Defiant Fox Hunters Open Season That Could Be Britain's Last if Government Bans Sport

Associated Press ^ | Nov 6, 2004 | Tim Elfrink

[Pharmboy]

Hmmm...you sound like you speak from experience about fox roadkill. However, in the fox-inhabited places that I have lived (rural upstate NY for about 10 years) I can't remember seeing any fox roadkill among the groundhogs, raccoon, skunk, possum, turtle, deer, squirrel, etc.

I imagine it's a question of numbers--you must have many more fox in your area.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

[AnAmericanMother]

In all seriousness, the hounds DO need direction from the huntsman and his whippers-in. The huntsman selects the covert that the hounds will draw on any given day, and encourages them to work it to "find". Since the scent can run either way, the huntsman may have to lift the hounds and place them back on the scent going the right way. When they lose the scent, he can direct them back on. When they scatter, he calls them together, using horn calls for that purpose.

Here are some of the different horn calls. Scroll down the column on the left to the picture of the horn! (This is the website of our local hunt.)

The rest of us are just along for the ride. We dress up because it's FUN! Here are my horse and I all turned out for the event (sorry can't supercopy, it was taken by a prof. photographer).

[elbucko]

Why get all dressed up for that?

Because its a hoot!

[gusopol3]

you know, I had never seen a fox, living or dead, in PA and DE, where I have lived most of my life, until about ten years ago-- suddenly, they were everywhere, though mostly stretched out between the white lines. I have always attributed it to the fact people, even farmers apparently, keep their dogs inside now, and you don't see them wandering around, like you used to when they formed a high percentage of roadkill.

[cowboyway]

"(The ban) is the most misplaced idea on animal welfare one could imagine,"

It's worse than that. Much worse. It's discriminatory. If this ban is going into effect under the banner of 'animal rights', then all the animals involved should be considered.

What about the horses rights to fox hunt? What about the hounds? Anybody that's ever ridden a horse in an event, knows that the horse looks forward to it. Same for dogs. Anybody that's ever hunted with dogs knows how excited they get when going afield.

Horses and dogs have rights too!

Just a little tongue in cheek :~)

[AnAmericanMother]

Anybody that's ever ridden a horse in an event, knows that the horse looks forward to it. Same for dogs. Anybody that's ever hunted with dogs knows how excited they get when going afield.

This is the truth! One rainy afternoon at the barn we set up a movie screen in the aisle and showed films (of the Olympics equestrian events, and fox hunting). At one point on the soundtrack you could hear the hounds' music and the huntsman blowing his horn.

All the horses immediately stuck their heads out of the stall doors and began pawing and whinnying. They were ready to go.

And every time my Labrador Retriever hears a duck call, she's right at the door. "Ducks! DUCKS! Where are they? Can I fetch 'em? Can I? Please! Please!"

[cowboyway]

And every time my Labrador Retriever hears a duck call, she's right at the door. "Ducks! DUCKS! Where are they? Can I fetch 'em? Can I? Please! Please!"

If I walk out of the house wearing any camo, my Chesapeake and Lab go nuts.

[AnAmericanMother]

My Lab goes "both ways" - she does agility and hunt tests. She knows when I pick up the camo trainer bag that we're going to go get some ducks . . . and when I pick up the plastic tote bin that we're going to go jump some jumps and A frames and seesaws and things.

She loves both.

[Pharmboy]

Yep...hunted quail, rabbit (best rabbit dog was half beagle half bassett hound), ruffed grouse and pheasant with dogs. Incredible--especially watching a puppy English setter work the field for pheasant with his mother. They sure do love it.

But,you don't even have to go hunting. You should see my 10 month old Golden Retriever (he's 80 pounds) when he spots Canadian geese in the air or the water.