Beagling
Encyclopedia
Beagling is the hunting
of hare
s, rabbit
s, and occasionally fox
es with beagle
s. A beagle
pack (20-40 hound
s) is usually followed on foot. However, there is one pack of beagles in the U.S. which are distinguished as being the only hunting pack to hunt fox and be followed on horseback. Beagling is often enjoyed by 'retired' fox hunters who have either sustained too many injuries or lost the agility to ride horseback, or who enjoy the outdoors and the camaraderie of the hunt. It was also traditionally a way for young men to learn how to handle hounds on a smaller scale before they went on to hunt with foxhounds, and many famous public schools and universities had a pack of beagles. Now, however, only four schools (Ampleforth
, Eton
, Radley
and Stowe
) have a pack, whilst only three university packs remain (the Christ Church and Farley Hill Beagles of Oxford University, the Trinity Foot and South Herts Beagles of Cambridge University, as well as the Royal Agricultural College
Beagles). Some packs of beagles also have associations with the military, such as the Purbeck and Bovington Beagles (Tank Regiment); the Pimpernel (Royal Signals) Beagles; Per Ardua Beagles (RAF) and Britannia Beagles (Navy).
When beagling on foot, the traditional quarry is the hare
. Beagles are admired by some for their "music" which they emit when in full pursuit. Beagling, like fox hunting, was banned in England
and Wales
by the Hunting Act 2004
. The Act bans the hunting of some wild mammals with certain strictly limited exemptions, which include the retrieval of hares that have been shot.
Hunts are managed very similarly to fox hunting
packs - generally governed by one or more Masters, who typically take much of the financial responsibility for the overall management of the hunt. Hunts typically employ a huntsman who is responsible (in conjunction with assistants, known as "whippers-in" or "whips") for directing the hounds in the course of a hunt. However, more beagle packs than foxhound packs are 'amateur' hunts, where the master hunts hounds himself.
Beagle packs that hunt fox offer educational opportunities to young riders who may not be ready for the regular hunt field. As such, children and young people learn the rules and traditions of fox hunting, but in a more relaxed atmosphere. They enjoy special privileges such as being allowed to follow directly behind the huntsman, and are often recruited to 'whip in' for the day.
The attire for traditional beagling on foot consists of a green coat and stockings, white breeches and a cap (similar in style to those worn when riding a horse). Many packs have a coloured collar to distinguish themselves from other packs. For following on horseback, the usual attire is 'ratcatcher' (tweed jacket, light breeches) for the formal season, and polo shirts and breeches for the cubbing season.
In the United Kingdom, there are also a handful of basset hound packs. Bassets work much slower than beagles but are admired by many for their strong and deep voice, however they are much more independent hounds. Most packs have opted to breed the 'English Basset', which are considerably longer in the leg and lighter boned than the traditional variety. This gives them greater speed and endurance when hunting but have a slightly higher pitch when speaking on a line (scent).
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
of hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, and occasionally fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es with beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
s. A beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
pack (20-40 hound
Hound
A hound is a type of dog that assists hunters by tracking or chasing the animal being hunted. It can be contrasted with the gun dog, which assists hunters by identifying the location of prey, and with the retriever, which recovers shot quarry...
s) is usually followed on foot. However, there is one pack of beagles in the U.S. which are distinguished as being the only hunting pack to hunt fox and be followed on horseback. Beagling is often enjoyed by 'retired' fox hunters who have either sustained too many injuries or lost the agility to ride horseback, or who enjoy the outdoors and the camaraderie of the hunt. It was also traditionally a way for young men to learn how to handle hounds on a smaller scale before they went on to hunt with foxhounds, and many famous public schools and universities had a pack of beagles. Now, however, only four schools (Ampleforth
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
, Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Radley
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
and Stowe
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
) have a pack, whilst only three university packs remain (the Christ Church and Farley Hill Beagles of Oxford University, the Trinity Foot and South Herts Beagles of Cambridge University, as well as the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
Beagles). Some packs of beagles also have associations with the military, such as the Purbeck and Bovington Beagles (Tank Regiment); the Pimpernel (Royal Signals) Beagles; Per Ardua Beagles (RAF) and Britannia Beagles (Navy).
When beagling on foot, the traditional quarry is the hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
. Beagles are admired by some for their "music" which they emit when in full pursuit. Beagling, like fox hunting, was banned in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
by the Hunting Act 2004
Hunting Act 2004
The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The effect of the Act is to outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales from 18 February 2005...
. The Act bans the hunting of some wild mammals with certain strictly limited exemptions, which include the retrieval of hares that have been shot.
Hunts are managed very similarly to fox hunting
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
packs - generally governed by one or more Masters, who typically take much of the financial responsibility for the overall management of the hunt. Hunts typically employ a huntsman who is responsible (in conjunction with assistants, known as "whippers-in" or "whips") for directing the hounds in the course of a hunt. However, more beagle packs than foxhound packs are 'amateur' hunts, where the master hunts hounds himself.
Beagle packs that hunt fox offer educational opportunities to young riders who may not be ready for the regular hunt field. As such, children and young people learn the rules and traditions of fox hunting, but in a more relaxed atmosphere. They enjoy special privileges such as being allowed to follow directly behind the huntsman, and are often recruited to 'whip in' for the day.
The attire for traditional beagling on foot consists of a green coat and stockings, white breeches and a cap (similar in style to those worn when riding a horse). Many packs have a coloured collar to distinguish themselves from other packs. For following on horseback, the usual attire is 'ratcatcher' (tweed jacket, light breeches) for the formal season, and polo shirts and breeches for the cubbing season.
In the United Kingdom, there are also a handful of basset hound packs. Bassets work much slower than beagles but are admired by many for their strong and deep voice, however they are much more independent hounds. Most packs have opted to breed the 'English Basset', which are considerably longer in the leg and lighter boned than the traditional variety. This gives them greater speed and endurance when hunting but have a slightly higher pitch when speaking on a line (scent).