was à lot, didn't realise it was that many.

[Penelope]

15 hours ago, islandgun said:

Highlighted words in a nutshell and it also applies to most everything else in the countryside, the good bits of Agriculture, Deer control in re-wilding proposals, game entering the food chain, moorland management.

Conservation, food production, sporting interests should work hand in hand

Trouble is, those that should ideally work hand in hand with us, are 'protectionists' opposed to us killing stuff for fun, and the end justifies the means.

[cash1]

I would just like to say.

With hunting there's only dead or alive and if carried out in the true sporting way it follows the rules of nature, the best escape the weak don't. Natural selection. The death is violent but quick.

Shooting the humane way? How many foxes etc get away with a hole in them only to die slowly?

I'm getting on a bit now and have had the best of country sports that most of you can only dream of. Your freedom is slowly getting eroded away. Take care and don't take for gospel everything that appears in the media. 

 

[Penelope]

14 hours ago, PeterHenry said:

I sympathise - but it's not just shooting and fieldsports. The times we are living in are restrictive, and will become even more so. There's very little we can do about that - but it stings all the more because we have been living during the hightide mark of personal liberty - especially the last 40 years or so. Just look at the fuss around log burners or personal transport / pollution in London....

Re social media - that's a two edged sword. Pictures that reinforce the link between hunting and food do the world of good. Bad ones do a far deal worse in the opposite direction.

 

That is a very sad point and one that appears to have some truth to it.

[Mice!]

2 minutes ago, cash1 said:

I'm getting on a bit now and have had the best of country sports that most of you can only dream of. Your freedom is slowly getting eroded away. Take care and don't take for gospel everything that appears in the media. 

Well said.

[Penelope]

9 hours ago, Dave-G said:

It smacks to me of a fox running for its life till near exhaustion before taking refuge in an earth, then knowing its being dug down to it and maybe its cubs before being ripped apart as a reward for dogs chasing it at the pleasure of blood thirsty masters.

Maybe its just older shooters like myself who are becoming tired? of the wanton killing of animals just for the sport of it.

No, just wrapping themselves in hypocrisy when it suits.

[johnphilip]

34 minutes ago, old'un said:

I have ….getting the bits of clay out your mouth is the bit I don't like.

Show off😁

[Scully]

22 minutes ago, cash1 said:

I would just like to say.

With hunting there's only dead or alive and if carried out in the true sporting way it follows the rules of nature, the best escape the weak don't. Natural selection. The death is violent but quick.

Shooting the humane way? How many foxes etc get away with a hole in them only to die slowly?

I'm getting on a bit now and have had the best of country sports that most of you can only dream of. Your freedom is slowly getting eroded away. Take care and don't take for gospel everything that appears in the media. 

 

But there’s the quandary again! Not even the ‘best’ get away if they’re dug out, and if it’s pest control why would you give any a ‘sporting’ chance or indeed transfer foxes to an area that doesn’t have them? 
There were no foxes in Australia until they were exported there, as far as I’m aware. 🤷‍♂️

People need to come to a decision and be honest about why they’re in this business, being unsure of your reason for shooting or hunting simply makes us appear foolish and a bit thick. 

I’m totally indifferent to hunting with hounds; it’s not my cup of tea admittedly but I wouldn’t try and stop anyone from doing it. 

[CharlieT]

Simply because we have been pushed into a corner and have decided to justify our field sports with such drivel. It matters not a jot to our opponents how we dress it up. Providing food, helping farmers control vermin, cover for little birds, etc. is all a smokescreen. We take part because we enjoy an exhilarating sport be that hunting or shooting that, at the end of the day, results in the killing (death) of an animal. The sooner we all sing from the same hymn sheet and stand together the better.

[wymberley]

1 hour ago, johnphilip said:

Have you never tried the clay come straight at you ,now that is fun 😀

Oh, that made me laugh. Happy days!

(Un)fortunately, aircraft don't always stay on the tarmac/concrete. Recovering them from the soft areas can be awkward and it helps if you don't have rabbit in residence. To assist with this, unlimited Grand Prix 6s were available on request. This made several years in Germany even more pleasant. After finishing my tour and back in the UK my new job meant some travelling and it wasn't long before I was back on a visit. Turned out that the rabbit had all disappeared and it was clays or nowt. A good place to be is somewhere where a maintenance unit is located as the skill base is comprehensive as is the kit. So, clays it is then. Never seen a trap like it; probably because it consisted of a solid and rigid metal frame on which was mounted a a starter motor from a fairly substantial vehicle to which an arm had been fitted and powered by a battery which was enclosed in a metal box. The remote operating cable was armoured. The couple of cages were wood clad steel plate. This was termed the 'Acme  Random Selection Equipment'. There was no rhyme or reason as to the clays' trajectory - they simply went wherever the starter motor decided - and yes, it wasn't long before the reason for the beefed up cages became apparent. 

