Hunting (From The Northern Echo)

Hunting

11:38am Monday 27th April 2009 in Letters

IN his letter about hare coursing (HAS, April 18), William Scarr states that, originally, food was the main purpose of this barbaric activity. So, what is the purpose now? Sport, I expect.

Well, far too much blood is spilt in the name of sport.

I take part in cycling races, play darts, badminton and race speedway. These activities, as I understand it, are “sports”, as is football, rugby, tennis, etc. But killing wildlife – how is that sport?

Sport is where the participants have a relatively equal chance against each other. What chance does a hare or fox have against a pack of dogs? A pheasant against a shotgun? Not sport as far as I’m concerned.

I long for the day when a superior life-form evolves and begins taking us humans in the name of “sport”.

I wonder what the likes of Mr Scarr would have to say about that?

Nick Calvert, Kirkby Fleetham, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

CORRESPONDENT L Edwards gives a good and full description of hunting (HAS, April 14), including hare coursing in all its “glory”, which William Scarr (HAS, April 18) says is exaggerated. Not a bit.

Has he never been to the Waterloo Cup and witnessed hares – not all, but quite a few – being caught between two greyhounds and yanked apart?

A hare’s scream is much like that of a human and makes your hair stand on end. It takes no understanding or knowledge to see it is not always the hare’s neck that the dogs have in their mouths – in their excitement the dogs grab whatever bit of the animal they can.

Hare coursing, including the Waterloo Cup, were banned as a cruel sport under the 2004 Hunting Act. Long may it remain so.

M Embling, Crook, Co Durham.