15 February 2000

Dear Sirs

In response to your invitation to submit information please find attached documentation on behalf of Conservative Animal Welfare Group.

In response to questions please find attached:

1. Fox Hunting - includes photographs of man made fox earths
2. Fox Hunting - Facts and Myths sheet
3. Hare Hunting
4. Deer Hunting
5. Drag Hunting information

I have attached further photographs as follows:

1. Hounds on road causing traffic to slow down.
2. Hounds being led down a road in the pack.
3. Boxing up after a days hunt - Crawley and Horsham - roads totally blocked.
4. Adrian Thompson - now Whipper In for Crawley and Horsham Hunt - wearing a balaclava in order to attack hunt protestors/saboteurs. This is an indication that people who support hunting do not hold the moral high stance with regard to violence which they attempt to perpetuate. (additional photographs are available)(SEE APPENDIX)

I submit this information to assist substantiate the fact that hunting with dogs should be banned forwith.

Yours faithfully

Marian Lanham

Fox hunting starts in August and at this time is described as 'Autumn Hunting' or cubbing.

Young hounds are entered into an area with experienced hounds to attack and kill fox cubs which are around the age of 4 months old.

The official season starts in November and continues through to March or April.

During the latter period vixens give birth to cubs. In some cases fox cubs have been known to be born as early as February.

There are approximately 200 fox hunts in the country and these can meet up to three times a week during the hunting season.

Fox earths, badger setts and drains are blocked early in the morning of the day of the hunt to prevent the fox a nocturnal animal, from seeking refuge.

If a fox does find refuge the mounted field may call in the "terrier men", who will dig out the fox.

*Artificial fox earths exists in many hunting areas to "encourage" foxes, to breed in order to keep up the supply for hunting.

If foxes become scarce in an area which is hunted, evidence is available which shows that foxes are introduced into the area from outside, thus confirming that hunting cannot be a method of control.

*
Photographs attached - Crawley and Horsham Hunt
1. Top of an artificial earth looking at it from a standing position - been dug out many times
2. Tunnel entrance showing bricks
3. Taken inside the earth using a camera on a long handle - possibility of a dead fox inside
4. Photograph taken on a hunt day - shows a grid blocking one of the entrances - Nov 97

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* ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS A
TERRIER MAN FROM AN EAST SUSSEX
HUNT RELEASING A FOX TO BE CHASED
BY HOUND - AFTER HE HAS DUG IT OUT.

Hares are hunted by packs of three different breeds of hounds - some 82 packs of beagles, 11 packs of bassets and 24 packs of harriers. Beagles and bassets are followed on foot, harriers on horseback. The season starts in September/October and ends in March/April - depending upon the harvest, sowing etc.

When hunted, reluctant to leave their territory, hares start by running in circles. As they tire, they are overwhelmed by the hounds superior stamina and killed. A pack is judged to be "well-bred" if it takes 60-90 minutes to run the hare to exhaustion and kill it.

The aim of coursing is for two dogs to compete against each other in pursuit of the hare. Hares are driven over a distance (approximately i/2 mile or more) into the coursing field by the "beaters". Two dogs are released by the "slipper" who gives the hare a recommended start of some 80 yards. The hares are usually tired by the time they reach the coursing field. The owners of the dogs are awarded points by a mounted judge according to his/her ability to turn the hare, which may or may not escape.

The hare can become the living "rope" in a tug of war between the two dogs. It may take several minutes before anyone reaches the dogs to put the hare out of its misery by breaking its neck.

Hare coursing takes place between September and March each year.

Between 600 - 1000 hares are killed each year through organised coursing events.

Modern intensive farming methods and the widespread use of toxic pesticides and herbicides are known to have contributed to the serious decline in hare numbers.

The U.K. Biodiversity Steering Group Report of December 1995, identified the brown hare as one of the UK's most threatened and declining species. The Government of the day included the hare in its conservation programme.

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DEER HUNTING

STAGHUNTING

Deer are hunted by 3 packs of hounds in the West Country In 1997 a pack of Buckhounds operating in the New Forest were disbanded. The West Country packs hunt Autumn Stags (mature Males) from August to October. The hinds (females) are hunted f'rom November to February and the Spring stags (young males) during March and April.

The deer to be hunted is selected by a member of the hunt known as the "harbourer", who also checks out the position of the deer on the morning of thc hunt. Around 10-15 hounds are used at the start of the hunt. Once the stag is on the run, it emits a strong scent which in theory, enables the other hounds to follow and not be distracted by other deer. However it is known for hunts to start the chase after one deer, only later to change and pursue another.

The stag starts by running fast and with ease and can clear hedges, ditches and other obstacles. Whenevcr thc huntc-d animal sceks sanctuary, it will be driven out by hunt supporters.

Chases can last hours. Stags will try to seek sanctuary in rivers. Documentary evidence shows stags been driven into the sea. If a stag does find sanctuary in a river it will attempt to hold the hounds at bay. When the hunt arrives, the stag will be killed with a shotgun or pistol. Film footage taken during a hunt shows a stag being held under water by hunt supporters whilst they waited on the arrival another member of the hunt with the humane killer.

The hind hunting season lasts from November to February, the hinds may well be pregnant when hunted. Some hinds may also have the previous year's calf in tow. Often the calf is killed by the hounds and the hind runs on for another few hours before finally being caught by the hounds.

Nationally, at least 80,000 deer are killed each year by shooting. This method accounts for approximately 99% of the annual cull Gulling is essential to remove the old, the sick and the infirm and to prevent over-population. A skilled marksman using a high powered rifle fitted with telescopic sights will kill a grazing deer instantly and hun1anely. Deer hunting using slower-running dogs and exhausting the animal over a chase which can last up to 7 hours over a 25 mile chase is inhumane.

In April 1997, Prof Patrick Bateson produced a report which concluded beyond doubt that hunting deer with hounds causes unacceptable suffering. On the strength of this report the National Trust has banned deer with hounds on their land. Despite this overwhelming evidence hunts have declared their intention to continue hunting whilst it is still lawful to do so. It is illegal to hunt deer with hounds in Scotland.

There is no violence involved, no damage to property or the horses involved, no trespass or livestock worrying.

There are already around 31 bloodhound/draghunts in Britain.

Draghunting offers a humane alternative to bloodsports and retains the packs of hounds, horses, the pageantry and employment of those concerned.

Indeed, with public opinion widely in favour of ending hunting with hounds, there is every reason to expect that more of Britain's half million horse riders will be attracted to follow hounds once the killing of animals is eliminated from this pastime.

Drag hunting could also be used to replace hunting with hounds as the qualifying criteria for point to point races.

*The Countryside Alliance leaflet on Draghunting as an alternative gives the main reason for Draghunting not being a replacement other forms of hunting as being the lack of "country" available. However, if Draghutlting were to replace all other forms of hunting with dogs, this is not an issue.

At a Countryside Alliance meeting at the Conservative Party Conference in October 99 In Blackpool, Countryside Alliance members in attendance called for this leaflet to be Withdrawn as "it gives the anti's amunition".

* This leaflet is attached

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APPENDIX

1. Hounds on road causing traffic to slow down.

2. Hounds being led down a road in the pack.

3. Boxing up after a days hunt - Crawley and Horsham - roads totally blocked.

4. Adrian Thompson - now Whipper In for Crawley and Horsham Hunt - wearing a balaclava in order to attack hunt protestors/saboteurs. This is an indication that people who support hunting do not hold the moral high stance with regard to violence which they attempt to perpetuate. (additional photographs are available)

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Date uploaded to site 5 May 2000