For another year, the Eggesford Hunt criminals were invited to meet at The Waie Inn, a restaurant with children’s indoor play facilities, before spending the day hunting foxes around Zeal Monachorum. It’s lucky they didn’t lose huntsman Jason Marles in the ball pit.
Several foxes were seen fleeing throughout the day. Last year a deer was mauled to death at this meet, and a few years ago the hunt killed a fox at this meet, right in front of sabs.
This year as usual the hunt started in the quarry at Tuckingmill and hunted along the Devonshire Heartland Way, before continuing east towards Lammacott Farm. Sabs saw a fox running a field away from hounds. Jason brought hounds into that field and they followed the scent to a sett where we believe the fox went to ground. Hunt and terriermen headed back west and we witnessed a fox being coursed by hounds north of Serstone. The fox ran out onto the road, the tarmac helping to foil their scent. Sabs covered the line when the fox ran back into the field and we are confident this fox got away, despite how close hounds were when the chase started.
Towards the end of the day, foot sabs were well-positioned to witness two foxes making an escape. Their scent lines were covered and hounds were rated back. At this time of year, foxes are pairing up, so unfortunately it’s common for hounds to put up multiple foxes in one covert. The final draw of the day was along the valley towards Oak Tree Farm, before boxing up at Serstone Farm.
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