HUNTING enthusiasts in the New Forest sent a defiant message to the government as they began what could be their last full season.

Members of the New Forest Hounds forecast that the bloodsport would continue for many years, despite the recent campaign to outlaw hunting with dogs.

Some of the hunt supporters carried placards which stated that almost 60 per cent of the public were against a ban on hunting.

The Hunting Bill was defeated by the House of Lords last month after peers voted in favour of allowing hunting to continue under licence.

Ministers now have the option of re-introducing the Bill in the Commons when the new session starts later this month.

If peers voted to block the Bill for a second time, the Parliament Act could be used to force through legislation by next autumn.

Any ban would come into effect in February 2005, bringing the season to an abrupt end.

However, New Forest Hounds spokesman Graham Ferris said he doubted if the Bill would form part of this year's Queen's Speech on November 26.

He said: "Ministers must be in a real quandary about whether to include it. I don't think they will because public opinion has swung so far in our favour.

"If common sense prevails, the government will realise that its attempt to outlaw hunting is not a popular enough cause to warrant the hassle."

Mr Ferris was speaking at Bolton's Bench, Lyndhurst, as the New Forest Hounds staged their opening meet of the season.

The event should have taken place on November 1 but was postponed to enable members to take part in a rally at Newbury.

Joint master Paul Ames thanked everyone in the Forest who went to the rally and added: "It was a wonderful attendance that put a lot of years into the future of hunting."