WELCOME TO FOXMAN ON FOX-HUNTING IN THE UK

In February
2005 Parliament
passed into
law a ban
on "Hunting
with Dogs"
in England
and Wales
(The "Hunting
Act").
The "House
of Commons",
acting for
England
and Wales,
used the
Parliament
Acts to overrule
the "House
of Lords".
In Scotland,
power over
Hunting had
already been
devolved to
the Scottish
Parliament
and they had
passed a Ban
on Hunting
in Scotland
in 2002.
Fox-hunting is not banned in Northern Ireland. Thus the Ban covers the whole of Great Britain (GB England, Scotland & Wales) but not the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The UK).
The Republic
of Ireland
is a wholly
independent
state and
has not
banned Hunting
with Dogs.
Although
attempts
are being
made and
Southern
Irish Hunts
need the
support
of all those
in Great
Britain
who stand
up for Rural
Culture.
Foxhunting
in Ireland
is very
strongly
associated
with the
Way of Life
of Rural
People.
This is
a personal
view and
may not
coincide
with the
views of
organisations
which support
fox-hunting.
Click on
the links
to see more
detail.
It was started
in 1995
and put
on hold
in December
2004 after
the passing
of "The
Ban"
in England
and Wales.
It was restarted
in November
2007 because
there is
now a realistic
possibility
of getting
This Ban
and that
in Scotland
repealed.
Foxman hopes
that this
site will
help in
The Repeal
and in resisting
the current
pressures
to Ban Hunting
in Northern
and Southern
Ireland.
THIS SITE
IS CONCERNED
SOLELY WITH
FOX-HUNTING
AND THE
"RURAL
CULTURE"
THAT BENEFITS
FROM IT
AND SUPPORTS
IT. THE
BAN SEVERELY
DAMAGED
OTHER TYPES
OF HUNTING
(E.G. MINK)
BUT FOXMAN
HAS NO DETAILED
KNOWLEDGE
OF THESE.
There is hope that
a Conservative
Government would
repeal
The Ban.
"The House
of
Lords" has
shown
itself to
be open
minded and
to protect
the interests
of individuals
and minorities.
David Cameron
(The leader
of The
Conservative Party) has
the same
interests at
heart.
He has
stated that when
returned to
Government
his Party
will introduce
a Bill
to "Repeal the
Hunting
Act" and
that
"The House
of
Commons" will
be
allowed a
free
vote on the
issue. Nevertheless, on
the 26th
of June
2008, the
leaders
of the hunting
world, including
professional
hunt staff,
supportive
politicians
and Alliance
staff gathered
in London
for the
inaugural
meeting
of the 'Repeal
Committee',
which will
guide the
campaign
for the
repeal of
the Hunting
Act in the
run up to
the next
election.
The committee
is chaired
by Edward
Garnier
QC MP supported
by Lord
Astor as
vice-Chairman
and, unlike
both the
Alliance
itself and
the associations
that run
hunting,
it has only
one purpose:
to see the
Hunting
Act removed
from the
Statute
Book.
The new committee will oversee the work of
lobbying MPs, peers and candidates; of briefing and engaging the
media; and of ensuring confidence in post ban hunting. The members
are well placed to guide, advise and engage all parts of the hunting
community in the efforts that must be made to ensure the abolition
of the Act.
On 6 May 2010 the General Election produced
no overall majority. The Conservatives acquired most
seats and most votes. However the final compromise government is
made up, it is unlikely that the Conservatives will be able to
convince any collaborators of the need for early or any action to
repeal the Ban. In view of the parlous state of the UK after 13
unlucky years of Socialist Centralised Authoritarian
misrule, there are so many Socialist inspired "evils" to sort
out and a Financial Crisis to surmount that it would be foolish
for The Compromise Government to give Repeal any great
priority.
The good news is that the seats that were targeted
by animal rights activists and anti-hunting campaigners were
successful, whilst a series of high profile anti-hunting MPs lost
their seats. The ridiculous claim that supporting the countryside
and hunting have a negative impact on voters has been buried
forever.
Lib Dem Lembit Opik, a notable Pro-Hunting
Liberal-Democrat MP, was beaten in Montgomeryshire. But his
replacement, Conservative Glyn Davies, has impeccable rural
credentials.
Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart
(Con) replaces Nick Ainger (Lab) as MP for Carmarthen West and South
Pembrokeshire with a majority of 3,432
Kate Hoey (Lab)
retains Vauxhall with an increased majority of 10,651
Robin
Walker (Con) with a majority of 2,982 replaces Michael Foster
(Lab), former M.P. for Worcester and the sponsor of an
Anti-Hunting Bill.
