Horrific Video Blows the Lid off National Trail Hunting Day

Just two days before National Trail Hunting Day – the farcical event that has become known as Smokescreen Saturday – we release damning footage of what one of the participating hunts gets up to when police, politicians and journalists are not invited to attend.

Back in March, sabs from Devon County and Mendip groups caught the Axe Vale Harriers in the process of digging into a badger sett. It is common practice for illegal hunts to have a gang of terriermen in tow, whose job is to use terriers to extract or kill any hunted fox that has sought refuge underground.

Despite multiple threats of violence from the terriermen, the courageous hunt sabs stood their ground and continued to film. Fearing for their own safety, and with a crime clearly in progress, sabs then made a 999 call to police.

After protracted digging by the terriermen, the bloodied and obviously injured fox was wrenched from the sett and flung into the air. Although the fox managed to escape the scene, the extent of their injuries is not known. The terrier was then dragged out and – in an effort to conceal his injuries from sab cameras – stuffed into a metal box mounted on the hunt’s quad bike. However, the video clearly shows the terrierman’s hands and coat are smeared with blood, most likely from both animals.

The gang then hurriedly filled in the damaged sett entrances before departing the scene on quad bikes. When the police did eventually arrive, they chose to be confrontational and sarcastic with sabs instead of investigating the crime scene that was laid out before them.

The Axe Vale Harriers are a member pack of the British Hound Sports Association, the discredited body that supposedly regulates hunting. In less than 48 hours, this hunt is due to participate in the BHSA’s National Trail Hunting Day – a series of open events designed to fool the public into believing that trail hunting is a real and legitimate activity. This sickening video shows – yet again – that hunts are nothing more than rural OCGs – Organised Crime Gangs.

When the HSA shared the video with activist and presenter Chris Packham he commented:

“You think you’ve seen depravity and cruelty? Then watch these vile inhuman wretches at their evil. Every one of them is breaking the law with their degenerate savagery. This must stop. The government must act now to end hunting with dogs – no excuses, no loopholes, no more wildlife wasted for their sick pleasure.
Damn them.“

Please support the brave hunt saboteurs who obtained this footage:

https://www.facebook.com/devoncountyhuntsaboteurs
https://www.facebook.com/mendiphuntsabs