[Rim Fire]

so you get excited shooting live game 🤔 what's the difference you know where it is going to come from  the same as a clay 

37 minutes ago, CharlieT said:

Simply because we have been pushed into a corner and have decided to justify our field sports with such drivel. It matters not a jot to our opponents how we dress it up. Providing food, helping farmers control vermin, cover for little birds, etc. is all a smokescreen. We take part because we enjoy an exhilarating sport be that hunting or shooting that, at the end of the day, results in the killing (death) of an animal. The sooner we all sing from the same hymn sheet and stand together the better.

THIS 👆

Edited February 14, 2023 by Rim Fire

[clangerman]

any more excuses for this needless cruelty when game shooting ends up in the same boat just remember you cut your throats 

[Scully]

52 minutes ago, clangerman said:

any more excuses for this needless cruelty when game shooting ends up in the same boat just remember you cut your throats 

And what’s your excuse for killing things for entertainment? 

[old'un]

27 minutes ago, Scully said:

And what’s your excuse for killing things for entertainment? 

Stop asking silly questions…..you know you will be confused by the reply.

[Scully]

11 minutes ago, old'un said:

Stop asking silly questions…..you know you will be confused by the reply.

🙂 I know, some of us never learn! 

[clangerman]

42 minutes ago, Scully said:

And what’s your excuse for killing things for entertainment? 

I don’t take entertainment from killing anything pest control is merely a job farmers are to busy for hence they give others permission hope that’s not to confusing for you lol 

[CharlieT]

43 minutes ago, clangerman said:

I don’t take entertainment from killing anything pest control is merely a job farmers are to busy for hence they give others permission hope that’s not to confusing for you lol 

There you are Scully, he's just a kind hearted chap who, despite the fact he vehemently abhors killing does so because he feels sorry for a farmer. What a splendid chap he is. 

[Penelope]

5 minutes ago, CharlieT said:

There you are Scully, he's just a kind hearted chap who, despite the fact he vehemently abhors killing does so because he feels sorry for a farmer. What a splendid chap he is. 

Altruistic to a fault.

[Westley]

1 hour ago, clangerman said:

I don’t take entertainment from killing anything pest control is merely a job farmers are to busy for hence they give others permission hope that’s not to confusing for you lol 

WHO writes your scripts  ? YOU only shoot pigeons because you are saving the Nation from starving then  ? I shall keep an eye open for the next 'Honours list', you are sure to be mentioned  !  Why not just stand in the field and wave a flag then  ?   🙄

[Gordon R]

Westley - made me laugh. Thanks. 🙂

[Westley]

Dress it up however you like, a pigeon shooter, game shooter or wildfowler, we shoot because we ENJOY it  ! ( with one possible exception, who deserves a medal.........for entertaining the rest of us ! )

You will be telling us next that you kill and retrieve EVERYTHING you shoot at too  ?    

Edited February 14, 2023 by Westley

[12gauge82]

Although quite amusing, that argument holds no weight. 

Vermin control is needed, hunting with hounds has been deemed to be an inhumane sport society no longer tolerates and is illegal, shooting is not. 

[Scully]

2 hours ago, clangerman said:

I don’t take entertainment from killing anything pest control is merely a job farmers are to busy for hence they give others permission hope that’s not to confusing for you lol 

No, not confusing at all!
So you don’t own the land and they’re not your crops.

I’m assuming you’ve applied and paid for a SGC, bought at least one shotgun and you buy cartridges? Plus you’ve bought some sort of hide over the years and maybe a few decoys? 
Are we to assume you’ve done all that because you don’t enjoy it? 
Edited to add: Lol! 

1 hour ago, CharlieT said:

There you are Scully, he's just a kind hearted chap who, despite the fact he vehemently abhors killing does so because he feels sorry for a farmer. What a splendid chap he is. 

Indeed! Salt of the Earth! 🙂

Edited February 14, 2023 by Scully

[Scully]

3 minutes ago, 12gauge82 said:

Although quite amusing, that argument holds no weight. 

Vermin control is needed, hunting with hounds has been deemed to be an inhumane sport society no longer tolerates and is illegal, shooting is not. 

Not true at all! It carries as much weight as a big massive weighty thing! 
Whilst it’s true vermin control is needed, there isn’t one person in the land who is shooting live quarry because they dislike it. Not one. 
If you’re not enjoying yourself then stop doing it, it’s as simple as that. 
I used to shoot a lot of foxes and roe, but I don’t enjoy it any longer so have stopped doing it, to the extent I sold my CF rifle sometime ago….px’d it for a self loader so I can shoot more bolting bunnies, which I thoroughly enjoy. 
I’d make a lousy keeper though because I like mustelids, and refuse to trap or kill them. 
It’s simple; not enjoying yourself? Then stop doing it?