Nowadays, fox hunting, called « grande vènerie » in French, is a type of organised hunting involving modern technological material, such as mobile phones, GPS, motorbikes and probably soon enough drones.
Fox hunting, like bullfighting, is first and foremost the staging of an animal’s lengthy torture up until their death, by following rituals coming from centuries-old aristocratic traditions. Afterwards, hunters throw parties with music and there is a mass dedicated to St Hubert, the hunters’ patron. This kind of horrendous practice is typically justified by the catch-all term « tradition ».
Ironically, in France, hunting with hounds is far from being tied to the aristocracy anymore. Composed of beaters in fatigues, a few horses rented for the hunt, it takes place – particularly during dog relays – not only on horseback but also on foot.
Hunting with dogs represents 0,1% of the population although:
- 84% of French citizens are against this type of hunting, according to a survey from IFOP from 2017 (source: Brigitte Bardot Foundation)
- 76% would like the practice of hunting with dogs to be forbidden, according to a survey from IFOP from 2020 (source: 30 Millions d’Amis)
- 85% consider it a cruel practice and 76% think that it is a practice belonging to the past, according to a survey from IFOP 2010 (source: One Voice)
The practice of hunting with dogs is the prime example of a law being made for the benefit of a very small minority of people against the will of the majority.
A very Cruel Practice
A pack of dogs, followed by riders, chases a wild animal for several hours. Exhausted, the animal will end up being caught up with. In the case of deer, hunters will often beat them with metallic bars to make them bend their knees. Then they will stab them and even drown them if « needed ». Smaller animals are often torn to pieces alive by the accompanying pack of hounds. Though obvious, muscular studies have proven that animals in such horrendous situations experience incredible levels of stress and unfathomable suffering.
A Nuisance for Wildlife as a Whole
Whereas documents, such as those issued by the OFB, recommend to be discreet during forest walks so as not to disturb wildlife, hunters with hounds do not follow the same rules and their presence is extremely disturbing. As its other name indicates, « hunting with horns and cries », this type of hunt is very loud and the constant comings and goings of the pack of riders prevent animals from feeding and breeding. Additionally, all-terrain vehicles are often used, which amplifies the overall harmful effect on the environment and its inhabitants.
Practiced during the breeding season
Hunting with dogs takes place until March 31st, despite the fact that in the course of that month, the shooting season has ended, as sows have to feed their boar piglets, hares are in the middle of their breeding season, deer will soon give birth and foxes feed their cubs. But all of these basic laws of nature, do not stop hunters with hounds from practicing.
Disrespect of Private Properties – a Danger for Humans
During hunts with hounds, landlords cannot prevent hunters from trespassing on their properties, which they officially have the right to do. They can even go as far as entering private gardens and even people’s homes with dangerous enraged dogs, capable of shredding to pieces medium-sized animals… The article L 224-4 of the rural code stipulates that: « Will not be considered as an offense, the passage of running dogs on one’s property, when the dogs are running after a prey, which started on their owner’s property, except in the case of a civil action in the event of damage. » Moreover, hunters have a « resale right », which allows them to kill the hunted animal on the property of private persons, even if the latter are against!
This happened many times in Compiègne, with a stag running away from its pursuers and taking refuge in the city. In these cases, the poor animal was stabbed to death in the middle of the city, in front of everyone, infants and children included.
Let us remember that 84% of the French population is against hunting and 76% would like hunt with hounds to be banned. Countless videos of hunters proudly showing their very young children with a gun or tagging along during a hunt, even unearthing hunts, have been posted on social media. So unlike the immense majority of readers who will read this, as surveys found, generally speaking hunters would probably not understand, why it would be an issue for people, let alone children, to witness such acts of barbarity. The potential dire psychological impacts on the development of children exposed to this kind of utter violence and demonstration of a lack of empathy gives pause.
It is absolutely abnormal that hunters with hounds are allowed to hunt on other people’s properties without their consent, and the fact that they would kill an animal on someone’s land, who is strongly against it, is absolutely unacceptable.
Also, it is not rare that a deer would cross the road to flee from hunters, which constitutes another major safety problem for people. Moreover, hunters with hounds do not hesitate to invade roads as if they belonged to them, although article R224-1, which regulates hunting with hounds, stipulates that: « Car and truck relays are forbidden. However, it is tolerated outside of hare pursuits, that a maximum of six dogs be transported in a vehicle during the hunt; they must get out all at once and in the presence of at least one rider. » In other words, it is forbidden to chase an animal using a car, but it is not forbidden to move from one point to another with a car. We know through hunters themselves that due to this slight permission, cars are used during hunts, to let the dogs run out as soon as the animal victim becomes exhausted.
Last but not least, most of the times, where dogs go humans cannot follow, because of barriers, rocks, brush, etc. And as a result, when dogs arrive in a natural reserve area, nothing stops them from wrecking havoc. As with birds killed by hunters during non-selective nocturnal hunts, there is no way for dogs to know when they have crossed into a natural reserve. This shows again that hunting with hounds by essence in our day and age is very problematic.
An Ever-Increasingly Unpopular Practice
Every year, hunts with hounds end up in the middle of villages, which enables us to know how unpopular the practice is given people’s reactions. As one can easily notice in the newspapers, inhabitants are appalled and shocked to bear witness to such cruelty, violence, ignorance and often arrogance.
Pack of Dogs
The life of hunting dogs used during these hunts is far from enviable.
Locked up for the quasi entirety of the year in kennels, they are considered simple tools. They are never petted and more importantly they are removed or abandoned, if they are too playful and not efficient enough. Not to mention, when they are getting old…
An Aristocratic Pastime of Another Era
Maintaining a pack and a crew costs an average of 150,000 euros per year. This brings us back to the times, when aristocracy still flourished and: « Social differences, of which visual signs most pretend are attenuated in society, are exacerbated during hunts with hounds. The masters, generally aristocrats, prance in full uniform on their horses, whilst the servants follow or trample with their rubber boots. »
Forbidden in most Countries
Most European countries have banned hunting with dogs: Germany in 1950, Belgium in 1995, Scotland in 2002 and even England in 2005 (where it was invented). Few countries still practice it, unfortunately among them feature Holland, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
In the East of France, many participants hunting with dogs come from Switzerland and Germany, where it has been forbidden for decades. Also, social media abound with videos of illegal hunts with hounds taking place in England, which numerous groups successfully report to authorities. France has become a tragic place, where foreign hunters wishing to practice one of the cruelest practices, can do so.
We invite you to check out the following association for more information on hunting with hounds:
https://ava-france.org/
CoRAC 