Now That Hare Coursing Is Banned

[Rae]

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Hiya,

I, trying to find out if rabbit coursing is going to replace hare coursing. I wouldn't have thought a rabbit would run like hare as they would either freeze or die of fright on the spot?

I know it's not illegal to let dogs hunt rabbits - but coursing is different surely......?

Someone went to a dog show recently and there was apparently live rabbit coursing with lurchers - she was appaulled. Not my idea of a Sunday afternon either.

Presumably the rabbit was either captured from the wild or domestic and bred for the purpose.

Either of those legal?

I dont want to start an argument, I guess you can tell I'm not into that sort of thing myself, but Id be grateful for those in the know to enlighten me.

Thanks,

Rae.

 

[~Helen~]

domestic and bred for the purpose.

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I don't like the sound of that vermin-control is one thing, but breeding them purely for sport doesn't sound very nice.

 

[ILoveKettleChips]

I have had a few people looking at the dogs in the back of the car when I've been on calls, saying 'Terrible trouble we're having with rabbits, over yonder hill ..." and looking hopefully at me.

Hare coursing has been banned here for ages - we've had no rabbit coursing that I'm aware of though.

I have to say, when we've been out and Maisie's caught bunnies I've been very proud of her bringing them back to me grinning, and she's allowed bunny for her dinner then, although she usually pukes it back up on the carpet. I don't have a problem with using dogs to hunt rabbits as it's preferable to having poisons all over our countryside and at least the carcases are never wasted (I know way too many hungry ferrets for that to ever happen :lol: ).

 

[nigelmcfc]

I think you might be getting Rabbit coursing mixed up with lure coursing which is quite commonly held at country fairs etc, where the whippets and other sight hounds chase a

lure on a course around pulleys which give the turns . Hunting rabbits is still legal as they and rats are exempt from the new law. Many people myself included will carry on hunting rabbits with dogs , whippets included. In doing this, if a dog runs a rabbit bolted from a warren or cover by either a ferret or another dog, then the whippet could be said to be coursing it . I doubt very much if organised rabbit cousing could be held unless it involved the release of captive rabbits, which would be very illegal , and not really very sporting,as you say the conies would probably just squat not knowing where to run.

So, rabbit coursing is probably a non-starter , but the hunting of rabbits using dogs and ferrets remains a legal pastime , until the grinning buffoon and his cronies pass another unworkable law to ban it

 

[~elizabeth~]

Actually it's very difficult to catch rabbits with sighthounds, most whippets give up as it's so frustrating seeing those little scuts disappearing down the hole every time. Rabbits are phenomenally good at judging risk and can easily outpace whippets over short to medium distances. They will not re-appear after a disturbance for about 5-10 mins and will then evaluate the situation for at least another 10 before venturing into the open so the only guarantee of a long chase would be to do something that either stops them returning to their burrows or release captured ones, neither of which wouldn't be very humane regardless of the law.

The only chance of catching them without resorting to ferrets is when they are undisturbed in open ground. 9 out of 10 will bolt straight for the hole but there's always one that behaves erratically (maybe some sort of evolutionary quirk that protects the wider group by creating a distraction) and that's the one your whippet MAY catch. This might also explain why you get the odd suicidal one that jumps straight under your car too.

Elizabeth

 

[nigelmcfc]

Actually it's very difficult to catch rabbits with sighthounds, most whippets give up as it's so frustrating seeing those little scuts disappearing down the hole every time.

It is without the aid of a ferret , but the whippet is the perfect rabbit dog most of the time. If a rabbit bolts from either his warren or from cover , then the whip is the perfect dog to catch him , with the lightning acceleration and reflexes. My bitch isn`t adverse to jumping into the cover herself to catch them either

 

[~elizabeth~]

It is without the aid of a ferret , but the whippet is the perfect rabbit dog most of the time. If a rabbit bolts from either his warren or from cover , then the whip is the perfect dog to catch him , with the lightning acceleration and reflexes. My bitch isn`t adverse to jumping into the cover herself to catch them either

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That wasn't actually an admission that ours is no good He won't venture into cover now tho, just as well as I don't want any tears There's always the risk of hidden barbed wire in those hedge too :nuke: I hear Iggies are even better catching them near cover (w00t)

If your inexperienced whippet catches a rabbit, most of the time it will probably by myxamatosed, and a quick, firm bite to the thorax from your whippet (which is how they kill) is probably a fairly quick and humane end. We had a terrible epidemic of myxamatosis about 18 months ago (following a population surge after F&M), there were literally hundreds lying dead in the fields, even the foxes couldn't cope with the clearing up job! The Environment Agency people are gassing them in areas too, so don't feel too guilty if your whippet catches one, it was probably doomed anyway !

Elizabeth

 

[Rae]

Thanks for the repsonses - I didnt see it and I did think it must have been lure coursing - especially at a public event - but wanted to find out more.

I know *healthy wild* bunnies would be difficult to catch under normal circumstances - but this was possibly an organised coursing event.

 

[~elizabeth~]

Thanks for the repsonses - I didnt see it and I did think it must have been lure coursing - especially at a public event - but wanted to find out more.
I know *healthy wild* bunnies would be difficult to catch under normal circumstances - but this was possibly an organised coursing event.

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If it wasn't lure coursing, perhaps it was a display of ferreting?