QUICK NEWS

Foxes killed by Suffolk, Gloucester, and Herefordshire hunts
Suspected fox kills by Lincolnshire and Dorset hunts
Foxes chased by: Dorset, Gloucestershire, Cheshire, Somerset, Rutland, and Welsh hunts
HSA infiltrates Staghunts
Suffolk hunt kills hare
Deer killed by Rutland hunt
Deer hit by car, fleeing Dorset hunt
Dogs from Welsh and Somerset hunts killed by cars
Dogs from Somerset hunt rescued from river
Somerset huntsmen beat dogs and horse
Dog from Devon staghunt hit by car
Somerset hunt dogs on railway track
Dogs from Welsh and West Sussex hunts caught on barbed wire
Somerset huntsman uses racist term
Kent and Devon hunts use violence
Trespass by Dorset and two Welsh hunts – among others
Dorset hunt terrorises sheep and lambs
FOI return names Cornish hunt with CPW
Mixed responses by police
Reports of badger sett interference
Assault convictions for Norfolk landowner and Cheltenham huntsman
Hare killing conviction for Northampton huntsman
Rutland huntsman found not guilty of fox kill: “intent not proven
Terrierwork continues
Countryside Alliance and BHSA’s PR day flops
Cambridgeshire hunt hosts hunt from France.
Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin witness Dorset hunt
Devon terriermen’s conversation caught on recording.

TOP STORIES

FOX KILLS
Suffolk Action for Wildlife report that the Thurlow Hunt killed a fox on the afternoon of 09/02/26, having chased it around relentlessly over the course of the day. The images are graphic.

The Beaufort Hunt killed a fox on 21/02/26. Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch noted that it was clear that terrier men had been out early to block artificial earths so foxes couldn’t go to ground. They ask, “ If they were trail hunting, why would they do this?”

Herefordshire Hunt Saboteurs discovered evidence of a kill by the Herefordshire and Clifton Hunt at the site of a dig-out during the Hunt’s children’s meet on 21/02/26.
Sabs found the Herefordshire and Clifton terrierman and an accomplice having returned to a badger sett into which a fox had earlier been hunted. Also found were a terrier, a locator collar and receiver, and two spades. The sett entrances were blocked, a pit had been dug into the sett, and a fox’s tail lay between them. Both men fled. Report here.

Hull Wildlife Protectors suspect a fox was killed during the Brocklesby Hunt with Bedale joint meet 06/02/26. Weather conditions were foul.

North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs fear the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt killed a fox on 24/02/26 after a sab overheard followers in conversation muttering, “Caught one today…” “Only one?”. Given the Hunt were out for more than six hours, and with this Hunt’s season ending, sabs fear more than one animal lost its life that day.

FOX CHASES
Mendip Hunt Saboteurs report that the Mendip Farmers Hunt repeatedly flushed and chased the same fox on 07/02/26, who was lucky to escape.

The Beaufort Hunt continued to chase foxes as filmed by the Bristol Hunt Saboteurs on 07/07/26, despite their inclusion in the recent C4N exposé just five days prior (02/02/26).

A week later, on 14/02/26, drone footage from Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs shows the Beaufort Hunt chasing foxes and at least 5 hares, with no hunt staff or quads anywhere in sight.

The Welsh Border Wildlife Protectors & Liverpool Hunt Saboteurs caught the Cheshire Hounds chasing foxes on 10/02/25
Devon County Hunt Saboteurs caught the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers chasing foxes on 07/02/26. Huntsman Wayne ‘Wingnut’ Gregory was seen to lose his temper and lash out at the dogs

The Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt were seen blatantly fox hunting – deliberately setting dogs through a field of sheep whilst the farmer was tending to them – on 12/02/26

This same Hunt was out chasing foxes again two days later, on 14/02/26

Staying with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale, a motorist caught on dashcam their chase of a vixen carrying her newborn cub, shortly followed by her mate. The motorist contacted the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, who posted the video on 17/02/26

Northants Hunt Saboteurs report that the Cottesmore Hunt chased four foxes in one day on 17/02/26.

