My Day Of Fox Hunting

Doing a fox hunt is totally on my bucket list but this one sounds fabulous!

I don't want my thread to turn into a moral poor fox discussion. Don't make assumptions about our Hunt Club being Fox Killers :) because we aren't.

The hounds catch scents, and go on chases which is the name of the sport, but they never catch anything, because they cannot - due to how they are legally bred.

Live kills are illegal, and the Hunt Club has govermental people who do come to their Kennels on a yearly basis to inspect the hounds. Those who pass, stay, those who do not pass their specs, get sold as family pets.

The Hounds catch scents, and go on the chase - which is the tradition of the sport. The horns blowing and the horse/rider teams gallop and chase. The Hounds caught scent of 2 Coyote's yesterday, took chase, but never caught anything - because they cannot. But they thoroughly enjoy themselves and love doing their "jobs". They also caught scent of many deer, sending us on chases going all over the place - one minute going South, then the next we have to turn around and go back North, then we head West and go back South...we were dizzy by the end...but, again, they cannot catch anything - but they thoroughly enjoy their job.

Our Club is there to carry on the tradition and the heratige of the sport, to pass on from geneartion to generation. Our club has been established since the early 40's, late 30's and has been very active since. No live kills was integrated into the club since the 80's or 90's.

Our club follows the laws, and do anything they can to ensure happy members, happy hounds and happy by standers.

I was doing some reading online, and more foxes are killed by cars than fox hunts, which I would still find more humane than a fox hunt, so saying its a viable means of population control is a bit much. Just because something is MORE humane than a leg trap, doesn't make it humane. There's a reason things are banned, because someone somewhere decided it was cruel, like cutting ears and tails on dogs are banned in some countries.

Besides, I can't feel too bad for the farmer, the way I see it people intrude on animals territories and kick them out, and get mad when an animal loses hunting grounds and takes a chicken because their natural prey has run off. I've lived in completely rural areas and only had one animal killed by a wild one, a rabbit in an outdoor hutch, and I took the blame. I should have made the hutch more secure. Don't want a fox in the yard, or a coyote, as we had? Get a dog. Never had a problem with them, and we had calves, pygmy goats, chickens, and cats, just an aging dog that roamed the property.

And don't think I'm against hunting, I'm not, when you need the kill for meat. I don't like people that hunt for sport to score a trophy, or torment 'vermin' that have just as much right, if not more right, to be there as the nonnative species, like oh, horses?
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It is an absolute blast Strange! If you are ever in my neck of the woods, you should totally join us :)

Thank you kmacdougall! *hugs* I adore Nelson so much, I am glad he has admirer's :) :)

No passing of ears and tail - they don't do live kills anymore. But the chases are a blast none-the-less :) If you are in my area, I would love to take you out with the group :) I am sure they'll hand you a flask...that's for sure :) I drank pretty well yesterday, especially since it was quite chilly out. I drank some Irish Baily's Cream..mmmm...and I was handed a flask of rum..oh, that one got the back of my throat...and some wiskey..lol.

No wonder why I had a great time! HAHAH!

I can send you some bumper stickers :) :P

Amir, it is absolutely wonderful! When you see how extactic those hounds are when they get let out of their kennels, and how they group around their Head Huntsman and their Whipper-In's....it puts a lump in your throat! Especially when the Whipper-In's and the Head Huntsman start blowing their horns! That' when the excitement trickles through your veins!

Nelon's ears perk up, and he starts chomping on the bit when those horns blow. He LOVES this sport as much as I do! And he shows it...lol. Everyone was laughing at us yesterday, it was a hoot!

When I lived in Bucks County, PA, (and before I switched to Western) I went on a hunt. It was a scent hunt (a drag) since there was too much controversy over live hunts.

I don't understand how the dogs in your hunt can't catch anything - and are legally bred.

I was told that it has something to do with their legs being shorter, so that they cannot run down game. If they do catch, the animal had to of been sick, or old where they couldn't out run the Hounds. I've been there over 3 years now, and NEVER have the Hounds ever caught anything.

They love to chase, but they can't keep up with whatever they are chasing.

Dont you just love Sundays MIE? Hunt day!! Sounds like you guys had a great hunt.

I am normally only a road whip as I am just a supporting member, but can ride for 3 times a year by paying the capping fee. Yesterday I managed to get a loaned horse and had a wonderful ride. The hounds didnt exactly co-operate and went into the swamp and treed a racoon, so the hunt pretty much turned into a larking trail ride. Second field had just as many riders as the hunt field which is impressive.

YAY! A fellow Fox Hunting Enthusiast! I LOVE Sunday Hunts :)

Sounds like both hunt organizations had a great turn out! The members yesterday were thrilled to see so many people show up! That is wonderful! I would love to see pics of you and your Hunt Group!!!

Well hunting is illegal here, I wouldnt want to kill a real fox
There are plenty of 'mocks', I want to go on one one day, my horse would love it, looks like you had fun.

It must be a very relaxed hunt. I was taught you always have full turn out (no fleece pull overs allowed) out of respect for the hunt.