- guardian.co.uk, Thursday February 17 2005 00.03 GMT
Dismissing their latest defeat in the court of appeal yesterday as 'a not unexpected result', hunt supporters were preparing to spend a long, last day in the saddle.
The Countryside Alliance, which has fought through the courts to overturn the new law, were still describing the Hunting Act as a "temporary ban", convinced that it will be overturned by a future government or legal challenge.
Animal rights activists have vowed to closely monitor the activities of hunts in the coming weeks, using video cameras to record evidence of those suspected of breaking the new law.
"We will be doing everything we can to assist the police in their inquiries," said the League Against Cruel Sports.
But there are doubts about how effectively the act will be enforced. The police have said that bringing prosecutions will not be a high priority. Others have expressed doubts about being able to distinguish between legitimate drag hunts pursuing a pre-laid scent and a pack in full flight pursuing a live fox.
There are bizarre potential loopholes in the new legislation. Under the Hunting Act it will still be permissible to hunt a wounded hare with a full pack of dogs. It will also be possible to flush out a fox with dogs for a tame bird of prey.
"I'm told that golden eagles will take foxes," Alistair Jackson, director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, said yesterday, "and apparently there are some trained to fly from the hand."
One of those who has been enjoying a last opportunity to follow a traditional hunt this week is Prince Charles. He joined the Meynell and South Staffordshire hunt on Tuesday. But Buckingham Palace said he had no plans to go out again before the ban came into force.
The League Against Cruel Sports condemned his involvement. "Like every other bloodthirsty individual in the country," said a spokeswoman, "he's entitled to do so until midnight on Thursday".
Few hunts are expected to go out tomorrow. The show of public strength is planned for Saturday. An overwhelming majority are planning to go drag hunting, to exercise hounds or pursue activities still permitted under the Act. A few diehard enthusiasts, notably in Wales, have promised defiance, warning that they will hunt.
A poll by MORI for the BBC shows that there is no longer majority support for a ban. A similar poll in 1999 found two-thirds in favour.