Andrew Stephenson (Con) replaces
Gordon Prentice (Lab) as MP for Pendle with a majority of
3,585
It seems inevitable that there will have to be another
General Election ere long.
Therefore it is even more
necessary to re-engage every person who hunts, and everyone in
the country who supports their right to do so, in the campaign to
scrap the Hunting Act. Scrapping the Act is not simply of benefit to
the hunting community. The futures of other field sports,
particularly shooting, will be secured indefinitely by repeal.
In
addition, the
interests of
rural and
urban people
who simply
believe in
a tolerant
society will
also be greatly
enhanced.
This committee
will help
steer hunting
past the
potential pitfalls
of the
next two
years and
to ensure that
every
last effort is
made to
prepare the
ground for
the early
delivery of repeal.
Years
ago, as
the Hunting
Act became
law, the
idea that
there might
now be a
realistic
possibility
of scrapping
the ban
would have
seemed optimistic.
In that
time, however,
it has been
exposed
as one of
the most
pointless,
illiberal
and incompetent
laws ever
to reach
the Statute
Book. The
time is
now right
to put this
failed law
out of its
misery and
the members
of this
committee
are ideally
suited to
that role.
When we
were fighting
the introduction
of the Hunting
Act the
entire hunting
world, and
the wider
rural community,
was engaged
and active
in the campaign.
The last
few years
have been
focussed
on the ground
to ensure
that the
infrastructure
of hunting
is maintained.
Now is the
time to
start a
renewed
political
and public
campaign
for repeal
with the
realistic
possibility
that the
next Government
will be
willing
and able
to deliver.
We have
just one
aim, repeal,
and will
have just
one chance
to achieve
it. This
new committee
will ensure
that no
stone is
left unturned
and no avenue
is left
unexplored
as we seek
that goal.
A
warning
BUT, there
are still
many misguided
people in
Great Britain
anxious
to remove
all forms
of "permitted
hunting",
or to stop
practices
essential
to maintaining
the infrastructure
of our packs
of foxhounds.
I sense
some complacency
and the
behaviour
of a minority
of Hunt
Followers
(mounted,
foot and
car-borne)
continues
to be the
worst threat
to Trail
or Fox Hunting
after bigotry.
Quite rightly,
farmers
and the
general
public resent
thoughtless
acts such
as leaving
gates open
so livestock
is risked,
or roads
blocked,
grass verges
cut up,
etc. This
complacency
and indiscipline
could be
fatal to
preserving
the basis
for a return
to proper
Fox-Hunting.
In this
context,
I am reminded
of an excellent
BBC TV programme
"Going
for the
kill"
and I urge
our supporters
to get a
copy of
the DVD
from
http://www.sussex-southdowns-guide.com/going-for-the-kill.html
It
is one of
the five
documentary
films made
for the
award-winning
BBC 'Storyville'
strand,
entitled
"A
Very English
Village".
It was first
transmitted
by the BBC
in Autumn
2005, and
repeated
in January
2007. It
has received
excellent
reviews.
This film
is an excellent
wake-up
for those
who believe
that Fox-Hunting
is safe
from further
legislation.
It is
part of
an intimate
record of
a country
village
made through
the dreadful
days leading
up to the
ban and
concludes
with the
first day
of Trail-Hunting.
Shot directly
with the
people most
affected,
it does
not glamorize
hunting,
nor farming,
showing
reality
in the raw.
The integration
of hunting
with farming
is well
brought
out. A back-drop
of continuity
in farms
and village
life through
generations
of the same
families,
adds poignancy
to the display
of feelings
induced
by the Ban:
heartbreak,
sorrow,
resentment,
rejection,
victimisation,
horror,
disbelief;
but, above
all, anger
and a determination
to fight
back.
The camera
work has
a real sensitivity
to the country
scene and
the DVD
is of a
very high
quality.
A modern
message
that can
be drawn
from this
film is
the intellectual
dishonesty
of law-makers,
who can
legislate
against
many types
of discrimination,
but discriminate
against
a significant
cohesive
factor in
the society
of country
villages.
This while
trying to
promote
"Social
Cohesion."
Why
a site on
fox-hunting?
The case against
fox-hunting seems
to me to be based
on emotion not
fact. Therefore,
I would like to
put before those
who bother to
visit this site
a few of the logical
reasons why I
support fox-hunting.
