Editing Beagle (section)

==Hunting==
{{Main|Beagling}}
[[File:Caynsham-beagles.jpg|thumb|right|The Caynsham Foot Beagles (c. 1885)]]

Beagles were developed primarily for hunting rabbit or hare, an activity known as [[beagling]]. They were seen as ideal hunting companions for the elderly who could follow on horseback without exerting themselves, for young hunters who could keep up with them on ponies, and for the poorer hunters who could not afford to maintain a stable of good hunting horses.<ref>{{harvnb|Maxwell|1833|p=42}}</ref> Before the advent of the fashion for foxhunting in the 19th century, hunting was an all day event where the enjoyment was derived from the chase rather than the kill. In this setting, the tiny Beagle was well matched to the hare, as unlike Harriers they would not quickly finish the hunt, but because of their excellent scent-tracking skills and stamina they were almost guaranteed to eventually catch the hare. The Beagle packs would run closely together ("so close that they might be covered with a sheet"<ref name="Y110" />) which was useful in a long hunt, as it prevented stray dogs from obscuring the trail. In thick undergrowth they were also preferred to [[spaniel]]s when hunting [[pheasant]].<ref>{{harvnb|Blakey|1854|p=77}}</ref>

With the fashion for faster hunts, the beagle fell out of favour for chasing hare, but was still employed for rabbit hunting. In ''Anecdotes of Dogs'' (1846), [[Edward Jesse]] says:

{{Blockquote|In rabbit-shooting, in gorse and thick cover, nothing can be more cheerful than the beagle. They also are easily heard over long distances and in thick cover. They have been called rabbit-beagles from this employment, for which they are peculiarly qualified, especially those dogs which are somewhat wire-haired.<ref name="J1858" />}}[[File:Moritz v d Tomburg.jpg|thumb|left|The Beagle has been used for rabbit-hunting since the earliest development of the breed.]]

In the United States they appear to have been employed chiefly for hunting rabbits from the earliest imports. Hunting hare with Beagles became popular again in Britain in the mid-19th century and continued until it was made illegal in Scotland by the [[Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002]], and in England and Wales by the [[Hunting Act 2004]]. Under this legislation, Beagles may still pursue rabbits with the landowner's permission. [[Drag hunting]] is popular where hunting is no longer permitted or for those owners who do not wish to participate in hunting a live animal, but still wish to exercise their dog's innate skills.

The traditional foot pack consists of up to 40 Beagles, marshaled by a Huntsman who directs the pack and who is assisted by a variable number of whippers-in whose job is to return straying hounds to the pack. The Master of the Hunt is in overall day-to-day charge of the pack, and may or may not take on the role of Huntsman on the day of the hunt.

As hunting with Beagles was seen as ideal for young people, many of the British [[Independent school (UK)|public schools]] traditionally maintained Beagle packs. Protests were lodged against [[Eton College|Eton's]] use of Beagles for hunting as early as 1902 but the pack is still in existence today.<ref>{{cite book|title=Henry Salt: Humanitarian Reformer and Man of Letters|first=George|last=Hendrick|year=1977|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=0-252-00611-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/henrysalthumanit0000hend/page/68 68–71]|url=https://archive.org/details/henrysalthumanit0000hend/page/68}}</ref> In 2001, the [[Wye College#Wye College Beagles|Wye College beagle pack]] was taken by the [[Animal Liberation Front]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1103181.stm |title=Activists steal beagle pack|work=BBC News|date=5 January 2001|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref> School and university packs are still maintained by Eton, [[Marlborough College|Marlborough]], [[Radley College|Radley]], the [[Royal Agricultural University]], and [[Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/best/article.php?aid=71052&cid=396|title=Directory of UK hunts 2006/2007|work=Horse & Hound|date=20 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006200749/http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/best/article.php?aid=71052&cid=396|archive-date=6 October 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=9 July 2007}}</ref>

In addition to organised beagling, Beagles have been used for hunting or flushing to guns (often in pairs) a wide range of game including [[snowshoe hare]], [[cottontail rabbit]]s, [[game bird]]s, [[roe deer]], [[red deer]], [[bobcat]], [[coyote]], [[wild boar]], and foxes, and have even been recorded as being used to hunt [[stoat]].<ref name="K101">{{harvnb|Kraeuter|2001|pp=97–104}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/hunting/inquiry/evidence/mammalsoc.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100512151544/http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/hunting/inquiry/evidence/mammalsoc.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 May 2010|title=Submission to Lord Burns' Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs|publisher=The Mammal Society|date=16 March 2000|access-date=11 December 2011}}</ref> In most of these cases, the beagle is employed as a [[gun dog]], flushing game for hunter's guns.<ref name="K101" />