What do you all think about fox hunting...???

[72-Jay]

If its squirrels or other such destructive little rodents, and raccoons too that are in the neighborhood ... and they could be (safely) hunted, then get out the guns and blast away.
I don't know about foxes though, are they even harmfull?? As far as I know they won't destroy your garden/trees/house?
Saw one in my yard last year.. last thing I woulda wanted to do is shoot it.

 

[Willie Boy]

If its squirrels or other such destructive little rodents, and raccoons too that are in the neighborhood ... and they could be (safely) hunted, then get out the guns and blast away.
I don't know about foxes though, are they even harmfull?? As far as I know they won't destroy your garden/trees/house?
Saw one in my yard last year.. last thing I woulda wanted to do is shoot it.

And how, exactly, are squirrels, raccoons, and other such critters destructive?

 

[peeonme]

So its OK to hunt innocent creatures for fun, but not hardened criminals who have murdered and will likely do it again? Very civilized.

Actually, the implication in my post # 155 was that man seems to be the only species that kills for fun, that was meant as an indictment not an endorsement of the activities in question.
I understand hunting and fishing for food, or, raising farm animals to the same end. Man seems to be an omnivore by nature, we grow veggies and kill animals to survive.
To me the idea of killing just for "fun" is reprehensible.
The exception to the rule of hunting for food only to me would be to bring pests and vermin under control.
I have had those who take a week off from work to go deer hunting tell me that they do it for the food, I have never figured it out, but it seems to me that a weeks pay, call it $800.00 for most that I knew, plus a gun that costs upwards of $500.00 and the other odds and ends, like a tree stand and a lot of beer say, another $250.00, if we were to add all of that up, a guy could buy a lot of prime rib for that money, but to each his own.

 

[Willie Boy]

In all honesty there is something in going out to hunt like that with the intention of eating the deer meat. To some the feeling of having accomplished the kill in order for their family to eat is worth more than the money spent. Besides if they have the vacation time available the cost is minimal. Most guys who hunt like that already have a gun, probably having been taught by their fathers, some of whom passed the gun down. Hopefully they wont be imbibing alcohol much, what with a loaded weapon in his hands.

 

[peeonme]

In all honesty there is something in going out to hunt like that with the intention of eating the deer meat. To some the feeling of having accomplished the kill in order for their family to eat is worth more than the money spent. Besides if they have the vacation time available the cost is minimal. Most guys who hunt like that already have a gun, probably having been taught by their fathers, some of whom passed the gun down. Hopefully they wont be imbibing alcohol much, what with a loaded weapon in his hands.

I believe that it is a time for bonding and comradery as well as a way to satisfy a primal urge. I don't condemn one for hunting for food that he will eat, but it is not a less expensive way of filling the freezer.

 

[Willie Boy]

Except that one can not easily buy fresh venison. The taste and texture is quite different from beef.

 

[72-Jay]

And how, exactly, are squirrels, raccoons, and other such critters destructive?

Take squirrels for example, since they are one of the worst.
In the garden they eat fruits & vegetables, which wouldn't be so bad except for the way they do it...grab a piece of fruit, take a couple bites, drop it, grab another, do the same, and so on.
They also like to dig up & eat small plants/seeds/bulbs/etc
In the winter they like to chew the bark off tree branches...that ofcourse kills the branch.
They have a thing for wire, don't know what it is but they like chewing the plastic off - but basically all rodents seem to do this (a nice high voltage line could probably solve this one )
Anyone who has ever had one get in their attic can tell you about what sorta damage they can do there.

Raccoons can totally strip a tree of fruit in a couple hours at night
Same goes for vegetable gardens (especially seem to like corn). I honestly can't blame farmers for shooting stuff like this.
Like squirrels they will chew on wire (they're not as bad)
They'll go dig random holes in the yard/garden, usually tearing up plants in the process.
Oh and they are vicious creatures that may attack people or pets.

 

[frankfrank]

In all honesty there is something in going out to hunt like that with the intention of eating the deer meat. To some the feeling of having accomplished the kill in order for their family to eat is worth more than the money spent. Besides if they have the vacation time available the cost is minimal. Most guys who hunt like that already have a gun, probably having been taught by their fathers, some of whom passed the gun down. Hopefully they wont be imbibing alcohol much, what with a loaded weapon in his hands.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've been fishing, and never gone hunting. It's a LOOOOONG time since I've tended to hang out with anybody who goes fishing - SIMPLY THE LUCK OF THE DRAW - I'd certainly do it if suggested to me.

There was definitely something special and "satisfying" about the walleye or bass that I've eaten afterward. A feeling of accomplishment, "Hey I did this myself," as it were. But I still don't know how to "clean" fish, which is NOTHING compared to...

Hunting. I don't even have a clue how to "dress" a deer, even if I did manage to bag one. But as far as the bonding that peeonme mentions, I thought that part of hunting (I'm thinking deer, though it could be pheasant, squirrel, etc...or FOX) was that you have to be absolutely quiet, and that you'd better not even be playing a radio, even turning pages on a book can scare the deer away, and you sure as hell can't talk...? I can't imagine just sitting there for days on end, hoping for some luck that may not even stray in your direction. How do you get the kill back home, if it's big game like a deer, if you're nine hours from home, without it spoiling? (I guess maybe that's why hunting season is usually during months with "R" in them.) I would NEVER have the patience to just sit there, even if listening to a radio/IPOD/hard drive with headphones (THEN I miss the telltale crackling of hooves approaching through the woods). "I was out there fifteen hours today and nothing walked by." Same tomorrow, Thursday, Friday...?

