Today we met up with various other folk to again visit the Woodland Pytchley who were hunting just to the East of Market Harborough on the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border. Sadly for us the meet was just on the Northants side of the border so we had to deal with the notoriously pro-hunt Northants cops who were out in force.
The hunt headed South from the meet and crossed the busy A6 and fannied about on a small piece of land between the A road and a railway line, closely monitored by foot sabs. The police had a laminated map of areas the hunt would be going during the day and as we managed to get a peek at this we had a fair idea where they would be heading.
They crossed back over the A6 and into a wood from which a fox was seen escaping (according to some helpful passing motorists). As usual we had various vehicles of masked up goons trying to stop and intimidate us but they had very little impact today and sabs were rarely out of sight of the hunt. Several times during the day the hounds went on cry after a fox (despite the presence of their very earnest trail layer) but sabs were always on hand/ to help the fox to safety. The police were happy to act as private security and even stopped sabs from using public footpaths but we always found alternative routes and stayed with the hunt.
They finally packed up at 5, long after most of the field had called it a day, and we were happy there had been no kills.
Our season isn't quite over yet as the Woodland insist on hunting until after Easter but the end is in sight and Summer beckons!!
The hunt headed South from the meet and crossed the busy A6 and fannied about on a small piece of land between the A road and a railway line, closely monitored by foot sabs. The police had a laminated map of areas the hunt would be going during the day and as we managed to get a peek at this we had a fair idea where they would be heading.
They crossed back over the A6 and into a wood from which a fox was seen escaping (according to some helpful passing motorists). As usual we had various vehicles of masked up goons trying to stop and intimidate us but they had very little impact today and sabs were rarely out of sight of the hunt. Several times during the day the hounds went on cry after a fox (despite the presence of their very earnest trail layer) but sabs were always on hand/ to help the fox to safety. The police were happy to act as private security and even stopped sabs from using public footpaths but we always found alternative routes and stayed with the hunt.
They finally packed up at 5, long after most of the field had called it a day, and we were happy there had been no kills.
Our season isn't quite over yet as the Woodland insist on hunting until after Easter but the end is in sight and Summer beckons!!