Liberty & Livelihood

Hunts trying to fox new law with birds

HUNTS in Cambridgeshire are considering the use of falcons in a bid to beat the hunting ban.
Hunt masters are remaining defiant in the face of the new law which bans foxhunting with the use of hounds.

George Bowyer, joint master of the Fitzwilliam Hunt, would not say whether the hunt had bought a bird of prey but added that hunts across the country were determined to defeat the law.

He said: "Yes, we are looking into using falcons. Most hunts are looking into possibilities and there are lots of different exemptions. We are going to do whatever we can to keep going."

Thurlow Hunt, which operates in the Newmarket area, said it may use birds of prey in the future.

Joint hunt master Robin Vestey said: "We are not using falcons at this stage although we never rule anything out."

Under the law, birds of prey can be used to kill foxes, with dogs being used to flush out the animals. But the Hawk Board said using a falcon could be cruel because the kill may not be clean.

A spokesman said: "The Hawk Board and falconry clubs throughout the UK are fundamentally opposed to the use of birds of prey in conjunction with packs of hounds.

"Falconers and those involved in hunting should note that the governing bodies of both sports strongly advise against this practice as it could lead to both sports being bought into disrepute and have significant welfare risks."

The main hunting season starts at the beginning of November. Other local hunts are planning to use an artificial scent for the hounds to follow.

Mr Bowyer said it was important to keep the hunt afloat until a challenge to the ban on hunting was mounted.

Using two dogs to flush out foxes to waiting guns was another option the hunt was considering.

He said: "This legislation is unworkable. Hunting people are never going to accept that hunting is wrong. We are trying to keep the infrastructure together so when the ban is overturned we will still be going."

The Countryside Alliance said it would continue to fight to overturn the law.

Simon Hart, alliance chief executive, said: "The hunting community has resolved to work to remove this confusing and unworkable law from the statute book and to replace it with a sensible legislation."