Pro Fox Hunting Information

Fox hunting is a time-honored sport in many parts of the world.

An equestrian sport, fox hunting has been a popular in the Western world for centuries. The British Parliament outlawed the killing of foxes with dogs in 2004 and the debate about fox hunting intensified.

Considerations

In the latter part of the 20th century, three separate inquiries (two of them sponsored by Labour Governments in England, traditionally more anti-hunting than other parties) found no conclusive evidence that fox hunting is cruel. This contradicts anti-hunting arguments.

Expert Insight

More than 500 veterinarians and academics associated with animal science have publicly stated that hunting foxes with dogs is a very natural and humane way of controlling the fox population.

Misconceptions

Five senior officials from anti-hunting lobbies and organizations have since changed their opinion on fox hunting and resigned their posts after realizing the dangers of a hunting ban.

Current Effects

As of 2010, hunting foxes is only allowed if the animals are killed by being shot with either a rifle or a shotgun, or being trapped with certain legal snares or "live traps."

Benefits of Hunting

A recent report from the Game Conservancy Trust in the U.K. found that areas used for hunting have significantly higher butterfly and wildflower populations than comparable areas in the country.

References

• Master of Foxhounds Association: The Facts