Missie 1 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Well, my day started at 4am as I had to pick my dad up at 6 for the 3 hour drive to the West Country. We stopped at a friend of his for coffee just outside of Dulverton and then headed to the meet for 11am. The hounds and staff of The Devon and Somerset Staghounds going into the meet. Some of the hounds at the meet. The field set off and the majority of the hounds were loaded into a landrover with the first set heading off with the huntsman. We left the meet shortly afterwards and headed off in the direction that they were taking the hounds for the first draw. As we only had my Subaru we were limited to where we could go as it doesn't have the ground clearance of some 4X4's that were flying over the moor! We went by road and stopped to watch the field go by and waited... We saw a few groups of deer put up by the hounds when they drew cover but no stags were present so we had to wait for them to find. One of the people we were with had a radio and was notified that they'd found a stag and we followed him to a vantage point... Tiegan having a little sit down in the sun. We soon got word that the stag was heading our way and out of a patch of gorse it came at full pelt! It turned right handed just before it got to us and held up in a patch of gorse just above where we were, the hounds followed shortly afterwards and pushed it back out of the gorse towards us. It ran straight above where we were, at one point it was probably less than 50 feet away. Apparently we were very lucky to get that close on our first day out. Griff at this point was getting highly excited and as we went to put him back in the car he escaped under the boot lid and set off up the hill but he soon came back much to the followers disapointment, they wanted me to let him go! :shock: The stag after it turned, it held up in the gorse to its right for about 10 minutes or so before coming back past us. Tiegan hid because the stag looked 'fierce' coming towards us! After the stag passed us it crossed the road and went downhill and the hounds lost it. We continued a little way but lost the field and couldn't find them again so I rang a friend who was out with the Tiverton Staghounds. We follwed her directions to where they were but just as we got there they killed so we headed back to where they were taking it to do what was needed to it. By the time I realised that the stag was there they had removed the slots and were giving the innards to the hounds and cutting up the liver for those who wanted it. The kill once the stag had been transported. Just a couple more pics. A view over Exmoor. Just a picture that I liked. I had a brilliant day even if we didn't manage to stay with the D&S for the whole day but they apparently packed up soon after they lost their stag as thier hounds are getting over the cough. My friend offered me her horse for a day with the Tiverton next season so hopefully i'll get another day soon. Quote Link to post
Missie 1 Posted April 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 The staghound packs only use two hounds at a time to keep within the law but others are transported in the back of a landrover for when those two get tired. Quote Link to post
ferreting 1 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 nice pics mate Quote Link to post
Irish Lurcher 1,013 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Very good pictures R. Quote Link to post
Missie 1 Posted April 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 nice one a good day had i gather We had an excellent day. In all the years my dad has been going stag hunting i've never been but i'll definately go again in future! Quote Link to post
Lurchandhistribe 0 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 good stuff missie. hows griff coming along? look forward to seeing you all in october Quote Link to post
Guest joe ox Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Excellent pictures Quote Link to post
Guest whitser Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 fine looking hounds. are they fox hounds used for stag or an actual stag hound? Quote Link to post
Missie 1 Posted April 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Um... You've got me stumped on that one! I don't know a great deal about staghound packs, yesterday was my first day with them. So far as I know they are staghounds, slightly bigger than foxhounds but I don't know what breeding goes into the pack etc. I think they are recognised in their own right. I shall find out and return... If anyone else knows in the meantime please do add! Quote Link to post
sionnach 44 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 some lovely photo's. sounds like a good day had by all, keep hunting. Quote Link to post
skycat 6,174 Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Great read and pics: I've only been stag hunting once and didn't see much at all: down in the New Forest years ago. Look forward to more of your days out with them. Quote Link to post
FJager 0 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Thankyou for sharing Missie, great pics and story, obviously you are still allowed to hunt deer in the UK in this manner. Quote Link to post
desertdog 149 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 nice pics, brings back good memories,just finished reading, memoirs of a stagharbourer, fred goss, . Quote Link to post
spudlington 3 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Nice pictures and well written. Thanks for sharing Missie Quote Link to post
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