- Fox and stag hunting seasons close
- Cornish hunt’s closing meet shows fox hunting hallmarks
- Two staghunts, five dead stags
- Dorset hunt supporter charged with assault
- North Yorkshire hunt trespasses despite ‘no hunting’ reminder
- Durham hunt trespasses on live railway
- Devon terriermen charged with badger sett interference
- Somerset huntsman pleads guilty to foxhunting
- BHSA host advert for notorious Welsh hunt
- Daily Telegraph promotes ‘trail’ hunting with photo of convicted huntsman
- BHSA, MFHA, and CA in Consultation meeting with Baroness Hayman
- A reminder to fill in the Consultation; help is available.
TOP STORIES
FOXES
Foxes can enjoy a summer in peace now that the season has closed.
The Kernow Saboteurs, Monitors and Animal Rights Team’s report of the last in Cornwall shows the Four Burrows Hunt twice trespassing, the dogs in scrub and barbed wire, and in cry with no huntsman near.
STAG KILLS
The Devon and Somerset Staghounds killed a stag on 11/04/26, with 70 riders and as many vehicles out for a kill.
The Quantock Staghounds killed a stag on 13/04/06. This was a long chase of a young stag, with circa 20 riders and 6 or more quads in pursuit.
The Devon and Somerset Staghounds killed a stag on 16/04/26. In pursuit were circa 50 riders, many more car followers, at least 12 quads and ATVs.
The Devon and Somerset Staghounds held their closing stag season meet on 18/04/26. Circa 20 riders plus quads chased an injured stag for an hour before it collapsed and was shot. This was not a mercy killing, and happened despite the presence of sabs from: the Mendip Hunt Saboteurs, the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, the Herefordshire Hunt Sabs, the Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, the Devon County Hunt Saboteurs, the Plymouth & West Devon Hunt Sabs, and Wildlife Crime Action.
The Quantock Staghounds killed a stag on 20/04/26. The exhausted stag was shot in the grounds of a wedding venue.
HUNT VIOLENCE
On 17/04/26, the South Wessex Hunt Saboteurs reported that a Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt supporter has been charged with assault following an attack on one of their sabs on 25th October 2025. He will appear in court next month.
HUNT TRESPASS
The Ryedale Hunt Saboteurs are putting the Derwent Hunt under pressure.
The North York Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA) has confirmed that the Derwent Hunt trespassed on their land and the trespass occurred after the Hunt were reminded in April 2024 that no hunt activity is permitted to take place on Authority land. The NYMNPA has requested an explanation and a written undertaking that such trespass will stop.
The North East Hunt Monitors report that on 07/03/26 the South Durham Hunt trespassed
on an active railway line and the Monitors have sent the names of those involved, and video evidence, to the ‘relevant authorities’.
CHARGES
It is understood that two Eggesford Hunt terriermen have each been charged with three counts of interfering with badger setts. They will be appearing at Barnstaple Magistrates Court for an initial hearing on the 15th of May.
CONVICTION
On Monday 20/04/26, Wayne Gregory, huntsman with the Vale of Taunton and Barnwell Harriers Hunt, pleaded guilty at Taunton Magistrates’ Court, to hunting a wild animal with dogs. He was fined £250, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100, and £85 court costs. Gregory left court rubbing his hands and announced he was heading off to join a stag hunt that afternoon.
Charges against Ross Cordery (Hunt Master) and James Parish (terrier-man) were dropped by the CPS just days before the court hearing.
BHSA/ CA
The British Hound Sports Association has hosted an advert placed by the Teme Valley Hunt who are looking for a Kennel Assistant. This is the same Teme Valley Hunt which was caught digging out and killing a fox whilst on their annual visit to the Coniston Foxhounds last November. Sixteen arrests were made across these two Hunts.
Whilst defending ‘trail’ hunting, the Daily Telegraph used a photograph of Ollie Thompson out on a hunt. Ollie Thompson has been described as “one of the most sadistic fox hunting criminals to be brought to justice in recent years”, and was with the Avon Vale Hunt when they were videoed digging out a fox and throwing it to the hounds.
He was convicted for animal cruelty for this offence, and the judge, having seen the video of the event, was also very critical of the fact a young child was present.
Thompson has also been videoed tormenting a captured fox cub.
On 28/04/26, members of the British Hounds Sports Association, the Masters of Foxhounds Association, and the Countryside Alliance met with Baroness Hayman, who is responsible for overseeing the proposed ban on trail hunting. They will no doubt have pleaded innocence, economic and cultural impact, and the future of their ‘hounds’.
Please visit AAF’s page where we address these areas in our guidance for completing the Government’s public ‘Consultation on Proposals to Prohibit Trail Hunting in England and Wales’.
If you haven’t yet filled this in, please do! The closing date of June 18th will soon come around!