I am encouraged
to do this by
the fact that
over several years
four senior "officers"
of the League
against Cruel
Sports have resigned
from this well
meaning but misguided
organisation after
learning a lot
about hunting.
Eventually, they
became convinced
that logic supported
the case for hunting
as preferable
to other methods
of controlling
numbers. I feel,
therefore, that
all you Surfers
deserve to be
given the facts.
You can then come
to a logical view
on this contentious
subject.
Organisation
of the Site
The
site is divided
into four main
areas :
A. An
introduction;
- An
overview of
the Current
Situation.
- The Background.
An outline of
the disgraceful
waste of Parliament's
time, weakness
of government,
deceit and
bigotry that
eventually lead
to the ban.
- A proposal
for defusing
the subject
for the longer
term.
B.The case for Repeal of The Hunting Act;
- The case for fox-hunting is taken as made.
- The particular reasons why The Hunting Act should be repealed.
C.The case for
fox-hunting;
D.Thoughts
on how to counter
the arguments
and propaganda
of those opposed
to Hunting.
E. An
illustrated
description
of fox-hunting.
Foxman
hopes that you
will enjoy a
browse through
the site.
Foxman hopes
that this site
will be referred
to by all those
involved in
decision making
about Hunting.
In particular
we hope that
people will
refrain from
taking a view
on fox-hunting
until they have
learned about
it. This site
should help
and another
excellent source
is at http://www.countryside-alliance.org/cfh/huntingtt/index.html
Who
is Foxman?
He is a pensioner who
has foxhunted
for over 60 years.
His jobs as an
engineer for 45
years taught him
to respect logical
argument rather
than emotions. He
is a retired "Hunter";who
is, therefore,
a member of that
minority cultural
group (We), who
are part of, or
who support, the
Rural Culture
of GB as set
out in the Rural
Agenda
Why
Foxman
supports
Fox-Hunting
Fox-hunting's
primary purpose
was fun

while providing a fox pest control service.
The Hunts are followed by many people from all
backgrounds and income levels.
It was,
and Trail
Huntng
still
is, an
important
cohesive
force
in the
social
fabric
of many
parts
of Great
Britain.
Fox-hunting
also helped
control
the fox
population
where
required
by the
owners
of property
that foxes
kill.

Furthermore;
it created a more
sustainable amount
of employment
and trade than Trail Hunting
can. It contributed
more significantly
to the conservation
of the landscape
and its wildlife.
Like Trail Hunting,
it was well organised and conducted
according to strict
rules.

Fox Hunting
was and
Trail
Hunting
is supervised
by the
I.S.A.H.
(The Independent
Supervisory
Authority
for Hunting).
These aspects
separately, or
in any combination,
would not have
justified fox-hunting
if it were evidenced
that the
fox population would have
been better off
without it. However,
all the available
evidence indicates
the opposite.
In areas
where
shoots,
farms,
wildlife
sanctuaries
etc. need
to protect
their
stock
from foxes
(that
is everywhere
except
where
arable
land is
totally
dominant
and there
is very
little
game shooting);
foxes
suffered
and continue
to suffer
a much
worse
fate where
a properly
organised
pack of
foxhounds
does not
provide
a fox
control
service
or when
Hunting
has been
discontinued
or severely
curtailed. Since
The Ban,
foxes
suffer
this fate
because
Trail
Hunting
forces
much more
use of
shooting
to control
populations.
Except
by using
terriers
to dislodge
foxes
from underground
and dispatching
with a
Humane
Killer,
shooting
runs a
severe
risk of
wounding
and a
probability
of a slow
death;
rather
than a
quick
death
under
a mass
of Foxhounds:
Properly organised
packs are those
operating under
the disciplines
of the Masters
of Foxhounds Association and under the
supervision of
the I.S.A.H. (The
Independent Supervisory
Authority for
Hunting).
The MFHA and
all Formal Hunting
is supervised
by The Independent
Supervisory Authority
for Hunting, made
up of vets, ecologists,
farmers, etc.
Hunting with
dogs takes
place
in all
continents
(except
Antarctica)
and many
countries.
It has
wide Scientific
Support,
for example
it has
been approved
as a method
of scientific
wildlife
management
by the
California
Fish and
Game Commission
and the
California
Environmental
Quality
Act (CEQA),
in a State
noted
for its
tough
stance
in protecting
the environment.
Some
Pleas
- I have listened
to all the
debates in
the House
of Commons
about banning
fox-hunting,
inter alia.
They were
characterised,
on both sides
of the argument,
by a lamentable
lack of knowledge
of the subject
and by a ludicrous
level of emotion.
