Could adequate replacements be made available to most of those who enjoyed Foxhunting in the UK?
Not really, because the essence of Foxhunting in the UK was that it controlled foxes where farmers wanted them controlled. It follows, that many will not tolerate the inconvenience of having followers cross their farms without having this service from the Hunt. Furthermore a Drag Line (course) needs more space than normally used by a foxhunt ( a chase ). The uncertainty in where the quarry will go next is missing so that it has become a demanding equestrian sport, more akin to "point to point" racing than Hunting. It will not suit many of the less courageous mounted Hunt Followers. Also the absence of the uncertainty of the foxes' lines makes it far less appealing, to unmounted followers particularly. Thus it is far less of a spectator sport. It will cater for only a small part of the many who used to follow Foxhunts in cars and on foot. Thus Draghunting could never cater for more than about 30% of those who used to follow a Foxhunt on horseback and would attract very few car and foot followers. Following an artificial scent (drag) or the track of a man (bloodhounds) requires far fewer hounds, not least because the quarry does not have to be dislodged from thick cover. Trail Hunting goes some way to overcoming the disadvantages of Drag Hunting but, after an initial period of showing contempt for the ban, will still lead to much reduced numbers of followers, the slaughter of many hounds and a degraded service to farmers among many other disadvantages of the ban.
Hunting live foxes but bringing them to bay and not killing them (as is practised in some parts of the world) might suit some of the Animal Rightists, but would suit UK farmers even less than Draghunting. It is not an option because the ban outlaws the chase.
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