Fox Hunting Or Bargain Hunting?

[plowter]

So, what did you do today- fox hunting or bargain hunting?
Tally ho!

[DTCwordfan]

For the UK, 2004 for the last case of the abortion variety, sibs.....think that includes your neck of the woods statistically.

[plowter]

Genuine question from a townie.

If hunting with dogs is so efficient, why doesn't DEFRA use hunts to control badgers rather than poisoning them in tuberculosis-prone areas?

[DTCwordfan]

That is a huge subject, plowter, and the subject of many other threads on AB.

There are many country-ites who would advocate that approach to controlling foxes. However given the current MP split and then the urban to rural ratios, it's a waste of time going forward with a vote. What the Minster should be doing though is looking at the wording/conditions around the hunt procedures as that is a nightmare for all concerned be one pro or anti-hunt and for the police - a classic example of very poorly worded drafting when Blair brought the Act forward.

Badgers is another matter completely and that is so wrapped up in itself.....on that they DEFRA need to better understand the means of transfer and infection of TB into cattle - and then from that would vaccination really help reduce the risks and how does one monitor it.......a massive subject to. Putting that Government decision off was the best way out at this time, as long as the scientific and statistical work is done.

[237SJ]

DEFRA can`t hunt badgers because hunting is banned and badgers are protected. It would take huge changes in law to get around that. You wouldn`t really need to hunt badgers with dogs anyway. If you know where their sets are, you can easily get them. They don`t roam and kill livestock like foxes so apart from the TB controversy, there`s no reason to kill them anyway.

[plowter]

Thanks 237SJ, always wondered about that.