The Welsh Border Wildlife Protectors report that the Wynnstay Hunt chased a fox late in the day on 25/02/26, across roads and on to National Trust land.

STAG HUNTS

The Hunt Saboteurs Association has infiltrated all three of the remaining registered Staghunts, and have published an account of stag hunting under the Tiverton Staghounds:

HARE

On 16/02/26, the Thurlow Hunt killed another hare – police were called.

DEER

The Cottesmore Hunt killed a (likely muntjac) deer on 21/02/26. Video shows Sam Jones dismount and throw the body over his saddle.

A deer was hit by a car whilst running from the South Dorset Hunt’s dogs on 10/02/2026. Although it got up and ran off, there seems little doubt it would have been injured. This was another eventful day for Weymouth Animal Rights, with a female sab assaulted, and menacing behaviour using farm machinery.

DOGS

A Flint & Denbigh Hunt dog was hit by a car and killed on 14/02/26
A dog from the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers was killed on the road near Milverton on 11/02/26,
On the same day, Somerset Sabs’ drone filmed terrierman Parish unloading his terrier and spade from his quad. “The poor terrier had been knocking around in a box with no air holes as he was charging around the fields for the day”.

Somerset Sabs overheard a member of the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers reporting that some of their dogs needed rescuing from a river where they were struggling.
Again the Vale of Taunton & Banwell Harriers, as Devon County Hunt Saboteurs joined Somerset Sabs on 07/02/26 to witness Huntsman ‘Wingnut’ Wayne Gregory beat the hounds, whilst Ross Cordery beat his horse. Of his horse, he told sabs, “He wants a bullet” and “this one’s got 4 weeks left”.

On 07/02/26, police were called as dogs from the Tiverton Staghounds trespassed in a garden. One dog was hit by a car and limped away into the woods.

Dogs from the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale were filmed on a railway track on 14/02/26. This is the same track where four of their dogs were killed nearby in 2022.

Kernow Sabs, Monitors and Animal Rights Team report that a number of dogs were left in woodland overnight. East Cornwall Hunt’s dogs were left behind in the Minions area on 14/02/26, and spotted running loose around Tremar on the morning of the 15th.

Bristol Hunt Saboteurs report a dog from the joint meet of the Curre and Llangibby and the Vale of Clettwr Hunt on 31/01/26 was caught upside down on barbed wire, as foxes were chased.

South Hampshire Hunt Saboteurs report that dogs from the Chiddingfold, Leaconfield and Cowdray Hunt were caught on barbed wire in an area impossible for any laid trail on Saturday, 21st February 2026

HUNT VIOLENCE
On 07/02/26, car followers from the Kent Hounds subjected East Kent Hunt Saboteurs to a high speed chase in reverse gear for around half a mile before ramming the sabs’ vehicle.

Members of the Devon County Hunt Saboteurs were greeted with ‘casual racism’ by Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers green coat Ross Cordery with the words “s’up my [n-word]”

Plymouth and West Devon Hunt Saboteurs discovered the Spooners Hunt on a known badger sett on 07/02/26. A nasty assault on a member of the sabs group followed. The matter is with the police.

CAMPAIGNS

AAF joined the League Against Cruel Sports to hand in a 36000 signature letter asking the Government to stop delaying their consultation concerning strengthening the Hunting Act.

HUNT TRESPASS

“Are we meant to believe trails are laid through gardens, earth works, sewage works, quarries, on badger setts and over roads, which are all places the hunt frequented today?”
A good question asked by the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs after sabbing the Portman Hunt on 09/02/26.

South Wales Hunt Saboteurs report that hunt and support from probably the Golden Valley Hunt “caused anxiety and distress to locals who were complaining about arrogant riders stomping through their land, blocking roads and generally making a nuisance of themselves”
This same Hunt was out with six mostly overloaded and unplated quadbikes, with terrier boxes, and men with a Patterdale terrier. Another Hunt not getting the BHSA’s ‘no terrierwork’ memo.

Welsh Border Wildlife Protectors report that dogs from the Wynnstay Hunt ran riot through a garden on the same day that huntsman Henry Bailey used his horse as a weapon, on 15/02/26. Police were notified.

