East Devon hunting meet reported
THE League Against Cruel Sports has complained to police after claiming to have observed the hunting ban being breached in the Devon countryside.
But hunt leaders have strenuously denied the claim, saying they never break the law.
The row comes after the East Devon Hunt and the Axe Vale Hunt met on private land at Otterton and Colaton Raleigh, near Exmouth.
About 70 people, many on horseback and including children, took part with about 30 hounds.
League members, including trustee Ivor Annetts, 70, from Tiverton, took video footage and reported the hunts to police on suspicion they were not acting within the law.
The law states that hounds cannot pursue foxes and must instead follow a scent trail. Mr Annetts said he spent about two hours shooting video footage at Burnthouse Farm, east of Colaton Raleigh, last Tuesday.
“I have recorded video of hounds being entered into areas where foxes were likely to be and where it would be most unlikely or impossible for a horse or quadbike to lay a trail.”
“ I have made a formal complaint to the police at Exmouth.”
Mr Annetts said they did not see any foxes emerge during their observation of the huntsmen and women.
Lucy Wastenage, joint master of the East Devon Hunt, insisted they always act within the law and denied they used hounds to hunt foxes including last week’s meet.
“We breed and train our hounds to follow a trail rather than look for live foxes.
“It is absolutely ludicrous to suggest we were hunting foxes with packs of hounds.
“Numerous trails were laid on Tuesday morning. We acted perfectly within the law like we always do.”
A spokesman for Devon & Cornwall police was unable to comment on the specific allegation but said the force would look into any complaints made about the activities of hunts.
“We always investigate complaints to see if there are any breaches in the law,” he said.
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by Jon Burgess, Worcestershire
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 10:35PM
“Ivor Annettes must be desperate, no fox, no evidence, no interest from the police. But what the hell lets make a story out of it anyway. In agricultural terms if you throw enough muck about some of it might stick and Mr Annettes's seems to have got a big muck fork for christmas.”
by Norman Bryant, west sussex
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 7:15PM
“A High Court Judge rulled that Hounds looking fo a fox was not actually Hunting a Fox so it is not illegal, A scent can often be laid by a runner who to make things more interesting will run into very wooded areas to make hounds work. A suspicion of Hunting is not against the law, if that was the case anyone out on a Hunt could be guilty of that according to the LACS>”
by Giles Bradshaw, Rose Ash
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 2:10PM
“M Hayworth we live in a civilised country and it is a nonsense that most people in this country regard others as 'vermin'.
As for entering hounds into woodland, this is not illegal.”
by mhayworth, UK
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 12:10AM
“Actually Mike, if you look at the polls, you'll find that most people would describe the hunters as vermin and not the foxes.”
by Laura, Devon
Monday, February 22 2010, 5:52PM
“All the wild animals should be left alone to live their lives. How sad it would be to live in a world without wildlife and birds, but unfortunately unless people start helping wildlife instead of destroying them this is how it will be in a couple of generations time.”