FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



sport. It is, however, impossible to ride right 

 up to hounds, so mounted followers who are 

 unfamiliar with the by-roads and bridle tracks 

 are naturally somewhat handicapped. Even in 

 the low ground where in places there are many 

 coverts a man on foot can see a good deal of sport, 

 but to enjoy foot-hunting at its best one should 

 follow hounds on the open fell. Fell hunting 

 affords far more opportunities to the average 

 follower of seeing hound work than he would 

 experience in a riding country. lyikewise it is 

 often possible to watch the movements of a 

 hunted fox for a considerable distance. 



On the feUs proper coverts are conspicuous by 

 their absence and the foxes usually lie far up 

 above the dales. For this reason the old- 

 fashioned method of hunting is still employed, 

 i.e., hounds quest for the drag of a fox which has 

 come down from the hills during the night, and 

 returned to his kennel before day break. Having 

 struck the drag the pack work it out until they 

 approach the spot where their fox is lying, and 

 when he finally jumps up the real business of the 

 day begins. The drag may of course be cold or 

 hot, depending upon the length of time that has 

 elapsed since the fox passed that way, and the 

 condition of the atmosphere. If the fox has 

 run his return journey rather fine hounds may 

 strike his line whilst he is still on foot, and he 

 will then be forced to put his best leg forward. 

 If on the other hand he has been long gone, it 

 may take hounds all their time to own the line, 

 and progress will be slow. A stranger paying 

 his initial visit to one or other of the fell packs 

 will be well advised to follow the huntsman or 

 stick to some local hunter until he gets to know 

 the country and the possible run of the foxes. 



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