Cub hunting or ‘autumn hunting’ as it is referred to by hunts, has been underway for a few weeks now and already we are seeing overwhelming reports of foxes running for their lives and aggressive behaviour from hunts whose illegal activity is being exposed.
On the 15th of September the North Cotswold Hunt descended on Wormington in Gloucestershire. A young fox was seen fleeing for its life but this wasn’t the only wildlife disturbed and distressed by the hunts presence, as deer were also seen running towards the very busy B4632.
The Hursley Hambledon Hunt have also been caught demonstrating blatant cub hunting tactics. On the 09th of September while hunting in Meonstoke hounds were entered into a covert and remained there, being encouraged on by the huntsman, for over twenty minutes. Riders and foot supporters lined the covert in an attempt to turn foxes back, but they were unsuccessful as no less than three foxes were seen fleeing the area.
Meanwhile on the same day over two hours north, the Ledbury Hunt were causing chaos in Berrow. Again, cub hunting tactics were on display for all to see as riders surrounded a covert, saddle slapping and using sticks and voice calls to try and scare foxes back towards hounds. One fox is believed to have been cornered in an area of brambles and unfortunately their fate is unknown.
A short while later another fox was hunted and was thankfully seen to safety by a sab, who reminded the huntsman Sam Jones that he is soon due in court for charges under the Hunting Act while he was huntsman at the criminal Cottesmore Hunt.
Grange Farm in Grandborough, a certified Camping and Caravanning site, played host to the Warwickshire Hunt on the 10th of September. The hunt encouraged hounds along a brook just south of the meet and it wasn’t long before a fox was seen running for its life.
A rider attempted to catch up to the fox and turn it back as it fled to safety in a covert. Thankfully sabs were on hand to intervene, battling hollers from the whipper in Jacob Martin, who was actively encouraging hounds on.
While all of the foxes mentioned above were helped to safety, we are reminded of the sickening and cruel reality of “trail” hunting when sabs are faced with the aftermath of a fox being killed.
Unfortunately, on the 18th of September, Three Counties Hunt Sabs witnessed the Heythrop Hunt kill a fox on land near Swell Wold Farm in Gloucestershire. The fox was surrounded, and the lasting result was blood smeared on a wooden fence while the fox’s innards were left strewn across the floor.
As hunts charge through the countryside in search of innocent lives to take, all manner of wildlife is disturbed, as Cirencester Hunt Sabs reported on the 5th of September while at the bin bag Beaufort Hunt. The hunt were on the Badminton Estate, and two quads were seen in a woodland whilst hunt riders circled the perimeter for at least an hour with hounds inside. This is not ‘trail’ hunting this is blatant cub hunting.
The hunt eventually moved on from here but disturbed a herd of deer, one of which fled into the road and was hit by a passing car. The couple in the car were left devastated by what had happened as the deer died by the roadside. As is to be expected, the hunt continued on with absolutely no regard for the trauma they had caused and the danger they had put people in.
The Beaufort Hunt continue to terrorise the countryside, and on the 19th of September five foxes were witnessed fleeing from the hunt and were helped safely on their way by Wiltshire Hunt Sabs. On this partiular day the Beaufort focused on hunting three coverts, and again as we are seeing all over the country, cub hunting tactics were employed to encourage younger inexperienced hounds to work a fox’s scent and ultimately kill them.
The foxes that were saved on this day will no doubt be hunted again during main season, the time when “trails” are supposed to be laid.
It’s not just fox cubs that are being hunted at this time of year, leverets (baby hares), are being hunted by beagle packs. Thankfully leverets were kept safe on the morning of the 5th of September when Beds & Bucks Hunt Sabs busted the North Bucks Beagles.
Leveret hunting follows the same concept as cub hunting, with the aim being to train new, young hounds how to kill and to give them the taste for their chosen quarry.
Despite the North Bucks Beagle’s trying their best to evade sabs, the bloodthirsty supporters who were waiting to watch leverets being torn apart gave up the game, and so their day was over before it had begun.
Not content with hunting fox cubs, leverets and causing deer to be killed, hunts are also displaying aggression and violence towards hunt sabs, with many reports already of physical and verbal abuse. No doubt because we are preventing them from killing, and we are blowing the lid on their illegal hunting and organised crime.
On the 12th of September, Weymouth Animal Rights caught up with The South Dorset Hunt who had met at Dewlish Estate Farm. The hunt headed straight for a maize field where a fox was seen fleeing. Fortunately, sabs were on hand to prevent hounds from pursuing the fox and the rest of the morning consisted of huntsman Keiron Hawkes desperately trying to keep hounds under control, as he struggled to deal with the pressure of sabs being present.
This culminated in a violent outburst when Keiron drove the hound van at sabs who were on a grass verge. A sab was hit under the arm by the wing mirror and suffered an extensive injury.
Furthermore, on Monday the 14th of September a supporter of the Vale of the White Horse assaulted a female sab. The sab attended A&E with a suspected fracture to her cheek bone and bruising on her face. Police were called and footage from the attack has been submitted.
There are still many weeks left of the cub and leveret hunting season and already there is overwhelming evidence of the criminal activity taking place all over the country.
Hunts may try to call it ‘autumn hunting’ in a bid to make them sound less callous and cruel, but the reports from sab groups speak much louder and more truthful than any smokescreen trying to be implemented by hunts.
The frustration that their lies aren’t being believed is evident in the physical and verbal abuse being aimed at sabs by those who support hunting.
Sabs will continue to work tirelessly to save lives and expose blood sports, and you can help. If you have any information about a hunt, no matter how small it may seem, you can contact your local sab group or the HSA tip off line on 07443 148 426. Every piece of information will be dealt with confidentially.
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