I FARMED free range chickens for more than 10 years and never had a fox problem. I kept accurate mortality records and each year had about 10 or 12 losses which were unaccountable. Most of these were probably single birds taken by a vixen to feed her cubs. 

Foxes have not bothered us as much in the country as they did when we lived in town. 

When you hear of a number of birds slain and left it is the result of a young dog fox enjoying himself, or worse still, mink. Although I was brought up hunting, fishing and shooting.

As I grew up I matured beyond needing to kill living creatures for fun and that's just what hunting is. Fun. Although not for the fox! 

There has not been the predicted explosion in the fox population since the ban on hunting. Some may argue that this is the result of the increase in lamping. Even so, a swift end from a bully is preferable to hunting with dogs. 

Fox hunting as we know it, like bear baiting, has no place in a civilised society. Whilst mankind cannot stop killing its fellows what hope is there for mere animals?

– Terry Haile, Monmouth.