Why do people hunt foxes?

Hunting par force du chien, i.e. hunting with a pack of hounds, is a traditional human activity of immemorial antiquity. It provides healthy exercise and intense entertainment to humans, horses, hounds, and foxes. read more

People who hunt foxes being chased by hounds from horseback generally do so for ritual and recreation. read more

Supporters of fox hunting consider foxes to be vermin, like rats. They say the foxes spread disease and often break into farms and kill animals. Many people in the countryside say hunting foxes is a good way of keeping the number of animals under control. read more

Supporters of fox hunting claim that the number of foxes killed has increased since the Hunting Act came into force, both by the hunts (through lawful methods) and landowners, and that hunts have reported an increase in membership and that around 320,000 people (their highest recorded number) turned up to meets on Boxing Day 2006. read more