We decided to have a bit of a change of scenery on Monday, so a couple of us contacted our good friends at Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch to see if they’d be out with the Beaufort Hunt. It was a shame not to see the group as they weren’t out, but they told us the meet and were pleased that someone would be out with the hunt.

Having had a few things to do that morning, we turned up late at the hunt which had given them just enough time to think they’d be alone for the day. Checking on some setts in the area, we found the hunt nearby and the whipper-in came for a little chat about footpaths (which we were actually on, but I’m sure we’ll get over it…)

The day began with a lot of deer running from the hunt but this gave us a chance to practice camera-quick-draw and also gave us an idea of where the hunt were at various points. Foxes will also often run the same line as deer, using the deer scent to cover their own.

As the day progressed, the hunt got quicker and quicker at drawing coverts, running inland from us as soon as they could, but we kept a close eye on them. The faster we move them on, the less effective they will be at picking up on a fox. Having been blocked by some support, foot-sab ran up a road and spotted a fox running through some rough away from oncoming hounds and huntsman. They lost the scent briefly and the huntsman called them back, taking them along the rough where they picked up on the fox exactly where foot-sab said she’d seen him (unfortunately he was not caught on camera as he was so far away, but the sab could hardly have predicted exactly where the hounds would start to speak if she hadn’t seen something…). Car-sab was meanwhile protecting an area she believed another fox had run – they seem to be pairing up very early this season!

As hounds headed into a covert, another fox (or the same one? They seem to jink a lot in Beaufort country) ran up and across the field, riders on 2 quadbikes also seeing where he was running. Foot-sab ran parallel with him, allowing him acorss the road before heading inland to cover the line and keep an eye on the hounds. About to second-horse, they left fox alone and went off for a drink and a snack.

We caught up with them soon after, keeping an eye on them from afar as they were moving gradually towards us. Both back in the car now, car-sab spotted what she believed to be a fox in front of hounds in cry. Almost simultaneously, hunt supporters decided to slow us down by walking in the road in front of us. Foot-sab ran down the road and watched the hounds’ progress. Further along the road, we spotted the hunted fox who had jinked back and was looking exhausted. He ran parallel with us then crossed the road and into a sheep field, which would have masked his scent somewhat, before carrying on to safety. With the possibility of him being part of another brace (couple) we covered the line with citronella before trying to make contact with the hunt again.

Unfortunately the hunt had gone into a large landlocked area and we spent some time finding them once more before heading inland to keep an eye on them. Captain Ian Farquhar had a nice little conversation with car-sab about environmental issues and spoke of how impressed he was at our running around. Meanwhile, the quadbike riders were telling foot-sab that they were impressed by how “on it” we are. Certainly makes a change from our regular hunts like the South Herrie and Ross Harriers!

The hunt packed up just after the light faded and we left to have some (we think well-deserved) tea. Not a bad day!

If you also think so, please share our posts, pictures and videos, help spread the word about hunting and, if possible, help us out financially or share our funding appeals (we go out 3 – 5 times a week in our area). If you’d like to donate go to https://www.paypal.me/threecountiessabs/

Thank you!