QUICK NEWS

• Foxes killed by Welsh, Somerset, and three Dorset hunts.
• Hare killed by Suffolk hunt
• Deer shot by police after mauled by North Yorkshire hunt
• Pet cat killed by Northern Irish hunt.
• Blatant fox chases commonplace
• Somerset Staghunt twice caught exceeding two dog legal limit
• Dorset huntsman beats horse
• Dogs killed from Lincolnshire, Dorset, and North Yorkshire hunts.
• Dogs hit by vehicles from Welsh and Cambridgeshire hunts – fates unknown
• Dartmoor hunt leaves dogs overnight on Dartmoor
• Badger sett interference by Leicestershire and Dorset hunts
• Serious violence and abuse by North Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Devon, Shropshire, and Gloucestershire hunts recorded
• Hunt trespass countrywide: gardens, nature reserves – and a burial ground.
• Police attend call-outs from members of the public
• Police issue Community Protection Warning to Devon hunt
• Police caution Welsh huntswoman for ‘dangerous riding’
• Conviction number 15 since October 2023 for Dorset hunt
• Countryside Alliance abandons “enduring commitment” scheme
• Hunts continue to ignore BHSA no-terrierwork edict
• Devon hunt appoints fifth huntsman in four years

Channel 4 News exposes illegal hunting by ‘trail hunts’



TOP STORIES

FOX KILLS

Alerted by locals, two Welsh Border Wildlife Monitors joined Cheshire Monitors in sabbing the Wynnstay on 13/01/26, and arrived to find the dogs already in cry. There were a number of chases that day, and sabs believe one fox lost its life judging from the Hunt’s reaction. Another, also subjected to a long and sustained chase, is believed to have escaped. Two reports to police were made: one after hounds ran through private gardens – causing one homeowner much distress, and the second due to the Hunt blocking the road for around an hour and a half. Link to story

The Mendip Farmers Hunt killed a vixen near their kennels on 17/01/26. The photo is distressing. She was not the only fox chased that day. The Hunt also trespassed into a nature reserve,

The Portman Hunt killed a fox on 24/01/26, after a relentless chase on very wet ground until the poor animal was exhausted and confused. The North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs noted how Shaun Marles, Henry Marshall, and Kieron Fookes were “all smiles”. 

The South Dorset Hunt also killed on the same day, 24/01/26 during their ‘Ladies Meet’ in Dewlish.Whip, Keiran Hawkes, who took the fox body, later stole the camera this footage was filmed on, but fortunately the sab was able to recover it. The matter is with the police. The video is upsetting.
 
The Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt killed a fox on 03/02/26. North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs caught on drone convicted huntsman George Pierce looking skyward looking to see was this filmed, whilst whip Ben Summersgill gathered the remains of the fox’s body in his jacket. Hiding in the hedge, he stuffed the body in a bag, and handed it to terriermen,and emerged covered in blood. NDHS suspect this fox was bagged.

HARE KILLED
The Thurlow Hunt killed a hare whilst out on 26/01/26, demonstrating the danger hunts pose to all wildlife and lack of control over their dogs.


DEER KILLED
On 31/01/26, dogs out with the Middleton Hunt rioted on and so badly mauled that police, to whom this was reported, dispatched a firearms unit to end its suffering.

PET CAT KILLED IN NORTHERN IRELAND
On 30/12/25, dogs from the Newry Hunt in Northern Ireland entered a property where they “tore apart” the owner’s pet cat and then tried to hide the evidence. 

FOX CHASES
The Mendip Hunt Saboteurs report that the Eggesford Hunt relentlessly chased exhausted foxes during their outing on 19/01/26. Several landowners were upset that day, too, as the Hunt trespassed and allowed their dogs to wander over land from which they are banned.

Northants Hunt Saboteurs report that for the second meet of the Cottesmore Hunt in a row, footage of fox chases has been sent to the police. Police attended this meet, on 24/01/26. The police questioned the Hunt about their masked terrier men who were caught trying to dig out a fox from a badger sett during their previous meet (see ‘Wildlife Crime, below). They denied these were any part of the Hunt.

STAGHUNTS
The Quantock Staghounds were caught by a Wildlife Guardian Monitor hunting on National Trust and Forestry England land on 12/01/26, using four dogs. The limit is two. On 26/01/26, this same Hunt (the Quantock Staghounds) was caught using 5 dogs, and, again, on Forestry England land.

HORSES
A report by the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs on the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale’s outing on 27/01/26 ‘Horse beaten by BSV’ contains news of a message that a loose horse was beaten by its rider when caught. This is besides this Hunt’s road chaos.


