Every Saturday during the hunting season the group will be out monitoring the activities of one of our local hunts. We do this so that we can gain evidence of the cruelty which is involved in hunting and we use this evidence to inform the press, television and radio who can bring these cruelties to a wider audience.

Through donations and raffles and street collections we have raised money to buy video cameras, still cameras with telephoto lenses and CB radios (essential when we are on the Moors and need to get in touch with our base car or each other). The base car is used to ferry us from point to point in the hunting area as the Hunt can move with great speed and it impossible to keep up on foot.

When the Hunt starts we tend to split up into small 2 or 3 person groups which makes it easier to get about. Each group will have maps and a radio. Skill at map reading is soon picked up and there is always an experienced Monitor to assist. In this area we don't have much trouble from either the Hunt or their followers so don't worry about confrontations.

What to Wear and Bring

For newcomers to hunt monitoring hardly any equipment is required at all. Clothing depends on which hunt you are going to be monitoring, in the case of Cheshire hunts no special clothing is required. Lancashire monitoring requirements are more important as much of the monitoring is on the moors in winter, but again we will advice you.

We are often asked what is the best equipment to wear when coming out on the moors, the following are worth considering:

Waterproof coat and trousers.
Good walking boots or Wellingtons
Gloves (depending on conditions)
Sweater
Hat (depending on conditions)
Small Bag containing sandwiches and flasks
Petrol donation
Camera & Video Equipment (if you have any)
Hunt monitoring cards

What We Use

This is all equipment we take with us anyway, but if you have it, bring it along, it will help.

Maps of area (OS Landrangers & Pathfinders)
Map Case
Binoculars
Camera & Video Equipment
CB Radios
Compasses
Whistle
Car
Hunt monitor tabards

Camera & Video Equipment

Normal Cameras (with Flash if possible)

SLR cameras (ones with detatchable lenses) are preferable, though even little fun snap cameras will do, if that's all you have. Remember spare films suitable for your camera.

Video Cameras
These are golddust, so if you have one, bring it along. Any will do, but remember blank cassettes and SPARE BATTERIES. There is nothing worse than the battery going in the middle of a chase.

Audio Equipment
Any kind of dictation machine or small tape recorder can be used, so bring them, along with batteries and cassettes.

If you have any of the above equipment needed for hunt monitoring and want to donate it to the group, see our contact page for details. We will collect anything inside Lancashire.