Comment: Fox hunting, cruel, barbaric totally unnecessary. Ban it Now... The poor foxes - what the hunters are short of is seeing one of their own subjected to a kill by a pack of wolves - Then they might think twice !!

Comment: In my opinion hunting is cruel, disgusting, barbaric and should be banned. I view hunters as dangerous people who enjoy killing.

Comment: I can't take my cats home to the UK because of the paranoia regarding foxes and rabies in the UK. These are vermin and NOT a cute pets. The number of foxes killed is minimal. Put your energy into something more useful to ban--like how you raise chickens in the UK, preventing juvenile pregnancies, and how you dye your peas green!!!!!!

Comment: HUNTERS WHO TAKE PLEASURE FROM THE SUFFERING OF THEIR PREY DESERVE TO BE HUNTED THEMSELVES. THE EVIL IS THE PLEASURE TAKEN FROM AN ANIMALS SUFFERING. THE SO CALLED SPORT IS CRUEL AND UNNECESSARY AND SHOULD BE STOPPED NOW.

Comment: I grew up in, and have worked in the country. It is there that I became a hunt saboteur. I have seen hunting at first hand. I have been at the kill - many riders are not. Hunting should be consigned to the history books along with bear baiting etc.

As for Janet George's comments about democracy bludegeoning minorities, I noticed the hunting set had no such qualms when trying to undermine the right to protest with the Criminal Justice Act 1994. But then, it served their purpose, didn't it?

Do not be fooled by "liberty" argument. Hunters are only interested in using their liberty to deny an animal's life, inflict cruelty and further to curtail the liberty of other country dwellers by trespassing, damaging land and livestock and intimidating their opponents.

Comment: I think hunting should stay it provides jobs, and a means of getting rid of all dead farm stock where will they go if the hunt dont take care of them? Also the New Forest was put aside as a hunting ground and we wouldnt have this beautful national forest if it wasnt for hunting!

A lot of consideration needs to go into the banning of hunting how can peole say they dont agree with it if they havent experienced it or seen it first hand? Its like saying you dont like football without having a clue what it is about.

Although I am a hunt supporter I think if people know exactly what is envolved in hunting and the good they do for the countryside then an educated opinion can be made but just not liking it for the reason that foxes are cute is mad because they are not.

Comment: I live in Lymington and prior to this I lived in Cannock Chase, another ancient forest, so I am well aware of country ways. It is my view that Hunting with hounds is a total barbaric activity in every sense of the word. There can be no justification for it's continuation.

I have seen for myself the ugly truth behind hunting and I will take to my grave images which haunt my soul.

A beautiful Fallow Buck in it's final moments of life collapses before my eyes, unable to take another step as hounds surround it. The noise, dogs barking and howling, whips cracking, horses crashing through undergrowth, men and women hooping and screaming out strange tribal type cries, the sound, that awful sound of the hunting horn echoing through the trees.

Thankfully we have seen the end of The New Forest Buck Hounds, but this tale is one of hundreds I and my friends could tell.

Comment: Hunting was introduced to the New Forest as a sport. Today it remains a 'sport' for a very limited number of people who take a perverse enjoyment from animal suffering. It is cruel, unnecessary and out-of-date. The New Forest is a haven for wildlife and should be cherished as such. Ban hunting now !

Comment: I fully concur with the comments from Roger and Mary. Fox hunting is a completely unnecessary and cruel activity and must be banned forthwith. I think if Michael had seen some of the terrible images of what happens to the fox after the hunt he might have a different view on the matter

Comment: I fully concur with the comments from Roger and Mary. Fox hunting is a completely unnecessary and cruel activity and must be banned forthwith. I think if Michael had seen some of the terrible images of what happens to the fox after the hunt he might have a different view on the matter

Comment: Does anybody else realize that these are just foxes? They have been hunted for nearly a 1,000 years, not only is it part of your history but also your culture.

To ban hunting would eliminate the last great tie to what used to be (would Spain ban bullfights?, Brazil its festival?) All of you should strongly consider what you are about to do.

Comment: Hunting with hounds in all its present forms is inhumane and barbaric.Pest control methods where needed must be humane, licensed and policed. In the 21st century it is unacceptable to indulge in such abhorrent cruelty.

Chasing animals to the point of exhaustion is sickening. New ways of preserving the integrity of rural life must be positively sought. Drag hunting would be one method of maintaining the thrill of the chase, and sustaining the rural ecomomy network that relies on servicing the needs of such lifestyles.

Comment: I think hunting needs to carry on. Through out the history of the UK people have depended apon the income and lesiure which this accent sport provides.

Comment: Janet George's argument that there are many larger targets than hunting does not wash.

Two wrongs do not make a right! Hunting in the New Forest is a sport and no civilised society should condone a sport that inflicts cruelty on a wild animal.

Comment: I get fed up with the patronising manner of the country set that assume we have no knowledge of their way of life just bewcause we live in a town.

There can never be any justification for causing an animal to suffer unecessarily, especially in the name of 'sport'.

Comment: Hunting with dogs is cruel and unnecessary. It has nothing to do with class as suggested by Janet George. Fox numbers are not controlled by hunts, but by the food and territory available. Otherwise why do some hunts breed and feed foxes for the sole purpose of hunting them down?

Comment: If perceived cruelty is a legitimate reason for banning things, there are many larger targets than hunting.

Labour MPs want to ban hunting because they don't like the people who do it, wrongly believing them to be 'upper class Tories'!

Democracy should not be the bludgeoning of a minority by the majority.