DOGS
Lincolnshire Police put out social media posts asking for witnesses to an incident that occurred on 03/12/25 when a large number of hounds invaded a railway line. One or two dogs were killed and more may have been injured. The train driver spotted the hounds ahead of him, applied emergency braking and sounded his horn. The train came to a halt shortly after a level crossing. The Lincoln Hunt Saboteurs were not out, but knew which hunts were in that area that day, and they were able to advise the police of the probable hunt involved.

A post by the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs on 14/01/26 contains news that a dog from the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt drowned in a slurry pit the previous week. It happened after several dogs fell into the pit during a chase that occurred after the dogs were entered into a locked quarry.

Teeside Anti-Blood Sports have posted news that a Zetland Hunt dog was hit and killed by a car at about 9am on 21/1/26. It would seem, then, that this dog had probably been left behind following a previous day’s hunt, or had escaped kennels.

On 17/01/26, the Flint & Denbigh Hunt lost control of their dogs, who chased three deer on to the 70mph A55. Dashcam footage from the day appears to show one clipped by a lorry.

On 31/01/26, a Fitzwilliam Hunt dog was hit by a car. When members of the Peterborough Hunt Saboteurs arrived at the scene, a Mercedes driver was speaking to hunt staff, stating that a hound had collided with their car and caused damage. The dog was no longer at the scene by the time sabs arrived, so unfortunately its condition could not be confirmed, but they felt the outcome was unlikely positive, judging by the damage to the car.

Plymouth and West Devon Hunt Saboteurs report (17/01/26) that the Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt abandoned about a third of their pack, loose, on Dartmoor overnight. 

OTHER WILDLIFE CRIME
On 20/01/26, the Northants Hunt Saboteurs happened upon four terriermen with the Cottesmore Hunt in the act of digging at a badger sett. Upon the arrival of the sabs, the terriermen scarpered so quickly that they left behind one of their terriers. An officer from the Leicestershire Police attended, viewed the footage taken by sabs and went to speak to members of the Hunt back at the meeting. Northants HS see the fact that the officer went to speak to Hunt as a positive move. The terrier itself was bloodied, and ran off, afraid.

Sabbing the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale on 27/01/26, the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs’ day began with a message from a dog walker to say they’d seen men on a quadbike acting suspiciously. The dog walker went back to the scene to check on it, and found a large, freshly-blocked badger sett. Police were called and the blocked holes, with clear spade marks, were photographed, and the sett unblocked.

HUNT VIOLENCE
Saboteurs with the York Hunt Saboteurs and East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Saboteurs were violently attacked by supporters of the Middleton Hunt on 14/01/26, hospitalising and breaking the cheekbone of one of their female sabs, as well causing bruising and swelling to others.

Consequently, on 17/01/26, there was a mass sab of the Middleton Hunt by groups including: Liverpool HS, York HS, East Yorkshire Coast HS, West Yorkshire HS, Lincoln HS, Calder Valley HS, Manchester HS, and Staffordshire HS.

On Saturday 24/01/26, the Fitzwilliam Hunt resorted to violence, which was recorded on video. The Huntsman, Shaun Parish (who already carries a conviction, and is awaiting another trial for fox hunting) head butted a sab, and then removed his hard riding hat and used it to strike the sab about the head with it. The police were called and they attended promptly. The sabs indicated to police where the meet had gathered, and Parish was arrested. In their Facebook post the Bed & Bucks Hunt Saboteurs and the Peterborough Hunt Sabs thank the Cambridgeshire Police for their response.
It has since been revealed, however, that Parish received a Community Resolution Order for this attack, under which he had to write a letter of apology to his victim. This letter does not seem to express much regret.(Interestingly, the sab who was assaulted is due to give evidence against Parish at his forthcoming trial.)

A member of Plymouth and West Devon Hunt Saboteurs was physically assaulted by terrierman, Tom Bounsall whilst out with the Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt on 20/01/26, who also stole a radio and chucked it over a hedge. (report from 20/01 meet)

A female hunt saboteur with the Herefordshire Hunt Saboteurs was assaulted by a car follower out with the Herefordshire and Clifton joint meet with the Ludlow Hunt on Saturday 31st January. She was shoved to the ground, and her radio was stolen as she attempted to call for help. Once she had managed to get back on her feet, he threatened to “knock her teeth out.” Aware that her body camera was filming the entire incident, he stole that, meaning further assault as he struggled to break its safety harness.
An HHS driver drove to help, and police were called.

The Sabs’ report tells that, “Key figures in the Ludlow Hunt later denied that the attacker had any links to their hunt (“we’re not that kind of hunt”), claiming that he must have been a Herefordshire and Clifton Hunt supporter.”