There is no
confidence
that MPs came
to a just
decision because
there is no
confidence
that MPs had
studied the
subject thoroughly
before voting
on the ban.
I am delighted
that The Government
allowed foxes
and all those
involved in
fox-hunting
the courtesy
of a proper
government
sponsored
inquiry "The
Burns Inquiry" . After all
Clement Attlee's
Labour Government
instigated such
an inquiry
in 1949 ,which did
not recommend
a ban, and
Parliament
followed this
recommendation.
- Please
study the
subject before
"preaching
" against,
or in favour,
of fox-hunting.
- Please
be more tolerant
all round;
"Rurals"
of our "Urban
Sub-Culture"
and vice-versa.
- Both sides
please "cool
it" so
that the level
of emotion
is reduced
throughout
any debate.
Other
sources
of information
The Countryside
Alliance, "www.countryside-alliance.org" which incorporates
the British
Field Sports
Society, is
leading the
fight to save
Hunting in the
UK. They have
an excellent
site which covers
some concise
summaries of
the sport and
the case for
it.
The Master
of Foxhounds
Association
of the UK "www.mfha.co.uk" has a site
linking to sites
of UK Hunts.
The Master
of Foxhounds
Association
of America "www.mfha.com" has another
excellent site
which covers
the USA and
Canada. It explains
the significantly
different arrangements
and rationale
for Hunting
there.
The North American
Foxhounds Association
this is a "club"
to which Hunts
as such and
individuals
can belong.
They have a
Website but
seem not to
like to publish
the address.
If you want
to contact them,
please contact
via the discussion
group quoted
below.
Another
view on the
moral issues
etc http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mert1230/handout8HT04.rtf
A place
to start
to search
the "net"
about
fox-hunting.
http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Outdoors/Hunting/Foxhunting
A Dutch
Trail-Hunt
http://www.veluwehunt.nl/index/
Liam's
Hunting
Directory - http://www.iwbeagles.co.uk/
Lots of
information
about
hunting
with hounds,
including
beagling
and beagle
field
trials.
Hunt club
directory,
news articles,
audio
and video
clips.
Beagles
In Peril - http://www.beaglesinperil.org.uk/
This Hunting
site includes
an extensive
introduction
to beagling,
a year-long
diary
about
a hunting
pack,
news and
photo
galleries
plus the
current
status
of the
Wye Beagles
which
were dognapped
by ALF
in 2001.
Support
Fox Hunting -
ban timeline,
background
material
and the
latest
news coverage
plus petition,
poll and
message
board
about
fox-hunting
in the
UK, including
necessity,
history,
rules,
and research.
An excellent
site,
rather
similar
to Foxman.
Baily's
Hunting Directory - http://foxhunters.net/bailys/
Annual directory
of over 750
hunts worldwide
plus map of
hunt countries,
major hound
show results,
photographs,
annual reports
and special
articles. Ordering
information.
Old
Norris'
fox-hunting
Page
http://www.btinternet.com/~countryside.webservice/
A collection
of songs,
verse,
quotes,
photographs,
illustrations
and links.
Especially
good maps
of hunting
territories
in the
UK. Excellent
links
to Hunting
Sites.
The
Game Conservancy
Trust:
Foxes
http://www.gct.org.uk/list.asp?PageId=30&listSearch=Fox&x=16&y=11
A Bibliography
of Research
about
foxes
and the
Trust's
current
projects,
scientific
publications,
policy
statements.
The
Burns Inquiry
An
educational
pamphlet putting
both sides of
the case
A
considered view
on the environmental
impact of a
ban
A sensible
site about environmental
issues. http://www.igreens.org.uk
Want to
chat?
I propose "Foxhunters
On Line". A
great discussion
group.
Email
them to join
in a worldwide
discussion of
everything to
do with fox-hunting.
Want
to debate?
A sensible
and moderated
forum for debate
was at the
UK Hunting Forum.
The site still
works but has
been dormant
since November
2006.
Want
to comment?
Email
Foxman Plese
help me to sort
you out from
the Spam by
including the
word fox-hunting
in the subject
of your eMail.
I will try and
answer all but
abusive mail.
IN THE END
THE ARGUMENT
BOILS DOWN TO
THE WISDOM OF
RESTRICTING
LIBERTY AND
LIVELIHOODS
BY DELIBERATELY
ERASING PART
OF THE CULTURE
OF GB IN A MANNER CONTRARY TO TRUE DEMOCRACY.
GOOD
HUNTING
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