Anti-hunting

First of all let me say that I'm not here to change your views on hunting. I'm just here to give you the facts and some relevant
links. I'll leave the decision making up to you.

The facts

I'm from the UK so I can only really give you the facts on hunting in the UK. (If there is anyone out there from another country
who is anti-hunting and has some facts for me to post just send an email to me.

Fox hunting

Last year (2002) there were over 21,000 foxes were killed by hunters in the UK alone. (CPHA)
The average hunting pack has over sixty hounds that are followed by the hunters on horseback or in cars. Cub hunting, where
cubs are chased and killed, takes place between August and November. The official season, where adult foxes are pursued, takes
place between November and May. Many hunters regard a successful hunt as one that involves a long chase.

Cub hunting

Cub hunting is a practice in which four to five month old fox cubs are hunted to help train hounds. A pack of
hounds is sent to a 'covert' (somewhere foxes are known to live) and just chase the fox cubs until they cannot run any more.
If a fox cub manages to escape the hunters are waiting
in the wings to return it to the dogs.

Adult fox-hunting

Before a fox hunt there is usually a meeting to organise the blocking of fox coverts. Some foxes escape but others may make
a mistake which allows the dogs to catch them and kill them. Even if the fox finds refuge the huntsmen employ 'terriermen'
to send dogs underground to kill the foxes. This often lead to a vicious dogfight between the two animals. During the breeding
season huntsmen send dogs underground to kill the vixen. (Who stays with her dependant cubs, making her an easy target.) The
huntsmen claim that their intention is to flush the vixen out so she can be shot but the terriers often kill the vixen and
her cubs whilst they are underground, increasing the tally of foxes killed.

Why I think fox-hunting is wrong

Three reasons why fox hunting is cruel:

1. Whilst huntsmen claim that the fox is killed instantly there is post-mortem evidence that shows that some foxes are disembowelled
before they are killed.
2. Foxes save farmers over £100 million a year ( $ 160.5 million) by killing rodents and other pests that damage
or destroy
their crops.
3. The chase alone causes suffering to the fox. The fox is prevented from using evasive behaviour or escaping through familiar
territory.

Mink hunting

Mink hunting is a relatively new form of hunting in the UK. Mink hunting has only really taken off since 1978 when a ban on
otter hunting was forced Otterhound packs to switch to hunting Mink. There are now 20 mink hunts in the UK that kill between
400 and 1400 Mink every year.

What happens during a Mink hunt?

During a Mink hunt hounds and huntsmen (who are usually on foot) chase the Mink for many hours along riverbanks in an attempt
to catch it. Sometimes Mink run up into trees to avoid their pursuers. Mink are not killed painlessly by the huntsmen, and
instead they are usually savaged by the hounds that chase them.

Why I think mink hunting is cruel:

1. The chase itself (which can last for hours) is a form of suffering.
2. Mink are hunted for their fur. We already have faux fur. Why do we still need real fur?
3. Mink hunting has been proven to be a poor way of controlling the mink population in the United Kingdom. When a study was
carried out focusing on the hunts of the Cornwall and Devon Minkhounds from 1976-80 it was found that out of the 156 days
that the hunters hunted 84 mink were caught. (Over two-thirds of the mink located by the pack escaped.)
Thank you for your time. If you have anything to add please do not hesitate to email me here.

References -
CPHA
Furries against hunting
RSPCA Ban-hunting campaign