Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Brown,

He would slug it out.

Fox hunting (just as bad as bull fighting) with a pack of dogs is another terrible sport, but I agree that a farmer should have the right to kill a fox that has slaughtered all his chickens.....to me boxing is a sport and the refs do stop the fight if things get out of hand !.

Hopefully fox hunting will return when the Conservative get re-elected next time without a coalition.

Hopefully ?...I want it banned for good....

I am an animal lover, who is anti fox hunting. I also live in the country within 2 miles of a very large hunting kennels.
The most ridiculous argument for fox hunting is that it keeps the fox population down. Well it doesn't, as it is one of the least effective ways of reducing the population.
Also although they call it sport, I have seen foxes dug out when they have managed to beat the hounds home, or a terrier is put down to kill the fox. Also the hunts often pre block the foxes dens prior to hunt day. And yet hunts and their supporters, say it is the thrill of the chase, not the kill that is important. If so why not at least allow the fox, who has made it home a chance to live and run another day.
Hunts also cause a large amount of damage to crops, and livestock. I have seen the hounds a few times, panic sheep and cattle.
The hounds also are the cause of many road traffic accidents.
When I used to Police the local hunt, the hunt members thought that I was a supporter, as from an often advantage point, I would, if asked direct the hunt in the direction of the fox, who's scent had been lost, always sending them in the wrong direction. Hopefully I saved a few foxes this way.
Wildlife is a main hobby of mine, so I make no excuses.
Many years ago, a friend of mine was paid by the local hunt to 'block' dens.
He was also an animal lover, who knew more about the fox and its territory than many of the hunt members, so both he and myself would re visit the dens the night prior to the hunt and unblock one entry.
We then poured small amounts of petrol across the tracks we new the fox would use to get to the den.
If it was dry, we would use pepper. Neither of these harmed the hounds.
As to the hunt regalia and pageantry, I love it. But they can change to drag hunting, which has the same thrill (if you believe them, that the kill is not important) and is safer, as the person laying the trail avoids roads as much as possible, livestock and crops.
People also forget or just don't know, that most hounds are put down when they have come to the end of their hunting usefulness, about 6 years old, but it could be 8 (not certain re age). Very few make good pets.

Good post greekman....I would arm the fox with a crossbow....

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RF,

When two opponents are brain dead the ref doesn't realise the damage being inflicted.

I think the obvious unnecessary inflicting of pain onto others for self satisfaction is not that inspiring.

Greek, Like you I was taught and learnt some "self-defence", but was suspended for 6 weeks for using what I knew reflexly, when playing rugby.

Long story and there were three victims and my punishment was light, due to the ref. saying that he had witnessed what had led up to the "incident".

Stopped training for a while, but later when "training" in the Gym with a friend threw a punch at him while sparring and thought I had killed him.

Stopped, contact sports after that.

I was thinking of a foot version....too technical for me...feet..arms,..so what.......or a bag of hand grenades...you never know, foxy might be as clever as Basil Brush.....

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Anyone remember one of the Crocodile Dundee films, the one where some drunks were shooting kangaroos. Dundee then held one dead roo in front of him, whilst firing a rifle at the drunks.
Priceless.

The argument of fox hunting keeps the number of foxes down is fallacious.

I have no objection to culling them, but at least make it humane as possible.

I can't see much in fox hunting or even horse racing, as it is the horse which is doing all the work and generally gets cut up afterwards for dog meat,

But, I suppose if some "oiks" want to dress up in red tights and disturb the peace by blowing tin bugles, so be it.

I don't think they need to wear protective gearing though.

When there was no fox hunting due to foot & mouth the country side was not over ran with fox's. Also we were told if there was a ban on hunting with hounds 100's of people would loose job's and 1,000's of hounds would be put down.

Keep the ban on hunting and close any loop holes in the law of the present one.

No jobs were lost, because fox hunting still continues. They still run hunts and follow a lure. The Act is difficult to police as the hounds may pick up the scent of a real fox mid-hunt and then chase that. The number involved in hunting has increased since the ban.

You are pemermitted to use one dog to flush out a fox to be killed by a bird of prey, which is probably a more lingering death than to be killed by dogs.

Still, I am sure it will be repealed. There were many Labour MPs that were against the legislation, but they were not allowed a free vote. The fact that the government used the Parliament Act to force through the law shows that it was unpopular and likely to be repealed.

Fred ,you do talk a load of rubbish ! boxing being leagalised thuggery ,,,i have been involved in boxing all my life in one way or another and generally you couldn't meet a nicer bunch of people .

"Future bully boys and army fodder" what a load of crap !!!

JB,

Are you a good advert for the "sport" based of mutilation and knocking another person senseless?

On second thoughts, you maybe.

What mutilation Fred ? What Mike Tyson done was a accident he was only wispering in his ear and Evander pulled his head away.

Hatstack,

You say, 'You are permitted to use one dog to flush out a fox to be killed by a bird of prey, which is probably a more lingering death than to be killed by dogs'.
Sorry but in this country, I have never seen a bird of prey used to kill a fox, flushed out, but not saying it does not happen. I agree they are allowed to flush out with 1 dog, but that dog either mauls the fox to death due to it being cornered in its den, or it is flushed out and killed by other dogs or netted and killed.
As to loss of jobs. If hunting was truly banned, no doubt many hunt members would still ride, so their horses would still need keeping, grooming, fodder etc, so there would be only a few jobs that would go.
As to the usual death, the nearest part of the fox (the hind quarters in the 2 foxes I have seen killed) are grabbed by the nearest dog and once the second or third dogs get a hold, it is usually torn screaming limb from limb.
I have spoken to many who follow hunts, both pro and anti, who have seen kills, and very rarely is a fox killed by a throat area death grip or bite.
As to hounds coming across a fox scent whilst following a lure, you ask any hunt member and they will tell you the 'Whipper in' has little problem in controlling the hounds. So why can't they just call them in from the scent.
As to my earlier post re Dogs put down. These was an official statement and figures quoted to the inquiry prior to the recent ban.
After 5 or 6 seasons, when they (the hounds) will be 7 to 8 years old, most hounds physically cannot run up with the rest of the pack. Hounds that cannot keep up will adversely affect the efficiency of the pack and are liable to become a risk hazard. Hounds dislike being left behind, (what they actually mean it saves money putting them down). There is no other option other than to humanely put them down when they can no longer perform their role. END

In an Average year, 3000 hounds that are fit and well, but are deemed to old to keep up are put down, a fact that is very rarely if ever mentioned.
I wonder just how many hunt supporters, would be prepared to witness the death of these hounds.

Well posted Greekman , also a lot of country people only march with the countryside allience because they are afraid of upsetting the hunting set who employ them.

Good post Greek...