I HAVE been actively involved in country sports for 35 years of the 45 years I have existed. I have coursed hares with greyhounds, caught rabbits and hares with Whippets and Lurchers, I have poached rabbits with ferrets long nets and snares and poached pheasants by night with air rifles.

I have chosen to enjoy my country pursuits on my own as a modern day poacher roaming the countryside in isolated splendour savouring the atmosphere of the fields and woods and the rich harvest it provides.

I am not popular with the shooting syndicates that pay for the right to shoot and animosity between us exists, but we all will unite with one common cause, that of field sports. Ranjit al Rashid in his letter to the World has more questions than answers so let me educate him. Firstly game birds reared to be shot for sport provide income for farmers, gamekeepers, game bird breeders, game rearing equipment companies, etc. But to rear and shoot game birds you require the ideal habitat and that is where shooting and conservation go hand in hand.

On shooting land, depending on the species, woods, hedgerows, spinneys and heather are preserved due to the finance provided from shooting; much of this land would normally be cultivated for pasture or crops.

I have attended the Waterloo cup every year since 1978 and I can say that the competition is the greatest and the most sporting of events, steeped in history and built on the foundation of conservation.

For 362 days of the year the hare is protected and the habitat maintained, this is

We need to support field ports to protect our culture and heritage; it is an infringement on our human rights to deny us our sporting rights.

D Mullarkey,

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