A female sab with the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs suffered threats and intimidation – including a sexual threat against her mother – as one of the Beaufort Hunt’s supporters tried to enter her car, as reported on 01/02/26.

HUNT TRESPASS
Norwich Hunt Saboteur’s have video footage of a landowner inviting the Huntsman from the Stour Valley Beagles to ‘partake in sex and travel and not come back’ until he has asked for permission to be on the land.

https://fb.watch/Ezyz2ySzNe/?fs=e

Other reports of Hunt trespass for this Newsbyte include:
The Vale of Taunton & Banwell Harriers trespassing Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust land – again

The Mendip Farmers Hunt trespassing through multiple Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserves

The Beaufort Hunt upsetting a landowner

The Middleton Hunt trespassing through a burial site

… and the Four Burrow Hunt ignoring Cornwall Council, who have repeatedly informed the Hunt they have no permission to be on the Red River Valley Local Nature Reserve, spanning from Gwithian to Camborne, aside from using 2 sections of public bridleway.


POLICE
On 28/01/26, news broke that police have issued a Community Protection Warning for Devon Hunt. Under media rules, police have been unable to name which.

A post made by the Cheshire Monitors reports that the Wynnstay Hunt’s Lady Claire Daresbury received a police caution for ‘dangerous riding’, after an escalation in her using her horse aggressively.

On 17/01/26, the Cheshire Rural Crime Team responded to a call from the Cheshire Monitors who had obtained video footage of the Wynnstay Hunt hunting a fox, and arrived with two police cars and a 4×4. While the police couldn’t actually stop the Hunt they did pull over a supporter’s vehicle and also documented and dealt with hounds trespassing in private gardens and causing road havoc.

North Yorkshire Police attended the Derwent Hunt after a couple walking their dog called them, having witnessed a fox chase. Police heard from a local resident fed up with trespass in their garden, and witnessed road chaos caused by the Hunt. Questioned by the Rural Crime Officer about the whereabouts of the trail, Derwent Hunt Master, Arthur Irvine, went on to try to blame sabs for his poor ‘hound control’.


On 25/01/26, Humberside Police -North Lincs. Put out an appeal for information after “a report of an organised, horse-mounted hunt with a pack of hounds operating in the area of Westwoodside, during which a fox and a deer were allegedly, actively pursued. This occurred Saturday 24/01/2026 around 2pm…”

Not only were members of Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs physically and verbally assaulted during the Heythrop Hunt’s outing on 24/01/26, but a police officer was also verbally abused by some of the Hunt’s supporters. Again, dog walkers were witness to a fox chase and called police.


CONVICTIONS
The Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt has notched up conviction number 15 since October ‘23, after member Kieron Fookes pleaded guilty to theft at Bournemouth Crown Court on 22/01/26.This offence dates back all the way to December 2023, just 2 days before the hunt were filmed killing the Pelsham Farm Fox. North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs has a list of these conviction in their post here:

CAMPAIGNS
Action Against Staghunting is launching its stag hunting outreaches soon. It is vital the revised Hunting Act also proofs the law against the cruelty these hunts inflict upon stags, hinds, and bucks throughout the year.

The BHSA & the COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE
The Countryside Alliance has recently used the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Hunt as an example of the public support has for trail hunting. The Hunt Saboteurs Association’s Facebook page shows a still photo of a fox being hunted by this same Hunt.  Police are in possession of the full video.

The Hunt Saboteurs Association website includes a report on the abandonment by the Countryside Alliance of a scheme launched to demonstrate its  “enduring commitment to hunting”, after just six months. Hunts could be nominated for a £50 award. However, so many Hunts had to be removed from the list of potential winners, thanks to sabs across the country recording illegal activities, that the scheme became “a farce” and so the plug was pulled.

Following on from our previous Newsbyte, another hunt taking no notice of the BHSA’s edict of 17/12/25, banning terriers and ‘items configured for terrierwork’, is the Stevenstone, out with terriermen, dogs and spades at the ready. It seems hunts are not taking the BHSA’s threat of ‘disciplinary action’ seriously.


OTHER NEWS
Reporting on the outing of 10/01/26, Plymouth and West Devon Hunt Saboteurs note that the Spooner and West Dartmoor Hunt are onto their fifth huntsman in four years. The Hunt’s first Meet with their new huntsman, Sam Kelly, in charge was in a Forestry Commission car park from which the Hunt is banned, there was a field of only two riders whom sabs believe are Kelly family members, and their terrierman,Tom Bounsall, attempted to run over Sabs with his quad. 

CHANNEL 4 NEWS
On 02/03/26, Channel 4 news ran footage of fox chases and deaths in an item leaving no doubt that trail hunts kill. It is well worth a viewing.