Anti-cruelty campaigners accuse group of flouting humane kill law
“There were no guns on that side of the hill, where you would expect to see guns in position if the activity was in keeping with the law.
“Hounds go through the gorse for quite some time before someone appears holding a gun.
“We have passed this on to police and officially reported it. We believe this is evidence of fox hunting breaking the law.”
Robbie Marsland, director of LACS Scotland, said: “It’s yet another example of a hunt pushing the boundaries of the law and hunting in a manner little different to how they behaved pre-ban.
“Time and time again, our investigators are witnessing hounds being used supposedly to flush out a fox to guns – yet there are no guns in sight. The law is a complete sham and needs strengthening to make it fit for purpose.”
Fife Foxhounds did not respond to our request for comment.
Their website states: “We are a friendly pack and welcome both visitors and newcomers to hunting of all riding abilities.
“We are total ly committed to operating within the law at all times and liaise regularly with the police, the farming community and other local interests on behalf of our many members and supporters.”
We watched last month as riders from the Lauderdale Hunt, one of Scotland’s 11 hunt groups, used a pack of hounds to flush out a fox – but failed to shoot the terrified animal.
The fox hunting season began this month and runs till the end of March.
Last year, pol ice described the Scot t ish fox hunt ing law as “unworkable”.
There has only been one illegal fox hunting prosecution since the law change in 2002.
A similar law south of the Border, introduced in 2004, is more stringent.
It allows only two hounds to flush a fox from cover but in Scotland the number is unlimited.
The S cot t ish Gov e rnment are consulting on whether that law should be tightened or new rules brought in.