On Saturday the Eggesford fox killers met just outside of Okehampton, at the hunt chairman Hugh Trerise’s farm, Ellmead.
Three foxes were seen to safety today. Our runners successfully intercepted the hounds from chasing foxes on two occasions. Both times sabs sat quietly as the foxes passed them, before masking their scent line with citronella. Then as the hounds in cry darted towards sabs, sabs managed to rate the hounds off the line, sending the hounds back in the opposite direction, and allowing time for the foxes to leave the area. Another fox was seen later on bolting by our drone team. Our foot teams travelled 20km at this cubbing meet.
Our drone team was keeping a close eye on the hunt. After hearing the hounds intermittently speaking in the valley, they noticed the terrier boys on quad bikes had been summoned there. This location has a known sett, and fearing a mark the team quickly made their way down to check. What sabs found was a young cow completely stuck in thick mud, unable to move.
Seeing as the drone team had captured the hounds scaring the herd of cows just minutes prior, it was obvious that this poor cow had become stuck here as a result of the careless, reckless behaviour of the hunt. The terrier boys and landowner were already there with the cow. The farmer asked if we would rather he shot the cow – what a ridiculous question. They decided to winch the traumatised cow out of the mud haphazardly with a strap around her body, which tightened as she was being dragged out of the mud. It was a distressing situation. Fortunately after a few mins of being released the cow calmed down enough to regain strength. When she finally managed to walk off another cow was waiting for her, and they both walked off together.
Most of the morning was spent between Narraton Farm, Rosencombe and Eastington, before moving north through Curworthy Wood towards Inwardleigh village. The hunt then went west to hunt the valley east of Westwood before finally drawing the copse between Norleigh Barton and Norleigh Mill.
The hunt packed up at 2pm.
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