Exmoor needs hunting,

Exmoor needs hunting, says park authority
by Valerie Elliott, Countryside Editor, The Times 12 July 2002

A ban on hunting on Exmoor would have the same impact as a ban on football in Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, the Government has been told by the area's National Park Authority.
Its 26 members unanimously backed a report giving warning of the devastating impact of a hunting ban. A ban could also prevent it from carrying out its legal duty to foster the social and economic needs of the area, the authority said.
Alun Michael, Rural Affairs Minister, had limited the principles under which hunting could be allowed to cruelty and utility, but the authority said in a submission to him that the impact on communities should also be taken into account. "Any visitor to Exmoor soon realises that hunting of red deer and foxhunting, as with other country sports on Exmoor such as game shooting and fishing, are traditional pursuits enjoyed by a large number of local people and visitors", it said. "The National Park Authority believes that these activities form an important and significant focus in the social life of Exmoor's rural communities."

The authority is also anxious to safeguard staghunting on Exmoor as the most effective means of conserving and managing the 3,000 strong red deer population. Dr Nigel Stone, chief executive, said: "We are not convinced there is an easy or obvious alternative, especially as we have a higher density of red deer here than any other part of England." He said that the 26 member authority had steered away from ethical issues of hunting but that it believed that hunting should stay on Exmoor.

To read the full report click on the link http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

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