Proof to back up "harbourer" claim
JONATHAN Higgins, Points of view, May 11, tells me I have no evidence to back up my claim that the job of the "harbourer" is to select the strongest stag to ensure that the hunters have a good, long chase.
I suggest Mr Higgins studies the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales.
On page 39 (paragraph 2.38) it is explained that the role of the "harbourer" is to select a particular stag for the hunt to pursue.
It is then stated that "the stag will then be given a head start before the whole pack sets off in pursuit".
If stag hunting is not about sport, why is the quarry given a head start?
The report of the committee states that the average duration of the hunt is about three hours and that the distance travelled is about 18km. Mr Higgins tells us that in autumn the oldest stags are selected and in spring the poorest animals are hunted.
Does he really believe that the old and poor stags are capable of running 18 kilometres pursued by a pack of hounds and a gang on horseback?
The Hunting Act 2004 was enacted for good reason and reflects the will of the electorate.
John Phelps
Argyll Road, Exeter
(by email)
Comments
by Will, Crediton
Saturday, May 16 2009, 12:01PM
“Tha's not proof that the harbourer selects the strongest stag, only that he selects a stag. From what I have been told by a keen hunter the policy is to select the older, weaker or injured stags (although not necessarily exclusively). As long as weak stags are targeted it doesn't much matter from the ecological point of view whether fitter stags are chased as well, although it would obviously be better if weak stags were targeted exclusively.”