Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryzorian
Fox Hunting? You mean like where you have 50 hounds and 20 dudes on horses run down a small dog? Real Sporting of you, ol chap. By the way, Foxes are just regular predators that hunt to keep thier babies fed, unlike humans who hunt to keep thier trophy wall fed.
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It's kind of obvious you're not from England, or at least not the countryside . . . foxes are
not regular predators who hunt only for food. Foxes will literally kill every single chicken in a coop, all in order just to take
one chicken away for food, and the damage they do is short of sheer carnage. The farmers struggle sometimes - especially in the past - to keep foxes away and keep animals safe. Seeing as farmers need to keep a living, it's not just a 'sport' as such, but instead provides an actual purpose.
Fox hunting keeps fox numbers down, thus protecting the farms and the animals that exist on those farms. The kills are quick, and now - with the new laws - even quicker seeing as I believe farmers aren't allowed to kill on these hunts, but can shoot the foxes if they appear on their land, so a bullet is far more human than hounds tearing at the fox.
There is a 'sporting' aspect to it, and I know the general image of fox-hunting is a lot of posh people in red-coats hunting an 'innocent', cute fox . . . but there
is a practical aspect to it. I fully support the farmers or country-side dwellers who hunt or exterminate foxes, and - for that matter - I support the city folk who do the same, because (let's face it) the foxes do a
lot of damage in cities, too.
Sorry for the off-topic aside, but had to get that in.