Excellent piece, and one we should all bear in mind.
The argument in favour of hunting as an efficient method of fox control is laughable. The hunting fraternity should have stuck to their guns (!) and said, "this is our ancient and honourable sport, sod of back to town and mind your own business."
I see sport stalkers making the same mistake, "deer managers" - bollo#cks.
I stalk because I love it. I do it ethically and as humanely as possible, I am not just out to kill something. It also provides wonderful meat for the table. If we allow the management argument to prevail, we will end up with "professional marksmen" shooting all our deer in the name of trees and bluebells.