HSA news release

Hunters and Shooters just wanna have FUN!
Forget Foot & Mouth - the ‘Guardians of the
Countryside’ want access

The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) today expressed its disappointment, although not
surprise, at moves from both the hunting and shooting fraternities to gain access to the
countryside despite the continuing Foot and Mouth 'crisis'. The Countryside Alliance, the
self styled ‘guardians of the countryside’ met last week with DEFRA (formerly MAFF)
to push for the resumption of hunting even though new outbreaks of the disease arise
daily.

This is also despite several ‘at risk’ and ‘infected’ areas covering the usual shooting areas
of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. Shooters will apparently be allowed to start the
grouse shooting season on the ‘Glorious 12th’ as normal.

Dawn Preston, spokesperson for the HSA stated: "The situation is deplorable, but we are
no longer surprised at desperate moves by bloodsports enthusiasts. The hunters were hit
hard when the Foot and Mouth crisis started in February, as they were forced to cut short
their fox, deer and hare hunting seasons, and indeed the mink hunting season has been
practically lost altogether.

"August would normally see the start of the cub-hunting season, where the new hounds in
each pack are taught to hunt through the sordid practice of hunting young foxes, but the
start of this will hopefully be delayed due to ongoing F&M restrictions, and this in turn
will have a serious effect on the effectiveness of the hunts come the main season in
November. With this in mind, no wonder they are so determined to get on with the
slaughter as soon as they can."

She continued "Shooters, desperate to get one good grouse season in (to follow previous
poor years) seem just as happy to forget the obvious risks of spreading Foot and Mouth
through their activities."

The DEFRA website gives a veterinary opinion stating ‘Grouse shooting carries a risk
that the activity will spread infection and cause new outbreaks of FMD.’ Despite this,
permission has been given for shoots to go ahead - even in infected areas, a decision that
seems to us to be pure madness in light of the risks of spreading the disease.

However, some good news does reach us via the Daily Torygraph's Peterborough
column, concerning the Duke of Westminster who has already called off all 30 days of
driven grouse shooting at Abbeystead, his 19,500-acre estate in Lancashire:

"His Grace has taken the view that, in view of local conditions, it would be irresponsible
to permit any shooting to take place," says estate manager Rod Banks. "Abbeystead is in
an infected area and also in a movement controlled area, so we have decided just to
batten down the hatches."

Current rules, announced a fortnight ago, require shooting parties in infected areas to
obtain a special licence. Unfortunately, the small print precludes anyone who has been in
contact with livestock in the previous seven days from qualifying. With so many beaters
and guns being farmers or vets, the effect is potentially crippling.

Surely other 'responsible' land owners cannot fail to follow this example? When it comes
to the best interests of the countryside versus the demands of 'country sports’ enthusiasts,
it seems the latter will always take priority.’

ENDS.