Comments on: Florida’s Last Fox Pen, Located In Walnut Hill, Shut Down By State

By: FLORIDA RAISED

FLORIDA RAISED — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:04:40 +0000

THE REASON YOU DOIN’T GO IN THE PEN WALKING IS BECAUSE IF YOU GET IN THE PATH THAT THEY ARE RUNNING YOU COULD TURN THE GAME BACK ON THE DOGS. THE DOGS WILL ALSO LOOSE THE GAME AND THEN THEY GOT TO GO BACK HUNTING AGAIN, GET IT UP RUN IT AND LOOSE IT AND GO HUNTING AGAIN AND SO ON… YOU DO NOT STAY ON THE SAME GAME ALL THE TIME…”YOU JUST DON’T GET IT” THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO HAPPEN IS TO KILL YOUR GAME!!!!! MOVE BACK TO YOUR BIG CITIES AND STAY INSIDE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET ROBBED OR KILLED THIS IS THE COUNTRY WAY OF LIFE HUNTING AND FISHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Steven

Steven — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:01:27 +0000

First I want to say there is a difference in slavery and fox hunting that’s like comparing apples to oranges. The point I was making is fox hunting is a long time tradition. You are right Washington didn’t hunt in an enclosure. The land was not as heavily populated then no need to. That is the reason for the enclosure to keep the hounds off other peoples property. What did you discover during your visit to the pen? Because when I go we sit in one spot the whole time. Normally where we turn the dogs loose and have the food cooking. No need to move around just sit and listen to the race. The pens that I go to have a limit on the number of dogs we can hunt at one time. The owners of the enclousers around here pay $75 per fox/coyote they don’t want them killed no more than you do. The point of running dogs in these pens is to listen to a race not kill a coyote.

By: OnlyTheTruth

OnlyTheTruth — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:20:56 +0000

Steven – I DID ask to attend a fox hunt in a pen, but was told I had to sit in a stationary location and would not be allowed to roam the pen. It’s a little hard to gain a true perspective without seeing what is actually going on. I was also told that I could only bring one friend and they would have to stay in the same “spot” that I was being restricted to. If there is nothing to hide, why would it matter if I brought 5, 10 or 15 people with me? Why not completely open it up to the public to view? I simply wanted to see what truly happens when a pack bays a coyote. Plus, you know the pen is going to be on its best behavior when there are guests. Who is to say they don’t block the escape areas when no one is around? And again with the fox hunting! I am not against hunting in the open! George Washington DID NOT hunt in an enclosure!!!! Ever heard of “fair chase”? Did you also know that Washington owned 316 slaves at the time of his death? Does that make slavery acceptable, too???

By: Steven

Steven — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:24:11 +0000

It is clear that the people that are bashing hunting in a fox pen are clueless about what they are talking about. U know who you are so I challenge you when they re-open these pens to contact the owner and ask if you could observe a hunt. You will find out that the people who fox hunt in these enclosures are not at all cruel or inhumane nor do the fox or coyote rarely get killed. Also as far as the tradition part they are not refering to fox PEN hunting but fox hunting. Do your homework. Many of the first settlers brought there hounds with them from England. Here is one for you George Washington, yea our 1st president was a fox hunter, don’t believe me google it. All I ask is before you pass judgement please go experience it for yourself. Remember with experience comes knowledge.

By: deano

deano — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:41:06 +0000

when coyotes start eating your lap dogs & spreading disease, deer start being hit more often causing insurance to go up , then you will have sonething to whine about!

By: Dog Hunter

Dog Hunter — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:14:55 +0000

If the state of Florida and the timber companies would open their land back up to hunting the way it should be and was meant to be then their would be no need to have fox pens and coyote pens. Hunting is lifelong tradition (well over 75 years) that has been passed down through generations.

By: Meaghan Edwards

Meaghan Edwards — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:02:06 +0000

I’m glad to hear these have been shut down in Florida. This “sport” is as bad as dog fighting. Where’s the fairness in having three dogs rip apart a fox or coyote?

By: walter

walter — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:02:54 +0000

AMEN BILL2 !!!

By: wizcorgis

wizcorgis — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:56:14 +0000

Ok everyone. Let’s just take a big deep breathe and look at the real problem here.

Coyetes are a HUGH problem in our area. I talked with a person from the County Shelter and they told me that even in Pensacola and the Airport they can’t get ahold of the problem because there are just too many of them. They attack our livestock, our house dogs/cats, and carry diseases like rabies. Foxes are not any better. They have attacked my chickens and cats.
Whether we like it or not, hunting Coyetes, Foxes, and other game IS a sport. Hunting with dogs is legal still. They are needed to help the hunter find game, injuried or not.
THE PROBLEM IS the lack of legislation to cover what exactly a fox pen can do. I’m not saying I’m for this practice, but where are the people who enforce the law over the fox pens. As stated above, they have caught some of the people who are doing this in an illegal manor, but for everyone they catch, there are 4 more that get away with it. If there is such a problem in this area with coyetes and foxes, then why aren’t the fox pens getting these wild animals. Why must they “import” them? Too many times have I seen law enforcement sit on their butts and turn a blind side to what’s happening around them. If meat/milk herds, goats, chickens, pigs and such are watched closely for our protection, then why aren’t the fox pens? Fox pens are a way of controlling the population of these problematic creatures.
Wake up and smell the coffee, fox pens serve a purpose. I don’t think it nice or pretty when a coyete or fox gets mauled by a dog, but then again, I don’t want my dogs mauled by the coyetes or my chickens mauled by the foxes.

By: love animals

love animals — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:50:24 +0000

I have known for some time that they are bringing things in for hunts on
my block.
I have seen them bringing cages in at NIGHT!

One week after I saw this, I heard large animal sounds like something
was dying. This was very late at night.
I lived in colorado for a while, I have heard large animal sounds before.
I have also heard something large dying before. It was a moose.
I have wondered what our hunters here in my subdivision are bringing in and killing.
They hunt at night about twice a month. The hunts seem to go on
for a few days then there over till the next time.

Today when I came home from town there was a turkey on my door mat.
I loved it. I haven’t seen turkey’s running loose anywhere since I was
a little girl. I tried to take a picture of it for my hubby, but I got so excited
It got time to walk away. Funny how they don’t even run.
We have never had turkey’s in the subdivision since I have been here.

I presume this is what they brought in thursday night during survivor.
They seem to think no one will see at that time.

Anyway I know that turkey will be dead by nightfall.