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End of The Atherstone

How the Atherstone Hunt became history and how West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs made it happen.

On the 24th of September 2025 the Atherstone Hunt was officially consigned to the history books, almost six years after they disbanded and ceased hunting. A hard-fought campaign by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs that spanned over six years, saw a demise in hunt support and due to a persistent sab presence, the hunt ultimately had no other option than to concede defeat.

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HSA Hunting Act Campaign Continues at Labour Conference

Yesterday,  Monday 28th September, HSA representatives attended the Labour Party conference in Liverpool (well, we were outside actually, as it’s very expensive to set up inside and we don’t want to misuse our supporter’s donations!), to show MPs and Labour Party attendees the depth of feeling around strengthening the Hunting Act.

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Yet Another Hare Hunt Shuts Down!

With the official start of the hare hunting season just a few weeks away, news reaches the HSA that the Sandhurst & Aldershot Beagles – unaffectionately known as ‘SAB’- are no more. This is excellent news for local lagomorphs as the Sandhurst had a reputation as fast, effective pack who killed a lot of hares.

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The Depravity of Stag Hunters

The season so far.

The stag hunting season has only been underway for just over a month and already stags in the Southwest of England have been subjected to abhorrent levels of cruelty and pain by the stag hound packs, who, for over twenty years have hidden behind loopholes such as ‘Research & Observation’.

Since the Devon & Somerset Staghounds official opening meet on the 30th August multiple stags have been terrorised and killed. A common tactic by stag hunt supporters is to use their vehicles to block roads, preventing stags from seeking respite or escaping, and the 30th August was no different, as followers prevented a group of stags from crossing the B2332 in Ashcombe and again at Simonsbath. Despite fifty car followers being present, it was clear that support for this barbaric hunt is dwindling with a noticeable decrease in both riders and car followers for their opening meet. Thankfully on this day a combination of poor weather, sab pressure and another stag from the herd creating a diversion, meant that the hunts chosen stag escaped on this occasion.

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Midlands Mink and Otter Hunt Stopped in Their Tracks

On Saturday (6th September) hunt sabs shut down the Three Counties Mink Hounds in Warwickshire.

Sabs from the Nottingham, Severn Vale, Three Counties and West Midlands groups mobilised after receiving intel that the hunt would be meeting at Whitehouse Farm, Aston Cantlow in Warwickshire – the home of former hunt master, Mark Allen.

The hunt was stopped in their tracks less than half an hour after they started, moving south along the River Alne.

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Countryside Alliance: More Money Than Sense

As the government’s consultation on so-called ‘trail hunting’ edges ever closer, the increasingly desperate Countryside Alliance have launched a scheme where new members can nominate a hunt to receive fifty pounds from CA coffers.

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Cubbing Takes A Drubbing From Sabs Across The Country

This week has seen sabs across the country out in force while most people are still asleep. For many hunts, the cubbing season has now started. Sab groups have been keeping an eye on their local hunts and have reported that many of them, who would usually still be ‘hound exercising’, are instead now surrounding coverts and sending their hounds in to kill foxes. The early start to the cubbing season has come about largely due to farmers harvesting their crops early, as well as a sense amongst the hunting community that this could very well be their last season if Labour stick to their manifesto pledge to ban ‘trail hunting’.

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Heightened Avian Influenza Risk Warning Issued

Avian Influenza has been a significant problem in the UK since 2021 and it’s no coincidence that the latest outbreak comes as the shooting industry gears up for the pheasant and partridge shooting seasons. In August 2022 the HSA revealed shocking undercover footage of gamebirds being reared at Shelford Pheasantries in Newark on Trent. The appalling conditions at the farm failed to comply with DEFRA’s own Code of Practice for the Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes.

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Hunt Sabs Mobilise Against the Cub Hunters

Cubbing – the sick form of hunting used to train their new hounds – is already underway in parts of the country. Cubbing takes place in the early morning or late afternoon when the summer day is cooler, and the scenting conditions are better for inexperienced hounds.

Last Saturday, Devon County Hunt Sabs were tipped off about an evening cubbing meet of the Eggesford Hunt at Ingleigh Green.

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