Curtains For The Courtenay Tracy?

Wiltshire-based mink and otter hunt, the Courtenay Tracy Hounds, could be the next victim of the Avon Vale Hunt scandal.

The Courtenay Tracy were kennelled with the Avon Vale at Lacock near Chippenham, but the hounds have been moved following the Avon Vale’s dissolution. It is believed they are now in temporary accommodation at another hunt kennels.

One of around ten mink hunts in existence, the Courtenay Tracy spend the summer months running their hounds through sensitive riverside environments looking for mink and otters to hunt. Their quarry is remorselessly chased across land and water and – just as in the Avon Vale video – terriers are used to bolt any animal that seeks refuge down a hole or burrow.

Although not the formidable force they once were, the Courtenay Tracy are still a vicious gang of hunting extremists. Their leading members are notorious for attacking anyone brave to challenge them and have even been known to assault each other when they couldn’t get at sabs!

To keep costs down, mink hunts tend to rent space in fox hunt kennels. However, the Courtenay Tracy’s reputation is so poor – even in hunting circles – that they had real problems finding a new home when kicked out of the South & West Wilts Hunt kennels a couple of years ago. While several hunts gave them the cold shoulder, the Avon Vale were only too happy to offer a home to a fellow gang of animal-abusing thugs.

A HSA spokesperson commented:

“The Avon Vale Hunt and Courtenay Tracy Hounds are very much kindred spirits. Both are fanatical in their hunting, and both resort to violence the second sabs turn up. With plans for our 2023 operations against illegal mink and otter hunting already at an advanced stage, any fox hunt stupid enough to offer kennelling to the Courtenay Tracy can expect a great deal of hunt sab attention over the coming months.”