HSA News

Whilst we all know what hunts are using quad bikes for – the terrier boxes on the front along with digging equipment being a dead giveaway – there’s no plausible excuse to have terrier men on a so called “trail hunt”, there is still some confusion from the general public who comment on our posts as to the legality of the use of quads. This post answer some of these concerns.

North Dorset Hunt Sabs were attacked by a drunken hunt master and his accomplices at a meet of the Somerset-based Quantock Staghounds yesterday.

Nottingham Hunt Sabs successfully disrupted a rare meet of the East Lincolnshire Bassets near Revesby on Saturday.

Make the gift-giving season more meaningful whilst also raising awareness and supporting our work by shopping from our huge range of unique HSA gifts!

The HSA is today appealing for sight of videos that it is aware are circulating on sick hunting WhatsApp groups.

Hunt sabs witnessed horrifying scenes last Saturday 11th November as out-of-control hounds from the Puckeridge & Essex Hunt attacked a fallow deer.

Nearly 20 years after hunting was supposedly banned, up and down the country hunts continue to chase and kill fox, hare, mink, otter and deer for fun. With a General Election likely within the next 12 months and Labour suggesting that they will strengthen the Hunting Act, the Hunt Saboteurs Association is stepping up our campaign to make sure the hunting of wild animals with hounds is finally banned.

Chris Mardles, a former whipper-in at the Pytchley with Woodland Hunt in Northamptonshire, has today been sentenced to 18 months in jail. Earlier this year he plead guilty to a Section 20 wounding offence against a Northants Hunt Sab in 2020. Mardles will also spend 12 months on strict licence once his prison sentence is served.

Stuart Radbourne, Huntsman and Master of the now disbarred Avon Vale Hunt, was back in court last month to face more animal cruelty charges dating back to 2020. He pleaded guilty to the charges which were brought under Section 4 (1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

This weekend marks the traditional start of the hare hunting season. This activity – known as beagling – is the hunting of hares by packs of beagle hounds. There are also a few packs of basset hounds that hunt hares.

Self-proclaimed ‘superhunt’ the Kimblewick are currently without either huntsman or hounds.
The HSA has been told that their huntsman, Guy Fitzearle, has been sacked and taken the hounds to the Thurlow Hunt kennels in Suffolk.

On Tuesday October 3rd 2023, the new Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act became law. This replaces the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 and closes the loopholes which have allowed hunts to continue to brutally kill wildlife. It should – finally – see the end of hunting with dogs in Scotland.