IT’s that time of the year again, that season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, when the crops are gathered and the leaves take on their autumnal livery. After those long boring months when the cry of hounds or the sound of the hunting horn was not to be heard, we are back to Autumn hunting.

All round the country, packs are out in the early morning just past first light with their young hounds drawing coverts getting the odd short dash and generally home in time for a late breakfast.

So it is here in Co Limerick and we have been privileged to have had a couple of mornings with the county pack and its huntsman Fergus Stokes with his whipper-in David Beecher. Also there to enjoy their early mornings were over 30 riders and a huge number of foot followers. It’s only a short few weeks to the opening meet... Roll on!