MagiStream

What are your thoughts on fox hunting? Is it cruel? Is it humane? Does it control the number of foxes?
I want your opinion.

Firstly, I'd like to say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Do not bash others because you disagree with them. I would also like to say that this is a debate thread, you are allowed to contradict others' opinions and say why you disagree but fighting and arguing will not be tolerated. Thank you.

Also, if you are trying to give a persuasive argument, I suggest gathering evidence to support your opinions. I will try to upload some links to useful sites that may help others understand your opinions.

Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of unarmed followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.

Fox hunting originated in the 16th century in the form which was practised legally until 2005 in Great Britain, but it also takes place all over the world, including in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, and the United States. In Australia, the term also refers to the hunting of foxes with firearms, similar to spotlighting or deer hunting. In much of the world hunting in general is understood to relate to any game animals or weapons (e.g., deer hunting with bow and arrow); in Britain and Ireland, "hunting" without qualification implies fox hunting (or other forms of hunting with hounds-beagling, stag hunting, mink hunting, drag hunting, or hunting the clean boot) as described here.

The sport is controversial, particularly in the UK, where its traditional form was banned in Scotland in 2002, and in England and Wales in November 2004 (law enforced from February 2005), although certain modified forms of hunting foxes with hounds are still within the law, and shooting foxes as vermin also remains lawful.

Proponents of fox hunting view it as an important part of rural culture and useful for reasons of conservation and pest control, while opponents argue that it is cruel and unnecessary.[/size]

Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_hunting

Here are some questions you might want to consider...

1.)Are you for or against fox hunting?

2.) Why are you for/against it?

3.) Why would someone else disagree with you?

4.) How do you see foxes?

5.) Do you own poultry or livestock?

6.) Anything else?

'There are much more humane ways to lower the fox population.'

Uhhh, how? Last I checked, the only way to lower a population was to cull the animals, i.e hunting.
That's why hunting(in general, not just fox hunting) is generally restricted a certain season and a limit of animals per person. To keep the animals at a stable number so they population doesn't get to big and starve to death because they're all competing for food, or die off because there's too few to sustain a population. And hunting at certain times of the year(like, autumn) means you don't need to worry about all the 'poor orphan animals' than many anti-hunters like to try and claim hunters leave behind. Hunting season occurs when the young are able to fend for themselves.

Also, I think fox hunting, in the way you're describing(riding on horseback with a pack of hounds chasing it) is more of a UK tradition. At least here in Canada (and probably in the US) things like fox hunting would be done with a gun or trap, rather than chasing them down. I think. I'm not a hunter so I don't know that much about it.

1.)Are you for or against fox hunting?
As long as you're doing it in season, and with the legally allowed methods for the area(for example some areas might not allow snare hunting because it might catch something you didn't want), I don't see a problem with it. When it's being done out of season/illegally in some way it's not hunting it's poaching. And that's bad.

2.) Why are you for/against it?
Because I am. As long as it's regulated so that the fox population is not wiped out entirely, I've no problem with a hunter going out and bagging themselves a fox or two.

3.) Why would someone else disagree with you?
I dunno. Because some people hate hunting or the killing of 'cute little animals', like foxes.

4.) How do you see foxes?
Well, when they get into the city they can be a problem. They can carry diseases which can be passed onto pets or people, they can get into things looking for food. They can wound or kill pets that are outdoors(though here the bigger problem would likely be coyotes).

5.) Do you own poultry or livestock?
Nope, I'm in the city.

What I meant was there are much more humane ways to kill a fox than it being torn to pieces by the hounds. For example; shooting a fox is usually quicker and less painful. This topic is about the fox hunting which involves men on horseback and hounds chasing the fox.

SparkleTangerine wrote:What I meant was there are much more humane ways to kill a fox than it being torn to pieces by the hounds. For example; shooting a fox is usually quicker and less painful. This topic is about the fox hunting which involves men on horseback and hounds chasing the fox.

I see. Thank you for the clarification.

Your welcome. Anyone else want to put your opinion foreward.

1)Are you for or against fox hunting?
AGAINST! Definitely against. I love foxes, and I'm against hunting ANY kind of animal. ANY.

2) Why are you for/against it?
Because I love all animals, especially foxes.

3) Why would someone else disagree with you?
Haters gonna hate.

4) How do you see foxes?
The cutest fluffiest things, it's so fluffy I'm gonna DIEEE!!! X""""333 I'm a foxy too~ X"3

5) Do you own poultry or livestock?
Poultry is... chicken? Nope. And livestock is... livestock are animals you own on a farm? I don't live on a farm, so, no... And people who really care about their animals will make sure that they are well-protected.

I love foxes too. I find them facinating creatures. Some people think them as pests but I've got to let them have their opinions.

IllusionQueen wrote:5) Do you own poultry or livestock?
Poultry is... chicken? Nope. And livestock is... livestock are animals you own on a farm? I don't live on a farm, so, no... And people who really care about their animals will make sure that they are well-protected.

Poultry can be chicken but also includes turkeys, ducks, and geese. I may also be missing a few.

I think some would take exception to you saying that those who "really care" will make sure the animals are well protected. Without getting too graphic, let me give you an example. As a child and teen, I raised chickens and ducks, both as pets and for the eggs, and they were well loved. They had the best of everything: a fenced in area, complete with top so birds of prey couldn't swoop in and grab pullets or ducklings (a real problem in that area), and indoor roosting areas that they could come and go into as they pleased, all within the fence to keep foxes and stray dogs out.

One morning I went out to feed them before school and I found my favorite duck's body. Something had killed it when he, we think, put his head through the wire fencing to grab at a dandelion, something he loved to do. The rest of the poultry were fine and the fencing and door were in tact. Does that mean I didn't care about him or does that mean accidents happen?

To get back on track:

1.)Are you for or against fox hunting?
I am against it though I am pro-hunting in general for population control

2.) Why are you for/against it?
Unless I'm mistaken (and please correct me if I am) it's illegal. If that is the case, those actually doing hunts with live foxes are poaching without that special dispensation they allow which I would never agree with. Otherwise the hunts that are going on use an artificial scent trail, much like many dog sports do.

3.) Why would someone else disagree with you?
Everyone has a right to their opinion even when it differs from mine. They may be misinformed. They might just be anti-hunting. If they have a logical argument, I'm happy to hear them out.

4.) How do you see foxes?
Foxes are, undeniably, adorable, but so are deer. They are a creature that needs its population kept in check because encounters between humans and wild foxes rarely end well. To say we just need to stop encroaching on their territory, while I would tend to agree at times, is unrealistic and is akin to asking everyone in said parts of the country to quit reproducing as that is what drives the need for new homes.

5.) Do you own poultry or livestock?
I currently own horses (yes, they are livestock) but have also owned poultry in the past and grew up with friends that owned other kinds of livestock (sheep, goats, and cows to be exact).

OMG who would hunt a fox?!There so cute!