Not to be blunt, but who cares if it is cruel?
These hunts need to happen to control the population, and the idea that you can hunt an animal humanely is just not realistic.
Shooting them is (to use the hysterical language of "dogs tearing them apart") is puncturing the animal's skin and organs with searing hot lead, causing internal bleeding and serious pain. Traps involve shattering bones, tearing off skin, amputation, strangulation or (if positioned correctly), drowning.
Hunts are necessary, and hunting is not humane. The ban is just a superficial but effective crowd-pleaser.