If I knew what to do with the animal afterward, there would surely be some satisfaction eating the meat, which I and nobody else was responsible for "finding" in the middle of nowhere...

 

[Willie Boy]

....But as far as the bonding that peeonme mentions, I thought that part of hunting (I'm thinking deer, though it could be pheasant, squirrel, etc...or FOX) was that you have to be absolutely quiet, and that you'd better not even be playing a radio, even turning pages on a book can scare the deer away, and you sure as hell can't talk...?

Ah, but that is only during the actual hunting time. There is also the time in driving to/from the location. The setting up of camp, the time before actually starting the hunt, the time after the hunt when one prepares the carcass, the time after that when one cleans up. Then there's dinner/late night around the campfire before turning in to prepare for a fresh start the next day. Then the day begins anew with either more hunting or packing up and heading home. All in all there is plenty of time for bonding, and fathers and sons have been known to bond over the son's first kill.

 

[otters]

Take squirrels for example, since they are one of the worst.
In the garden they eat fruits & vegetables, which wouldn't be so bad except for the way they do it...grab a piece of fruit, take a couple bites, drop it, grab another, do the same, and so on.
They also like to dig up & eat small plants/seeds/bulbs/etc
In the winter they like to chew the bark off tree branches...that ofcourse kills the branch.

Different species, apparently. My (European, red) squirrels just eat the hazelnuts — which isn't a loss since I don't like hazelnuts ^_^

 

[frankfrank]

Ah, but that is only during the actual hunting time. There is also the time in driving to/from the location. The setting up of camp, the time before actually starting the hunt, the time after the hunt when one prepares the carcass, the time after that when one cleans up. Then there's dinner/late night around the campfire before turning in to prepare for a fresh start the next day. Then the day begins anew with either more hunting or packing up and heading home. All in all there is plenty of time for bonding, and fathers and sons have been known to bond over the son's first kill.

I remember that my boss (in the 1970's) used to go hunting for a week every year, by himself, and the place was 540 miles away, and he described how he had to just sit there and do nothing. (I asked, because even at that time it seemed to me an impossible "bridge too far.")

 

[72-Jay]

Different species, apparently. My (European, red) squirrels just eat the hazelnuts — which isn't a loss since I don't like hazelnuts ^_^

Yep different species, the ones around here are 'Fox Squirrels' (which wikipedia says are the largest tree squirrel in North America)
Foxes are one of their predators .. hmmm all the more reason to let those stay around!

attached image is(or I should say 'was' since it will now be going in the firewood pile) a small tree that the squirrels really decided to go after.

 

[Willie Boy]

Take squirrels for example, since they are one of the worst.
In the garden they eat fruits & vegetables, which wouldn't be so bad except for the way they do it...grab a piece of fruit, take a couple bites, drop it, grab another, do the same, and so on.
They also like to dig up & eat small plants/seeds/bulbs/etc
In the winter they like to chew the bark off tree branches...that ofcourse kills the branch.
They have a thing for wire, don't know what it is but they like chewing the plastic off - but basically all rodents seem to do this (a nice high voltage line could probably solve this one )
Anyone who has ever had one get in their attic can tell you about what sorta damage they can do there.

Raccoons can totally strip a tree of fruit in a couple hours at night
Same goes for vegetable gardens (especially seem to like corn). I honestly can't blame farmers for shooting stuff like this.
Like squirrels they will chew on wire (they're not as bad)
They'll go dig random holes in the yard/garden, usually tearing up plants in the process.
Oh and they are vicious creatures that may attack people or pets.

There are easier ways to keep them from your garden.

 

[pat grimshaw]

This head 'sab' will protect the foxes

 

[otters]

This head 'sab' will protect the foxes

I hear and read always "nappy" here, "nappy" there.

Oh, "dailymail.co.uk", THAT famous quality newspaper !

Are the editors there still in their swaddling clothes, or why cannot they write a proper grown up word instead?

 

[pat grimshaw]

I ...

Seems like you are shooting the messenger and ignoring the message again.

 

[pat grimshaw]

Here is a painful video by the so-called saboteurs in action.

They could have been more useful with the Rapists at Rotherham.

 

[Willie Boy]

Seems like you are shooting the messenger and ignoring the message again.

No, he was shooting the message. The messenger just childishly took it personally.

 

[pat grimshaw]

This is how the sanctimonious "hunt saboteurs" spend their rainy Saturdays.

They get in their motor cars and drive around country roads with no result. Seems a bit pointless to me, especially when they are simultaneously, sanctimoniously turning a blind eye to the rapists of Rotherham.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal

 

[pat grimshaw]

Blind Freddy can tell you it's nothing to do with animal welfare and everything to do with class warfare.

The saboteurs hate posh people on horses, whether they're hunting foxes or not.