Hunting ( Archived) (294)

Naaaaa, I'm going to the pub, she can come if she wants, if not, it's flirting with the bar maid again.

He was the largest of his species in the country according to data.

Can't grasp why you have given me details of hunting in NZ.

Seems a heavy argument against one speaker a wee woman from London, (but with a loud and intelligent voice).

Some people enjoy hunting foxes, and some would probably shoot Rudolph.

Actually Tom the thread has become interesting . I'm all for learning about other people's perspective on wild life management.

Kid is a country person, from what I've read, and understands wildlife.

Epirb too who has raised his own voice in protest against the wilful killing of an animal.

I prefer a debate to an argument any day of the week. I can learn from others.

Hi Kid


I personally don't eat a lot of red meat,just a personal choice.

As for sausages.No thanks. Too much garbage goes into them unless you buy for a reputably sourced organic butcher.

I'm more of a fish eater,as long as it's from a sustainable source.

By Jasper Copping 11:52AM GMT 15 Nov
Deer numbers have soared thanks to a series of mild winters, tree-planting schemes and an absence of natural predators. They are thought to be at their highest level for almost 1,000 years.

But wildlife experts and farmers have warned that they are wreaking havoc in many areas, destroying woodland, crops and even gardens.
Now, the Deer Initiative, a government-backed organisation which advises landowners on how to manage the animals, has said it would like to see the numbers culled increase drastically to half a million a year.

The organisation is involved in negotiations with landowners to co-ordinate a series of culls to take place over this winter.
Peter Watson, from the Deer Initiative, said the population of wild deer had now risen to almost two million and the numbers being culled had not kept pace with the increase.

"The current numbers being culled are not enough. We need to be culling about 500,000 deer and we are not even close to that.
"There is a significant number of lowland woodlands that are in an unsatisfactory condition because of deer impacts. It is in those areas where we are working with landowners to get the habit back into a better condition. Almost inevitably, that means culling more deer, because people haven't traditionally been culling enough.

"We're not simply calling for a huge increase in culling. We are trying to address local issues. That might mean an increase in culling, and I think it generally does. But the aim is to address the issues, not deer numbers per se."

However, the proposed increase has proved highly controversial.
John Robins, from the campaigning group Animal Concern, said: "Not enough has been done to look at alternatives to lethal control, like giving deer contraceptives.

"In some areas, current culling practices are totally unacceptable in a civilised society. We are extremely concerned that some culls are of pregnant deer and hinds when they are feeding calves."

Among the areas of England worst effected by large deer populations are East Anglia, Northamptonshire, Herefordshire, Exmoor, Oxfordshire and parts of the Midlands.
Last week, the Deer Initiative, which is funded by the government and its other partner organisations, held meetings with landowners in the east of England to discuss ways to control numbers there.

David Hooton, the organisation's regional representative, said: "In some areas, like Suffolk, Norfolk and Hertfordshire, culling has already started to increase.

"But deer management is a very gradual game and it takes a long time to get it right. What no one wants is to be indiscriminate. We need to carry out monitoring and research as well. We are not simply interested in culling, for culling's sake."

The organisation is also trying to increase the marketing of venison, to provide a further incentive for landowners to cull more deer.
Many culls have started in recent weeks, as the season for deer runs from November until the end of March.

Among the Deer Initiative's partners who carry out culls on their own land are the Forestry Commission, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust.
Culls of 500,000 would be a huge increase on current levels, which sees around 350,000 deer killed in the UK each year.
It follows warnings from wildlife experts that the mammals are having "negative impacts" across the country.

Phew Thanks Tom ,but I was aware of these facts.