BDS Statement on Stag Hunting

[willie_gunn]

Sorry Willie, only just seen this and no, I never managed to get out with Minkhounds.

Hound music is beautiful, in the last 5 years I've enjoyed some fabulous early mornings with our local Foxhound pack while autumn hunting. My wife and I enjoy this far more than the 11 o'clock meets. Being out at the crack of dawn, mist hanging over the stubble - hardly any mounted field - flask of tea and cold bacon butties, hounds speaking down in the woodland - perfect. I also like the fact that the action is pretty much all in 'hot blood' - short and sharp.I find the 'war of attrition' less and less palatable the older I get. Seeing any creature run to an exhausted state just doesn't sit well with me.

I quite agree.

Cub-hunting always tended to attract those more interested in hound-work rather than a gallop across the fields, at least from what I could see. I am fortunate that the local hunt kennels are within earshot, so on an early morning walk with the dogs I can often tell when the hounds have had their first sight of the huntsman for the day. Even though the kennels are probably a mile and a half away as the crow flies, you can hear them easy enough.

 

[Ratel]

I quite agree.

Cub-hunting always tended to attract those more interested in hound-work rather than a gallop across the fields, at least from what I could see. I am fortunate that the local hunt kennels are within earshot, so on an early morning walk with the dogs I can often tell when the hounds have had their first sight of the huntsman for the day. Even though the kennels are probably a mile and a half away as the crow flies, you can hear them easy enough.

I used to have the same experience Willie when keepering on the hill side above the kennels of the NC hunt. Just as dawn broke the hounds would kick off when they saw their boss. I would always meet them somewhere on morning excercise, either on the public road or on our estate roads. My boss was a big hunting man and I found it quite easy to work with both sports, as the MFH was a good man with a good attitude to keepers who had a problem with foxes. I had a father and grandfather who enjoyed hunting and were friends with our huntsman. I spent hours with hounds on the hound benches in the kennels at the age of six or seven. The hairs on my neck still stand up when I hear hounds hunting in woodland.

 

[Ratel]

I do hate hunting with hounds, it is pretty barbaric and the stereotypical blue blooded toffs in their hunting attire does make me cringe. Whilst shooting the fox (I haven't seen a pack hunt deer yet) the hounds are chasing to pi$$ off the hunt off is satisfying I wouldn't vote or stand against them to stop their existence. The simple reason is purely selfish as these outfits chasing deer or foxes are a big fat distraction and a shield against the antis. They'd rather sab a hunt being an easy target than try and bother a lone stalker/hunter/shooter and I'm all for that. Thats my contribution to the 9 pages of drivel anyway.

Pathetic, that you find shooting a fox in front of hounds a satisfying experience.
I really hope you get similar from walkers who like to scare deer away when you are stalking them. A very selfish man and certainly not a sportsman that I or anyone I know would want to be associated with.

 

[viking90]

Pathetic, that you find shooting a fox in front of hounds a satisfying experience.
I really hope you get similar from walkers who like to scare deer away when you are stalking them. A very selfish man and certainly not a sportsman that I or anyone I know would want to be associated with.

It was a long time ago to be fair and unfortunately I wasn't the one pulling the trigger, that being said it was funny watching the old boy argue with the hunt master about being places he shouldn't be. I for one don't particularly care about others opinions as everyone has them and it is the stalking directory so i care even less but Charlie getting the mercy of a 12 bore instead of having to watch it ripped to bits by hounds was a better outcome I'd say

 

[User00053]

It was a long time ago to be fair and unfortunately I wasn't the one pulling the trigger, that being said it was funny watching the old boy argue with the hunt master about being places he shouldn't be. I for one don't particularly care about others opinions as everyone has them and it is the stalking directory so i care even less but Charlie getting the mercy of a 12 bore instead of having to watch it ripped to bits by hounds was a better outcome I'd say

Bit like politics and religion as not all fox’s killed first shot or second been my experience but a pack of hounds very effective in real world scenario as neither a execution in the true sense carried out under perfect conditions.
Would say I would prefer the 12 bore than been thrown to the wolves edit. No comparison inferred between wolves and hounds in ripping something a new batty hole and time to do so.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it should be outlawed.

Stag hunting is a great sport , only enjoyed now by a few in certain areas but let’s not kid ourselves , it was a proper country sport enjoyed by many
Nothing quite like watching your dogs course a hard to catch game.

I’d love to see its return in the UK along with coursing and fox hunting.

If folk don’t agree with that so be it , but remember , your sports next, especially if it’s driven bird.

 

[T.eddie]

Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it should be outlawed.

Stag hunting is a great sport , only enjoyed now by a few in certain areas but let’s not kid ourselves , it was a proper country sport enjoyed by many
Nothing quite like watching your dogs course a hard to catch game.

I’d love to see its return in the UK along with coursing and fox hunting.

