A continually controversial subject, fox hunting and the ban has been nominated as an icon of England.

While supporters of the hunt argue that it is necessary as a means of pest control, opposers condemn it on the grounds of animal cruelty. Following many years of debate the Hunting Act 2004 was eventually passed, putting a ban on fox hunting with dogs in England and Wales.

Oscar Wilde once referred to "the English country gentleman galloping after a fox" as "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable". Long before Wilde's comments, opponents of the hunt claimed that it aggravated the class war in Britain. The argument was that while more 'working class' blood sports, such as cock fighting and badget baiting, were long ago outlawed fox hunting was allowed to continue. On the opposite side of the argument, some hunt supporters claim that the legislation passed in 2004 was motivated by a class war.

Despite the current legislation, fox hunting continues to be a hot topic of discussion.

The stamp below was issued in January 1992 as part of The Four Seasons, Wintertime set.

Illustration

Wintertime stamp showing a fox