I’m quite well educated, thank you. You are not educated on this subject, nor are you educated on hunting. That’s ok unless you are posting here just to start another argument.
If your intent is to learn, your best approach is to remain quiet instead of arguing. Again, there are people on this forum who have been hunting longer than you’ve been alive. I think they may actually know more about the subject than you do. (or me!)
These are not “arguments”. It’s science, history, literature, art, and the writings of hunters over hundreds of years. There are vast stores of information on the use of all sorts of dogs for hunting. There are websites with forums devoted to the use of a dog or hound in hunting, and those people really know their dogs, and know hunting.
I have not disagreed with any hunters in this thread.
The use of hounds mimics the role of a natural predator in an ecosystem. This method of hunting does not REPLACE a natural predator. A natural predator remains, has a defined territory, breeds and reproduces, and if it runs out of natural prey, will find other prey. Dogs, cats, horses, people, children, etc.
Unlike a natural predator, a dog is under human control. The hunter comes in with the dog, hunts, and leaves. He can recall the hound or dog. With hounds, hunting can also be superior because with a species that trees, the hunter can easily determine if the treed animal meets the legal requirements for harvest. With still hunting, this is difficult, if not impossible to do. Hunters have seasons, bag limits, abide by certain regulations, and don’t turn their dogs on little children coming home from school if they don’t find a cougar to hunt.
That’s why I wrote the word mimic instead of replace.
Each method of hunting has its pluses and minuses. But hunting with a dog or hound is selective. This is what distinguishes it from other forms of hunting. It doesn’t make it better or worse necessarily, just different. And in some cases, preferable.
Hunters also have their own preference of method, species, and their own reasons for hunting. In this day and age, it is largely a leisure pursuit and a recreational activity.
As far as urban hunting, you might try and educate yourself on that as well. As I previously stated, urban archery is a thriving method of hunting in many jurisdictions. It enjoys widespread support, as in some areas the overabundance of white-tailed deer has caused widespread economic losses.
The use of dogs to push unwanted wildlife out of certain areas is also enjoying widespread support by ranchers, farmers and landowners.
Most states have regulations permitting the use of scent hounds to track and retrieve wounded animals, too. Even states that do not permit hunting of certain species with dogs.
If you are truly interested in learning something about hunting with a dog or hound, you probably should contact your local game department and see what they have available as far as learning opportunities.
You may be surprised to find that there are several forms of foxhunting in the United States, and English style mounted foxhunting is a minority. While there are few real subsistence hunters in the US anymore, there are still plenty of people who use a dog or hound to bring home dinner, to kill a predator killing their livestock, or to flush game or retrieve downed birds.
However, in the case of any form of hunting, their has always been a recreational/leisure aspect to it. Even in subsistence hunting. Whether it is the companionship of one’s best hunting dog, or the sociological aspects of communal hunting, that has always existed.
I don’t know how in the world you managed to think that anyone is “raising” foxes to hunt. I have hunted for many many years and have never come across any human being who raises wild animals to release and hunt. In mounted foxhunting, as in other forms of hunting with hounds, you get what you get. If a fox has been out, and the conditions are right, you might chase a fox. If scent is bad or fox have not been active, then you are out of luck. Same with bear, coon, cougar, hog, and any form of hunting by scent.
It is one of the drawbacks of this method of hunting, and another reason is it very selective. Hunting with a hound is just plain difficult. People who prefer this method seem to be dog lovers first and foremost.
[QUOTE=Ajierene;3580553]
You might want to reeducate yourself on the previous discussions you are referring to before you offer your assumptions that I ever claimed ‘expertise’ or I believe I ‘deserve to wear colors’. Do not fear, though, I am literate and what I many things I have not known in the past, I have learned through my literacy. Let us be clear, here - I have never stated that I do not support fox hunting. You are assuming something I have never stated or implied.
Do you have references so I can look into these arguments?
This is an interesting argument, though it contradicts what others on this thread have argued. If the hounds really were that similar to natural predators, wouldn’t they catch a fox more than once every few seasons?[/QUOTE]
