Antis come in all forms
Angela,
Terribly sorry to hear your troubles with the antis. In this era, it is especially difficult to post videos, pictures or other foxhunting items on the web where others are allowed to post comments. I have seen many videos and slide shows on UTube under attack from all sorts of people who lack the ability to spell check or the integrity to sign their name. Rather, slurs and insults are tossed from the sidelines. I find it deplorable behavior.
To that end I choose not to post videos on a website that allows others to post comments. I have instead put videos and photos on my site www.guilfordhounds.com for others to see, but not comment on. The negative publicity found on UTube and other photo album sites is an annoyance. Antis are indeed a serious threat and will affect all hunts Live or Drag. The comments posted by antis do not help anyone. There is little use trying to have a reasonable conservation with them anyway.
I need to stand on my soap box a bit here. I truly wish those who like to take cheap shots and saying drag “hunting isn’t hunting” would take a step back and reevaluate those comments. All forms of hunting are always under attack. In the United States it is highly unlikely that hunting will be banned on a federal level. It is also highly unlikely that hunting will be banned on a state level. However, where the war will be fought is in animal husbandry regulations. More and more municipalities and states are trying to impose regulations and restrictions on kennels and animal management. It is these restrictions that will be the end of hunting with hounds. When the kennel is attacked and the hounds need to be euthanized, that is when HSUS, PETA, ALF and the like will have won the battle. It is a backdoor attempt and gaining success in the fight to stop all hunting. Pennsylvania was under attack last year with some of the most ridiculous and restrictive kennel regulations ever. Virginia recently came under attack with similar regulations. Thankfully, hunters in both states prevailed, but rest assured the fight will be back again.
Now, as a drag hunt I spend thousands every year in donations to pro hunting organizations. I guess ‘technically’ I don’t need to support them since I ‘technically’ am not hunting. Yet, I fully support the choice that others make to live hunt and frankly do not understand why I have to defend drag hunting to others. Drag hunting frequently comes under attack from live hunters. Drag hunting does not come under attack from the general public. It only is attacked and referred to as the red-headed step-child of hunting by live hunters. I find that sadly ironic. But live hunts and drag hunts will suffer the same fate. Why is it that folks need to put down drag hunts when so often I do my very best to help protect your choice? We are cut from the same cloth, why won’t live hunters stand shoulder to should with me as I stand with them? The antis are after the live hunters, should I pull my support of hunting as many have pulled their support of drag packs? It truly saddens me that I spend my time defending drag hunting from the very people I support.
In terms of shying away from advertising a kill. Don’t. Hunting is hunting. I make no excuse for how hounds dispatch prey. It is fast, quick and effective. Much more effective than wounding an animal with a rifle only to let it suffer a slow death.
Fox Hunting vs. Fox Chasing. Seriously, how PC can we get? Stop watering down what you do and stand a bit taller. It is fox hunting. You don’t need to have a kill every day out to call it hunting. We don’t call deer season ‘deer chasing’ It is ‘deer hunting’ plain and simple.
Incidentally, I choose drag hunting because of territory and landowner requirements, not because I am afraid of hurting Charlie.
Gregory