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| Hunters marking start of season | Hunters marking start of season |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The fox hunting season begins later, with thousands of enthusiasts expected to set out on foot and horseback following packs of hounds. | The fox hunting season begins later, with thousands of enthusiasts expected to set out on foot and horseback following packs of hounds. |
| Police and hunt monitors will be out checking people stay within the law. | Police and hunt monitors will be out checking people stay within the law. |
| Hunting supporters said they would be aiming to test the "ridiculous law" to its limits. | Hunting supporters said they would be aiming to test the "ridiculous law" to its limits. |
| Hunting foxes with dogs in England and Wales was banned in February 2005, but hounds can be used to follow an artificial scent and flush out a fox. | |
| The fox can then be killed by a bird of prey or shot - if only two dogs are involved. | The fox can then be killed by a bird of prey or shot - if only two dogs are involved. |
| BBC rural affairs correspondent Tom Heap said the popularity of hunting "seems undiminished". | BBC rural affairs correspondent Tom Heap said the popularity of hunting "seems undiminished". |
| Loopholes exploited | Loopholes exploited |
| Our correspondent, who said some claimed the appeal of hunting had even increased, added: "All hunts are exploiting loopholes in the law and how far they can push it depends on the local level of scrutiny. | Our correspondent, who said some claimed the appeal of hunting had even increased, added: "All hunts are exploiting loopholes in the law and how far they can push it depends on the local level of scrutiny. |
| We're testing it to the limits because we see it as a ridiculous law that should never have been brought in Phillippa MayoCountryside Alliance | We're testing it to the limits because we see it as a ridiculous law that should never have been brought in Phillippa MayoCountryside Alliance |
| "Some undoubtedly chase and kill foxes with a pack of hounds in clear breach of the law. | "Some undoubtedly chase and kill foxes with a pack of hounds in clear breach of the law. |
| "Others may lay scent trails by hand and only pursue live prey by accident." | "Others may lay scent trails by hand and only pursue live prey by accident." |
| Phillippa Mayo, from the Countryside Alliance, told BBC Radio Five Live that hunts were trying to operate within the law: | Phillippa Mayo, from the Countryside Alliance, told BBC Radio Five Live that hunts were trying to operate within the law: |
| "They're certainly not going out to deliberately flout it, but obviously we're testing it to the limits because we see it as a ridiculous law that should never have been brought in and which needs repealing as soon as possible." | "They're certainly not going out to deliberately flout it, but obviously we're testing it to the limits because we see it as a ridiculous law that should never have been brought in and which needs repealing as soon as possible." |
| National Trust ban | National Trust ban |
| Meanwhile on Saturday, the National Trust's annual general meeting is to discuss a resolution calling for it to reaffirm the total ban on hunters on its land. | Meanwhile on Saturday, the National Trust's annual general meeting is to discuss a resolution calling for it to reaffirm the total ban on hunters on its land. |
| Douglas Batchelor, the chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) and a member of the National Trust, will, propose the resolution alongside fellow-member Cerys Roberts. | Douglas Batchelor, the chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) and a member of the National Trust, will, propose the resolution alongside fellow-member Cerys Roberts. |
| The trust banned all deer hunting on its land in 1997. | The trust banned all deer hunting on its land in 1997. |
| However, the trustees resolved that where hunts chasing "clearly sick and injured deer" cross on to its land, the hunters and their hounds should be allowed to follow and kill the deer in order to be humane. | However, the trustees resolved that where hunts chasing "clearly sick and injured deer" cross on to its land, the hunters and their hounds should be allowed to follow and kill the deer in order to be humane. |
| "This is a concept as ludicrous as asking a known paedophile to supervise a children's playground," said Mr Batchelor. | "This is a concept as ludicrous as asking a known paedophile to supervise a children's playground," said Mr Batchelor. |
| He added: "These are people whose hobby is pursuing, on horseback, terrified animals, chasing them to exhaustion and then butchering them. | He added: "These are people whose hobby is pursuing, on horseback, terrified animals, chasing them to exhaustion and then butchering them. |
| 'More humane' | 'More humane' |
| "They don't know the meaning of the word 'humane'." | "They don't know the meaning of the word 'humane'." |
| It comes after the LACS filmed the Devon and Somerset Staghounds chasing a stag on to trust land at Exmoor, Devon, about two months ago. | It comes after the LACS filmed the Devon and Somerset Staghounds chasing a stag on to trust land at Exmoor, Devon, about two months ago. |
| According to the LACS, the stag was pursued for more than two hours. | According to the LACS, the stag was pursued for more than two hours. |
| However, Tom Yandle, chairman of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, said: "If you have a deer that is not well, you should be allowed to put it down." | However, Tom Yandle, chairman of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, said: "If you have a deer that is not well, you should be allowed to put it down." |
| Mr Yandle said he and like-minded people "believe it is more humane to find it with hounds because, if it goes into thick gorse, how are you going to find it with just stalkers and rifles? | Mr Yandle said he and like-minded people "believe it is more humane to find it with hounds because, if it goes into thick gorse, how are you going to find it with just stalkers and rifles? |
| "This is not the same as pursuing animals." | "This is not the same as pursuing animals." |