| Fox Hunting has always been seen as a British | | | | The Industrial Revolution saw people moving |
| activity during which highly trained dogs, as | | | | out of the country, instead settling in towns |
| well as human hunters on horseback, pursue | | | | and cities where they could find work. Even |
| the red fox. Animal rights activists find the | | | | though roads, rails, and canals split up the |
| blood sport to be barbaric. However, its | | | | hunting land, it made it more accessible to |
| participants and proponents see it to be a | | | | people who wanted to hunt. Also, the |
| traditional equestrian sport, as well as an | | | | improvement of shotguns during the 19 th |
| important aspect of Englands aristocratic | | | | century allowed for game shooting to gain |
| history. In fact, even though it does take | | | | popularity. |
| place in several countries, its roots can be | | | | |
| traced to the British. | | | | Even though it is viewed as a usually typical |
| | | | rural British sport, hunting using hounds |
| Known as venery, the use of scent hounds to | | | | does take place all over. Those hunts in the |
| track prey dates way back to Assyrian, | | | | U.S., Canada, Ireland, and also India are |
| Babylonian, and also ancient Egyptian times. | | | | considered to be, to some extent, a British |
| But, it was in England, using the Agassaei | | | | Empire legacy. However, some do claim that |
| breed of dog, that fox hunting was really | | | | the first pack that was used solely for fox |
| popular, taking place before the Romans even | | | | hunting was in the United States. |
| arrived. | | | | |
| | | | Other countries, influenced by the Greek and |
| Later, the Romans brought over the Castorian | | | | Romans, also have a tradition of fox hunting |
| and Fulpine breed of hounds, as well as the | | | | using hounds. For example, both France and |
| brown hare and several species of deer to use | | | | Italy still have fox hunts. But, in countries |
| as quarry. Wild boar was also known as a | | | | such as Switzerland and Germany, fox hunting |
| hunted animal. | | | | has been outlawed. |
| | | | |
| Norman hunting traditions began when William | | | | As of 2004, 170 registered packs found in the |
| the Conqueror arrived, using Gascon and | | | | United States and Canada were included by the |
| Talbot hounds. In fact, the cry of tally ho | | | | Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, |
| is the Norman equivalent to the French il est | | | | as well as many more farmer, or |
| haut, meaning he is up. | | | | non-recognized, packs. |
| | | | |
| 1534 marks the first known attempt at fox | | | | When fox hunting is done in the United |
| hunting, taking place in Norfolk, England. | | | | States, the pursued fox is often not caught. |
| There, farmers used their dogs to chase foxes | | | | In fact, they are trained so they arent |
| as a way of pest control. | | | | caught during the fox hunt. |
| | | | |
| It wasnt until the 17 th century that | | | | During the late summer, young hounds are |
| organized pack began to hunt hare and fox, | | | | taken on hunts called cubbing, during which |
| while it those used specifically for the | | | | puppies are taught to hunts while the young |
| sport of fox hunting werent used until the 18 | | | | foxes are taught to give chase. The proper |
| th century. | | | | season usually begins in early November. |
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