HSA News

Another week, and yet another video showing the Wynnstay Hunt engaged in illegal fox hunting. This latest covert footage shows the previously convicted hunt preventing a fox going to ground in a badger sett and scaring her back towards their pack of hounds.

The video, taken on 5 th November near Wrexham, features the hunt’s employed terrierman Ryan Brennan – currently under investigation for causing a dog to enter a badger sett – and Alistair Johnson, a regular lackey for the Wynnstay.

The badger sett is on a public footpath in woodland known to be frequented by foxes. Normally, the hunt block up this particular badger sett with spades – a practice they have been found guilty of in the past.

Somerset Hunt Sabs report…

A bit of backstory: Wednesday 8th January 2020 – just before Covid brought the country to a halt – a village hall on the Quantocks hosted an open meeting to discuss the fate of the struggling West Somerset Vale Hunt. The decision was made to merge with the Weston & Banwell Harriers “for preservation of hunting in this area”.

Fast-forward to September 2022 and Steve Burton is trotted out as the new huntsman for the merged and catchily-titled Weston & Banwell Harriers/West Somerset Vale (WBHWSV). But this year a group of dedicated locals has also entered the scene. Most of us had spent a decade opposing the badger cull and we are now determined to confront illegal foxhunting too.

With most fox hunts having held their opening meets last Saturday, the HSA is today releasing further footage showing the cruel and illegal practice of ‘bolting’ taken by one of the hunters themselves.

As the video opens, a gang of hunters are using a spade, and perhaps terriers, to dislodge a fox from his underground refuge. As soon as the terrified fox bolts downhill, he is pursued by a large pack of baying fell hounds. Hunt supporters – eager to get a view of the fox’s suffering – can be seen scattered across the distant fellside.

While we do not know the fate of this fox, this form of bolting is designed to keep the hounds ‘in blood’ by all but guaranteeing a kill.

The Hunt Saboteurs Association is once again urging its supporters to take action in support of Captain Paul Watson. Paul’s detention was extended by a further three weeks by a Danish court on October 23rd , putting his next hearing back until November 13th.

Captain Paul Watson will need very little introduction to supporters of the Hunt Saboteurs Association. Indeed, there has always been a close affinity between hunt sabs and Sea Shepherd/CPWF (Captain Paul Watson Foundation), with many sabs having crewed on Sea Shepherd/CPWF vessels over the years.

Yesterday, Monday 28th October, Neil Burton the huntsman for the Burton Hunt returned to Lincoln Magistrates Court charged under section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.

The charges related to an incident that occurred on Riseholme Lane, very close to the hunts’ kennels on January 27 th 2024, where Lincoln Hunt Sabs observed and filmed Neil intentionally encourage his hounds to hunt a fox.

Back in March, Devon County Hunt Sabs and Mendip Hunt Sabs intervened in a dig-out at an Axe Vale Harriers meet. As seen in the footage previously shared by the HSA, sabs had come across a gang of hunt terriermen who were digging into a badger sett.

Sabs had called the police because of the ongoing wildlife crime and because the terriermen made several threats of violence. Two response officers arrived after the terriermen had scarpered. Sabs had gathered solid video evidence of multiple offences under the Hunting Act, Protection of Badgers Act, Animal Welfare Act and Public Order Act, including evidence that enabled the identification of the terriermen.

However, the case was recently dropped by Devon & Cornwall Police, citing ‘insufficient evidence’. We are therefore sharing footage of the conversation sabs had with police officers on the day to show you what witnesses and victims of crime have to deal with in Devon.

Days ahead of the official start of the new hunting season, the Hunt Saboteurs Association is today releasing the first of three videos showing the cruel and illegal practice of ‘bolting.’

In the video, filmed by one of the hunt supporters present, a man with a terrier under one arm can be seen moving a spade that is blocking a hole. A fox exits the hole and runs into the path of a pack of hounds, which are being held up by another man. The fox is then chased with the pack of hounds close behind.

From east to west, hunt sabs have stopped hare-hunting beagle and basset packs over the past week.

Recent drone footage showing the protracted pursuit of a fox by the Weston & Banwell with West Somerset Vale Hunt has received wide-spread media coverage. It reveals how the fox was relentlessly pursued – and attacked – by hounds, together with the active involvement of both mounted and foot followers.

This is some of the most blatant footage of illegal fox hunting ever recorded, yet the WBWSV have the nerve to call themselves a ‘trail hunt’ on their own website. In so doing, they are simply acting on guidance from the Countryside Alliance who have repeatedly advised that hunts should rebrand themselves as ‘trail hunts’ on their social media, website and other publicity materials.

On Saturday two hare-hunting beagle packs linked to educational institutions were stopped by hunt saboteurs.

In Northamptonshire, the seldom seen Stowe Beagles (part of the prestigious boarding school of the same name) were packed up by Beds & Bucks Hunt Sabs.

And in Gloucestershire, the often sabbed Royal Agricultural College Beagles (linked to the Royal Agricultural University) were stopped by Severn Vale Hunt Sabs.

On Wednesday 2nd October 2024, with Mendip and Somerset Sabs attended a meet of the Weston & Banwell Harriers with West Somerset Vale Hunt near East Huntspill.

After hunting a maize field, the hunt moved on to a patch of brambles and scrub next to Straight Drove and Cripps River. Whilst members of Somerset Sabs filmed from the ground, the Mendip drone unit launched the drone to observe the hunt from above. What sabs witnessed was unequivocally illegal fox cub hunting, and completely blows any pretence of the charade of trail hunting out of the water.

The HSA can exclusively report that a member of the public has been seriously injured by a North Yorkshire hunt.

On the 5th of November 2022, Gabrielle Jagger was walking down a bridleway when she saw the Pendle Forest & Craven Hunt coming in the opposite direction. She moved off the bridleway, leaving the hunt metres to pass. As they passed Gabrielle, a horse called Duke kicked out, hitting her in the pelvis and throwing her into the air. The rider, Bryony Fearnley, fled the scene, leaving no contact details, but other riders stopped to give assistance.