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Although the majority of hunting takes place between September and April, the hunting calendar is a busy one.
The year ‘officially’ begins on 1 May, when mastership and staff changes take place. The summer months are busy with puppy shows, hound shows – culminating in the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough in July – and hunt events. Much time is spent improving areas of the hunting country and access to it, while in kennels it is often a frenzy of repairing, cleaning and painting.
Autumn hunting, when the young hounds are introduced to the hunting field, starts at the beginning of September.
Opening meets happen around the beginning of November, and then it is full-tilt until the end of the season, which may be as early as February in some areas and as late as mid-April in others, depending on the types of farming that take place there.
Since the 2004 Hunting Act came into force in 2005, hunts in Britain use a variety of exemptions under the law, including trail hunting, hound exercising and the use of a bird of prey.
Horse & Hound covers all aspects of hunting, reporting on days with packs across Britain and Ireland and giving you behind-the-scenes access to hunts of all types, from foxhounds to beagles and harriers, staghounds, bassets and minkhounds, as well as drag hounds and bloodhounds.
The hunting world is a rich and varied one – discover its history and culture with H&H.
“Clearing the country” describes a master’s role in getting a green light from landowners or tenant farmers in advance of a day’s hunting. Ledbury joint-master Louise Daly gives her tips for doing it successfully
Hunting in Britain offers tremendous variety in what there is to jump. H&H asks the experts where to find the best jumping country and how to cross it
After 21 seasons as a professional huntsman Julian Barnfield is retiring from hunt service
Open team chase rider Charlotte Alexander takes Denman hunting for the first time
One of foxhunting’s golden eras, the late Victorian and early Edwardian years, is brought to life in a new edition of Memories of the Shires
H&H looks at how you can be warm, comfortable, safe and stylish on the hunting field with the latest trends
Even in these days of laid trails, scent remains the essence of hunting and the thing that determines a good or bad day
The Ytene Hound Club has changed its name to the Courtenay Tracy Hounds — a historic name for the pack — in memory of a great supporter
Leicestershire side saddle doyenne Emma Brown is hoping for a record number of ladies riding aside at the Quorn opening meet
Make sure your hunting holiday is a success with our tips
The Hunting Office is reiterating its message that there will be more covert surveillance by antis this season - so hunts must diligently record evidence of their legal activities
Britain's only hunting museum was relaunched, following complete refurbishment, at a ceremony on 9 October
Five Avon Vale hunt supporters have appeared in court, accused of unlawful hunting
Former Bilsdale joint-masters Harry Stephenson and Judith Skilbeck have set up the Highmoor Bloodhounds
One of Leicestershire's most popular hunting personalities, Ann Reid Scott, of Scalford, Melton Mowbray, died on 22 September, aged 89
George Bowyer of Vote-OK - the lobby group that supports pro-repeal MPs - told H&H he wanted hunting people to take an "active role" in helping the Tory candidate
Hunt saboteurs descended to a new low in Co Durham last week, putting up a sign falsely claiming the South Durham's stables has strangles
Nearly half a million people rallied in London to show their opposition against plans for a hunting act a decade ago
Ever fancied visiting another pack, but haven't been sure how to do it - or quite brave enough? Follow H&H's hunting editor Catherine Austen's advice and you'll be sure to have a good time
Autumn hunting is getting under way around the country, after many packs reported a delayed start to the season because of the unusually late harvest
