From: Jonathan Spencer, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>--
>I don't pretend to be an expert on fox hunting,
Nor me, although I have hunted with hounds once and discussed much with
those who are committed hunters.
>so surely it will just be
>ploughed up and all the foxes killed off?
I'm sure that there would be fewer foxes, as more hands would be raised
against them. But the fells of North Yorkshire, the Lakes, and the
Borders for example are not going to be ploughed up. The lowland
coverts will probably remain for holding gamebirds and deer.
>the "pest control"
>argument (which I have to say is daft because shooting them with a rifle
>is more effective).
Depends what you mean by 'effective'. Certainly, a fox that is hit in
the chest with a centrefire rifle at an appropriate distance will die
instantly. But a hit in a non-vital place will leave a wounded fox to
scuttle off, possibly to die later. And of course, you can only shoot
at the fox when he is within sight, at a suitable range, and with a safe
backstop (and when you have the correct gun with you!). I don't
consider a .22LR to a suitable weapon against the fox, btw. So, this
pretty much means stalking for them at night (or dawn and dusk) with a
centrefire rifle, and you might get a shot.
In contrast, the hounds go out and seek the fox, find him and flush him.
Certainly, a pack of hounds (and perhaps horses) require some upkeep,
and the man hours required to kill a single fox is not cost-effective.
But I suspect the success ratio of a pack of hounds out for a randomly
selected day versus a randomly selected day for a gamekeeper with a
rifle is well in favour of the hounds.
Of course, if you want to kill foxes the most efficient and cost-
effective method is to use snares.
>The argument I always use against banning fox hunting
>is that foxes will become extinct in various areas as there will be no
>reason to put up with them any longer.
There will certainly be fewer foxes, but I don't think many people would
want them exterminated. And besides, if you kill a fox two more come to
his funeral. :-)
--Jonathan Spencer, firearms examiner
"Justice is open to everybody in the same way as the Ritz Hotel."
Judge Sturgess, 22 July 1928
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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