BOSS, the golden eagle owned by the Croome West Warwickshire hunt, is one of 40 birds of prey now being used by hunts to test a new form of the sport.

A record crowd of 3,000 is expected to turn out to see him today when the hunt gathers for its Boxing Day meet at Pershore, Worcestershire.

Even on Christmas Eve as many as 1,200 spectators gathered to watch the golden eagle and hunt at Upton-upon-Severn, but not one fox was spotted in the countryside all day.

Pat Allen, 54, joint Master of the Croome, said: “He is very popular and people come out to see him. He is a great attraction. But we have to be very careful — we don’t want him to be devoured by the hounds.”

The Croome spent nearly £4,000 on the 19-month-old bird from a breeder in the North of England.

Under the Hunting Act there is an exemption if a bird of prey is used to flush quarry from the cover of woodland. Once in the open, however, the bird must be released to kill the fox or the fox must be shot.

Mrs Allen admitted that the hunt had made a couple of mistakes and had been unable to stop the hounds chasing the fox. “We are still learning and trying very hard to obey the rules,” she said. “In one case, though, I am quite glad it happened because the fox was riddled with mange. But we are trying to be very careful following the law.

“When you go into a wood you make sure you flush the fox to the bird. That means you put the hounds on the opposite side of the wood to the bird. But it can be hit-and-miss.”

Despite his cost, Boss has so far failed to get one fox or even a rabbit. “We haven’t got anything with him. It’s quite funny really. We even had to get a ladder out last week to get him out of a tree because he wouldn’t come down,” Mrs Allen said.

She said that the use of the golden eagle was a means to keep the hunt going and maintain membership subscriptions up until the law is repealed.

The ban has brought a spate of new riders to the Croome, a trend reported in all the country’s 350 hunts. Besides hunting with Boss, the Croome also hunts by following a fox-based scent cross-country. Mrs Allen said that this trail hunting is the closest to a traditional fox hunt. “One of the best things about a hunt is hearing the hounds across the country in full cry,” she said. “

You get this with a trail hunt and it is closest to the real thing.”

The Croome has also tried flushing to guns but Mrs Allen said: “We honestly don’t like it and don’t think it’s safe. It’s got to be spot on and with all the hounds and riders around there, can be a commotion and we think it’s too risky.”

CUT TO THE CHASE

350 - Number of hunts of all kinds before the ban 350 Number of hunts after the ban 0 Convictions for illegal hunting

33 - Percentage rise in average attendance at hunts since ban

0 - Numbers of packs of hounds put down

? - Job losses since the ban: impossible to estimate but minimal

WHEN IS A HUNT NOT ILLEGAL?

• Chasing artificial scent
• Chasing a fox scent
• Hunting with a bird of prey
• Hunting with two dogs flushing to guns
• Hunting rabbits or squirrels with as many dogs as you like

  WHEN IS A HUNT ILLEGAL?
  When more than two dogs chase a fox, a hare or a deer with intent, ie, the dogs do not accidentally stumble on a fox. Very difficult to police or prove

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