Open letter to MP on foxhunting

Dear David T C Davies MP,

Recently it has become very clear the County Fox Hunts are blatantly flaunting the trail hunting law by pretending to be trail hunting when they are in fact deliberately hunting foxes illegally.

There have recently been several high profile incidents reported on mainstream and social media, i.e. members of South Herefordshire Hunt were filmed by the Panorama program throwing live fox cubs into a hounds pen at Ross on Wye, the National Hunt Committee were secretly filmed on a meeting, advising county hunt members how to hunt foxes illegally without getting caught, and a few days ago ITV released footage which shows Avon Vale Hunt members illegally digging out a badger sett where the foxes were hiding and literally throwing the live foxes to the hounds who subsequently tore the foxes apart.

Natural Resources Wales, The National Trust and others have banned hunting with hounds on their land due to the cruel, senseless and illegal acts of hunt members and the national public outcry against fox hunting with hounds.

As a farmer’s son, I am fully aware that most farmers have shotguns or firearms to shoot foxes humanely, and there are many private firearms certificate owners who are quite willing to voluntarily cull foxes for farmers if the foxes are causing a problem.

Therefore, there is absolutely no need to hunt foxes with dogs or dig foxes out of badger setts and throw them to the baying hounds.

A few years ago, I asked you via e mail to explain your position on traditional hunting with horses and hounds. At the time you stated, “I would not support a change in the law”. (The law allows trail hunting but not fox hunting)

It is blatantly obvious that hunt members across the country are acting illegally, but you now appear to be in support of the hunt.

Given the numerous (and current) investigations and exposes of the illegal acts by hunt members, the continued illegal hunting of foxes by the hunt, and of course the increasing public awareness and opinion against the outdated fox hunting with hounds, I would like to ask you to state clearly and categorically whether you support hunting with horses and hounds in Monmouthshire, and if so, why?

Steve Wadle