The 7th Year of the Hunting Act

If ever there was a case of everyone taking the time to understand the threat that our wildlife is under from the pressures that are building up to overturn the Hunting Act of 2004.

The main political pressure group of the blood sports fanatics is the Countryside Alliance now headed by Old Etonian and Former head of the UK Field Army, Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner and like former military Editors of the Baileys Hunting Directory they seem to have found time to edit this ‘Hunting Bible’  while serving in volatile conflict zones of Afghanistan or Iraqi. Barney White-Spunner is a writer and countryman and a long term supporter of all country pursuits and was President of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles and well ‘blooded’ to lead this war on our wildlife.

The greatest threat to our wildlife is the possible bill that will allow some sort of new self-regulating body in attempt to make repeal of the ban on hunting with dogs acceptable and necessary to the general public. These secret plans to reintroduce hunting foxes, stags, hares and minks have been drawn up with the backing of many Conservative MPs. Details of the controversial scheme include the creation of a Hunt Regulatory Authority (HRA) to monitor the behavior of hunts. The plans were drawn up by lawyers and the Countryside Alliance, but aren’t these the people who hunt? This HRA has the blessing of many high profile Tories including the Prime Minster, himself a hunter, William Hague, and Dominic Grieve, the current Attorney General. 

Well what a novel idea especially following the banking crisis where the hunters regulate themselves. It’s rather like putting a sex offender in charge of playground duty!

Currently we have hunts claiming to be ‘Trail Hunting’ but time and time again we keep getting reports of Hunt Havoc in towns and villages up and down the country: 

“A few hounds strayed into the garden and unfortunately mistakenly attacked the families pet cat. The huntsman did make every effort to call the hounds off but it was too late”.

“The incident was the result of a misunderstanding over a right of way between fields and the road”.

“The hounds ventured off the trail and got into the back of the village”.

“The hounds took off after a fox while out trail hunting, it was an unfortunate accident.” 

Many of these incidents take place on private property where people have set aside parcels of land for the benefit of local wildlife.

No doubt we will hear from the hunters that the law is not working and this I agree with this. We need the police to enforce it and if they have problems then get the act modified to close the many silly loop holes that are so ruthlessly exploited by the cruel hunters.