Re: Hunting
I work in wildlife and I am pro (fox, not stag as I think there are better ways to control deer - ie you dont need to chase...you can use a landi and a gun if necessary) because I understand eco-systems and natural balance. I went to Hyde Park
I feel much of the anti argument is based around a dislike and misconception that poeple who hunt are a snotty nosed bunch of toffs, which is not true. I have seen the results of snares (urgh my god - being ripped to bits in 0.3 second is nothing compared to the suffering of a snare (even 'humane' ones can become self tightening of not maintained properly - if only more people knew what that looked like).
Many farmers left foxes alone because they left it to the hunt (and lots of humts down here were far more bothered about galavanting around the coutryside than catching foxes!) now the hunt cant work, the sanres, baits, gassing (often when cubs are in the den), and traps come out - they cretainly aren't just left alone now.
I COMPLETELY and UTTERLY diagree with diggging out though. If you want to call something a 'sport' you must be sportsmanlike and I class it as one to the fox if he makes it home. If the hardcore hunting fraternity had just accepted that, the ban may not have come about as it was those images that did the damage and they disgust me too. It also does nothing for the argument that hunting is natural selection..ie getting the infirm, the weaker etc...
[IMG]http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd95/ceej10000/fox.gif[/IMG]