POLICE

An FOI return has revealed that the unnamed Hunt issued with a Community Protection Warning on 15/01/26 by Devon and Cornwall Police is the North Cornwall Hunt.

The reaction of police called out to the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers on 07/02/26 suggests police training still has some way to go. They appeared to have no interest in film of an ongoing illegal hunt, and when occurring behind a hedge, one officer said the hedge was too high to see over.

The Beaufort Hunt was stopped in their throes by the Royal Police after chasing a fox across a busy 60mph road and into the King’s Highgrove Estate on14/02/26.

Eggesford hunt follower, David Evans, was heard to say, “We always lie to the police” as Devon County Hunt Saboteurs heard the truth slip on 02/02/26

OTHER WILDLIFE CRIMES

Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs found a freshly blocked badger sett when out on the Heythrop Hunt on 07/02/26. It was made safe. Badgers are giving birth at this time of year.
Gloucestershire police attended and also monitored the hunt.

The South Wessex Hunt Saboteurs caught on camera lamb and sheep being terrorised by the Portman Hunt on 09/02/26. It is lambing season.

The Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs report finding a trashed artificial earth and a badger sett covered in dog paw prints when called to the North Cotswold Hunt outing on 19/02/26.

CONVICTIONS

The Norfolk/Sufflolk Hunt Saboteurs announced that landowner Toby Flemming of Eastgate Farm, Marham has been found guilty of common assault on a lone female Sab.

He was fined £1536 which he requested to pay in 6 months of installments.

However, no rehabilitation was ordered as it was stated that losing his good character and shotgun licence was punishment enough.

Sam Jones of the Cottesmore Hunt was found not guilty of illegal hunting following the killing of a fox on 18/01/24. ‘Intent’ could not be proven. For a detailed report, please follow this link to AAF’s site.

On 17/02/26, charged with killing a hare with hounds, Northamptonshire huntsman Philip Saunders of the Pipewell Beagles changed his plea to guilty half-way through his trial. Proceedings had been stopped to allow prosecution and defence counsels to confer following video played and the questioning of his co-defendant, Rachael Lenton. His punishment is
to pay more than £5k and to have his horn destroyed. The case against Ms Lenton was dropped.

Welsh Border Hunt Saboteurs report that Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt Joint Master, Nathan Goulding, received a guilty verdict on 20/02/26 at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court. The charge was of assault following an incident dating back to last year- involving himself, his horse, and two female hunt saboteurs.

BHSA/ COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE

The Eggesford Hunt also appear to have missed the BHSA’s ‘no terrierwork’ memo, having been caught with terriers and spades and digging out on 12/02/26. Devon County Hunt Saboteurs write: ‘Huntsman Jason Marles blew his horn to indicate that the fox had gone to ground and terrier boy Tom Bounsall dutifully arrived on a quad. He attached a tracking collar to his terrier and put the terrier into the rubbish pile to bolt the fox. The conditions for
doing so legally were clearly not met’.

The Countryside Alliance and the BHSA seemed very excited about their top secret ‘photo opportunity’ of ‘hounds and the hunting fraternity’ in Downing Street on 20/02/26. The secret was out, however, with their ‘Not for broadcast or publication’ email leaked, meaning the Surrey Hunt Saboteurs were able to go along and take a look. What the CA has since described as a ‘descent’ on London in fact consisted of six leashed dogs and two kennelmen in flat caps. They had arrived in an untaxed van, an oversight which was rectified that afternoon two-and-a-half years overdue.

OTHER NEWS

On 02/02/26, the Puckeridge and Essex Hunt were joined by a French hunt. As foxhunting is legal in France, one might wonder at the appeal. East Herts Sabs report four foxes were seen hunted that day.

On 07/02/26, Chris Packham & Megan McCubbin accompanied sabs from the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs to watch a day out with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. This didn’t deter the Hunt from going after foxes, and hunt support were still intimidating. A number of locals stopped the crew to complain about the BSV’s activities, as well as the disruption and the disturbance they cause.

Devon County Hunt Saboteurs have released damning audio of terriermen from the Silverton and Eggesford Hunts discussing illegal activity.

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