If folk don’t agree with that so be it , but remember , your sports next, especially if it’s driven bird.

I do agree with you in regards to it shouldn't be outlawed just because some don't like it

I've never done it, nor have any interest in it, have no desire to do it or watch it, but if it's legal and conducted properly then it shouldn't be outlawed or restricted

I also don't believe the bds stance waste outlaw it just they don't agree with it as part of their ethos

 

[User00053]

Not much sport left I fear as thought to be barbaric by the masses for the most part or at best cruel from terriers through to deer hounds. Really would have liked to have sampled otter hunting.

 

[User00053]

I do agree with you in regards to it shouldn't be outlawed just because some don't like it

I've never done it, nor have any interest in it, have no desire to do it or watch it, but if it's legal and conducted properly then it shouldn't be outlawed or restricted

I also don't believe the bds stance waste outlaw it just they don't agree with it as part of their ethos

Whole situation gone to rat poo, regardless of bds view matters not and can understand their take on the situation and to be expected.
We are living clearly in a different world in the uk to say fifty years ago and not for the better for some but hey ho!

 

[Big Stu]

Just been reading the c.o.h. Recorded a hunt of 10.5 hours in 1907 covering four miles or so of water giving the otter best at 6.45 of the eve, some hunt.
Also an early huntsman was a butcher hence incorporating blue and white into uniform, apologies for derailing thread. Edit. Loving some of the hunting songs.

@boltgun just came across this thread

Some fascinating reading in these two recently published books and was extremely fortunate to have been named as a subscriber pre order of course nevertheless some extremely good research gone into both copies great reading


Tales of Olden Glories by Neil Salisbury documents long gone and some Lakeland / Cumbria packs still with us today

Last Man Standing by Robert Thorne mostly dedicated & documenting the D.O.H some really good stuff

Unfortunately I was a bit late being born to have had the pleasure of following Otterhound packs locally the C.O.A would have been on my doorstep can still remember the crack in some local pubs with some of the old timers who followed sadly all gone now recognise and know one or two pictured in Last Man Standing

 

[User00053]

@boltgun just came across this thread

Some fascinating reading in these two recently published books and was extremely fortunate to have been named as a subscriber pre order of course nevertheless some extremely good research gone into both copies great reading


Tales of Olden Glories by Neil Salisbury documents long gone and some Lakeland / Cumbria packs still with us today

Last Man Standing by Robert Thorne mostly dedicated & documenting the D.O.H some really good stuff

Unfortunately I was a bit late being born to have had the pleasure of following Otterhound packs locally the C.O.A would have been on my doorstep can still remember the crack in some local pubs with some of the old timers who followed sadly all gone now recognise and know one or two pictured in Last Man Standing



View attachment 347932

Thanks for some great info really interesting stuff, if you get the chance have a read of the Wensleydale hounds.
Interesting looking tyke you have there edit, Wensleydale hounds past and present 1775-1907 think you might enjoy
If you don’t have already.

 

[mudman]

No finer form of hunting than that involving hounds

 

[landkeeper]

Well at least the English staghounds hunt wild deer that know the lie of the land
The stag hounds nr here bring their own in a horse box let him out and give it half an hour and go hunt him
The upside is though they have populated counties meath and louth with some fantastic red deer !

 

[mudman]

Well at least the English staghounds hunt wild deer that know the lie of the land
The stag hounds nr here bring their own in a horse box let him out and give it half an hour and go hunt him
The upside is though they have populated counties meath and louth with some fantastic red deer !

And it’s probably how Norfolk gained its magnificent Red’s. Carted stags (and hinds).

 

[Sunrise Stalker]

Not that I support the Staghounds, but was suprised at this:
"a report commissioned by the National Trust in 1997, Professor Bateson concluded that hunted deer experience high levels of stress and exhibit significant physiological effects. He stated that (red) deer are ill suited to lengthy chases as they do not naturally range over large areas"
Red deer don't naturally range over large areas?

 

[spanj]

This isn't an issue of how to get food. Veganism is the answer to that question, which makes any method of killing deer unjustifiable.

Veganism is an option, it most definitely isnt the answer

 

[spanj]

Theres nothing more cruel than a shotgun

Only if used when the quarry is at the limit of its range

 

[spanj]

Al have a bet theres more pheasants that die a slow death from shot each season than deer do from hounds

While you may have a point, throwing another section of fieldsports under the bus is not helpful to any of us in the long run

 

[User00053]

Have to say never followed or hunted with hounds as busy doing other things but find its history fascinating and part of what I consider my culture and country tradition as a Englishman.
Kept and worked terriers as part of my employment purely as foxing dogs for many moons and became smitten with the working terrier
And its attributes. Have no illusions or qualms over the realities of hunting, shooting and fishing and others can please themselves and all fine with me to a point

 

[kenbro]

Only if used when the quarry is at the limit of its range

A poor shot will always prick birds whatever the range.
Ken.