Editing Hunting (section)

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Snowden Slights, front view YORYM-S13.jpg|thumb|Snowden Slights with [[retriever]] and [[shotgun]] around 1910, 'the last of Yorkshire's [[Wildfowler]]s'<ref name=Blast>{{cite news|last1=Ratcliffe|first1=Roger|title=Blast from the past|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/local-stories/blast-from-the-past-1-2393138|access-date=17 March 2015|work=The Yorkshire Post|publisher=Johnston Publishing Ltd.|date=6 October 2006|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143449/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/local-stories/blast-from-the-past-1-2393138|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
{{Main|Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom}}
{{See also|Deer stalking|Fox hunting legislation}}
Unarmed [[fox hunting]] on horseback with hounds is the type of hunting most closely associated with the United Kingdom; in fact, "hunting" without qualification implies fox hunting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 June 2023 |title=Hunting |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hunting |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=Cambridge Dictionary |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210013935/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hunting }}</ref> What in other countries is called "hunting" is called "shooting" (birds)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shooting {{!}} Animal Charity |url=https://www.league.org.uk/what-we-do/shooting/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=www.league.org.uk |language=en-gb |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527015259/https://www.league.org.uk/what-we-do/shooting/ |url-status=live }}</ref> or "stalking" (deer)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Deer Stalking Code of Practice |url=https://basc.org.uk/codes-of-practice/deer-stalking/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=BASC |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419162207/https://basc.org.uk/codes-of-practice/deer-stalking/ |url-status=live }}</ref> in Britain. Fox hunting is a social activity for the upper classes, with roles strictly defined by wealth and status.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ward |first=Euan |date=2023-02-12 |title=The Fight Over Fox Hunting: A Cold War on England's Muddy Fields |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/12/world/europe/fox-hunting-warwickshire-england.html |access-date=2023-06-04 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604144210/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/12/world/europe/fox-hunting-warwickshire-england.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Orendi |first=Dagmar |date=4 June 2023 |title=The Debate About Fox Hunting: A Social and Political Analysis |url=https://www.gbz.hu-berlin.de/ma-british-studies/distinguished-ma-theses/downloads/pdf/DagmarOrendi_MasterThesis.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=Humboldt Universität zu Berlin |pages=8–10 |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811090521/https://www.gbz.hu-berlin.de/ma-british-studies/distinguished-ma-theses/downloads/pdf/DagmarOrendi_MasterThesis.pdf }}</ref> Similar to fox hunting in many ways is the chasing of hares with [[hound]]s. Pairs of [[sighthound]]s (or long-dogs), such as [[greyhound]]s, may be used to pursue a hare in coursing, where the greyhounds are marked as to their skill in coursing the hare (but are not intended to actually catch it), or the hare may be pursued with [[scent hound]]s such as [[beagle]]s or harriers. Other sorts of [[foxhound]]s may also be used for hunting [[stag|stags (deer)]] or [[American mink|mink]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} [[Deer stalking]] with rifles is carried out on foot without hounds, using stealth.<ref name=":4" />{{clear left}}

These forms of hunting have been controversial in the UK. [[Animal welfare]] supporters believe that hunting causes unnecessary suffering to foxes, horses, and hounds. Proponents argue that the activity is a historical tradition. Using dogs to chase wild mammals was [[fox hunting legislation|made illegal]] in February 2005 by the [[Hunting Act 2004]]; there were a number of exemptions (under which the activity may not be illegal) in the act for hunting with hounds, but no exemptions at all for hare-coursing.<ref name=":6" />

====Shooting traditions====
Game birds, especially [[pheasant]]s, are shot with shotguns for sport in the UK; the [[British Association for Shooting and Conservation]] says that over a million people per year participate in shooting, including game shooting, [[clay pigeon shooting]], and [[Shooting sports|target shooting]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://basc.org.uk/media-centre/basc-appeals/basc-youth-appeal |title=BASC site |access-date=3 April 2014 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209030216/http://basc.org.uk/media-centre/basc-appeals/basc-youth-appeal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Shooting as practiced in Britain, as opposed to traditional hunting, requires little questing for game—around thirty-five million birds are released onto shooting estates every year, some having been [[factory farming|factory farmed]]. Shoots can be elaborate affairs with guns placed in assigned positions and assistants to help load shotguns. When in position, "[[beater (hunting)|beater]]s" move through the areas of cover, swinging sticks or flags to drive the game out. Such events are often called "drives" /[[driven hunting]]. The open season for [[grouse]] in the UK begins on 12 August, the so-called [[Glorious Twelfth]]. The definition of game in the United Kingdom is governed by the [[Game Act 1831]] ([[1 & 2 Will. 4]]. c. 32).

A similar tradition, ''{{ill|ojeo|es|vertical-align=sup}}'', exists in Spain.