Hunts in Scotland claim that since hunting with dogs was banned, the number of foxes killed by hunts has skyrocketed to 250 since August, compared to a total of 140 foxes killed in all of 2000 (there was no hunting at all in 2001 due to foot-and-mouth restrictions).
Under the ban, hunting foxes is allowed to eliminate pests, but the foxes have to be shot rather than killed by dogs — except if the hunter can prove that he intended to shoot the fox but the animal was killed by the dogs.
Joe Scott Plummer of the Buccleuch Hunt told Scotland on Sunday that by December 2000, his hunt had killed 30 foxes, but by December 2002, they had killed 65 foxes. According to Scott Plummer, the increase was due to a combination of there being more foxes to hunt because of the 2001 restrictions, as well as it being easier to kill a fox with a gun than with dogs. Scott Plummer said,
Traditional hunting was the natural cunning of the fox pitched against the natural cunning of the hounds, but as soon as a gun is introduced then the odds become heavily weighted against the fox surviving. In the past there would be a possibility that a fox would be able to escape the hounds, and often they did. However, with the guns, however fit or fast a fox, once it’s been flushed out then it doesn’t really stand a chance.
Scotland on Sunday quoted Les Ward of Advocates for Animals as being skeptical of the claims of increased killings of foxes saying, “They would say it’s business as usual, but I can tell you that it’s not.”
Source:
Hunts claim fox deaths soar after ban. Claire Gardner, Scotland On Sunday, December 8, 2002.