Fellhunting with the Coniston Foxhounds

Could you ask for better sport? The Lakeland fells covered in brick red bracken with a bright blue sky atop, it's time to go fellhunting with the Coniston Foxhounds. This film appears in Fieldsports Britain, episode 8. To watch the whole show go to http://Fcha.nl/fieldsportsbritain8 Sign up for our weekly email newsletter www.fieldsportschannel.tv/register Why hunt/shoot foxes? The British red fox is widespread across the whole of mainland Britain and Ireland. The best estimate of the current British fox population is 240,000 adults in spring, to which a production of 425,000 cubs is added annually. The fox has no natural predator and for the population to remain stable, 425,000 foxes must therefore die each year. Fox numbers need to be managed and controlled to prevent the predation of lambs, piglets reared outdoors, free range and domestic poultry. Foxes can also have a significant impact on vulnerable species of ground nesting birds such as black grouse, partridge, lapwing and curlew (Bealey, Green, Robson, Taylor & Winspear, 1999). In order to protect such species while they are breeding, conservators and gamekeepers aim to control fox numbers, particularly from late winter to early summer. Foxes are also controlled around pheasant and partridge rearing and release pens in late summer and autumn. Overall, the direct cost to UK agriculture from fox predation has been estimated at £12 million annually (UK Government figures) We’re proud to promote enjoyment of fieldsports and the countryside. There are three guiding principles to everything we do on Fieldsports Channel: ▶ Hunt, shoot and fish responsibly ▶ Respect the quarry ▶ Ensure a humane, clean and quick kill Take part in nature. Join the Fieldsports Nation https://Fcha.nl