Campaign for Hunting

The Scottish hunts continue to offer a pest control service which is a type of hunting permitted within Scottish law. Hounds are used to flush foxes out of covert to waiting guns, there is never any intention to kill foxes with hounds.

The 2006 / 2007 hunting season is almost upon us, with many Scottish packs having already had successful autumn hunting seasons. The coming season will be the first since the ban came in 2001 that the Dumfries and Galloway area will have it’s own pack of hounds, bringing the number of mounted hunts in Scotland up to ten once again.

The type of hunting practiced by Scottish hunts is still attracting a healthy number of mounted and foot followers, in fact in many cases numbers are increasing year on year. This is because followers still have the chance to see hounds work and hear them “speak”, which for many is the primary attraction.

The Scottish hunts are instrumental in organising point-to-point race meetings and a great many other social and sporting gatherings in their individual areas, including special hunt days for newcomers.

The Scottish hillpacks continue to offer their valuable pest control service in upland areas, this involves following hounds on foot in order to flush foxes to waiting guns, mostly in areas too steep, rugged and overgrown for horses.

Promoting Best Practice
The SCA actively promotes best practice in all country sports. The pest control services that used to be run by the traditional hunts are still taking place within the remit of the fox management protocol agreed prior to the 2002 season. The MFHA registered packs agreed to offer a pest control service using hounds and guns but remaining within the bounds of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act. A Fox management protocol was drawn up. The general points are:

• Hunts will offer a fox control service to farmers and landowners operating within the bounds of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act
  
• Hunts and followers will not break the law, being responsible law-abiding citizens
  
• Hunts will operate only by invitation of the farmers and landowners
  
• Hunts will keep the Police fully informed of their whereabouts and work
  
• Hunts will ensure that safety issues are paramount.

For further details of hunting in Scotland, or how you can get involved in your area, please contact info@scottishcountrysidealliance.org