Silverton Hunt, Stockleigh Pomeroy, 15.02.2020

Last Saturday we went to see what the Silverton were up to. We found them at their meet in the village of Stockleigh Pomeroy, but apparently the sight of sabs was so upsetting that they immediately packed up. As the terrier men took one of our vehicles on a tour of the countryside, our other vehicle followed as huntsman Chris Matterface took the hound van straight back to the kennels.

With that done we then moved on to search for the the South Tetcott who were meeting at Northlew. We found them hunting in 40+ mph gusts of wind and hail, with their red faced wind-burnt support out despite the weather hoping for a glimpse of carnage. Hounds were immediately found in cry in the valley south of Patchacott and a team of sabs ran in to rate hounds back.

Clearly very unhappy to see us, hunt master David Bowden rode his horse at sabs and whipped one of them around the head! This same individual thought himself very big pulling sabs’ hats off last time we were with this hunt. When denied their blood lust these cruel killers will take it out on the next nearest target.

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt, Morchard Bishop and Black Dog, 08.02.2020

We were out with the wildlife crime gang known as the Eggesford Hunt yesterday between Morchard Bishop and Black Dog.

Our first encounter came between Langland and Lewdon Farm as Eggesford drew the wood at Weir Down, quickly picking up scent with hounds making a commotion in a large bramble patch which we sadly believe was them killing a fox.

Sabs had no time to stay and look for a body as two foxes then quickly broke away heading in different directions. Huntsman Jason Marles gathered his pack from the brambles in pursuit of a young vixen. Tragically, the hounds caught up to her before sabs could intervene with Marles blowing the kill in front of sabs and support.

Warning: Distressing footage

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt, Riddlecombe, 01.02.2020

The Eggesford were out at Riddlecombe again on Saturday. This seems to be one of their favourite places to persecute wildlife and DCHS sabs were out with them once again.

The hunt started the day south of Riddlecombe, with two foxes spotted instantly as sabs entered the field. Sabs covered the scent and rated back the hounds that were we in pursuit not far behind.

At this time of year foxes are often paired, with the vixen either being heavily pregnant or nursing her new cubs. The dog fox helps raise his cubs and feed his family. If one of the parents is killed, the lives of the cubs are also at risk, making this time of the hunting year especially devastating for foxes. Thankfully this family got away.

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt, Pudson Farm, Okehampton, 29.01.2020

Last week we sabbed the Eggesford at Pudson Farm on the edge of Okehampton. It was a busy day for sabs, with lots of foxes helped to safety but a sad ending for a sheep.

Just as they did on Boxing Day, the hunt started off in the valley south of Broadmoor Lane. For some reason the riders and supporters were more riled by our presence than they usually are, and some of them threw rocks at our runner sabs as they went past on the footpath.

Given their success at smashing our windscreen the previous week, they’ve obviously decided that rock-throwing is the way to go. Or perhaps they’ve entered into a competition with the kids who’ve been throwing swedes at police cars in recent weeks.

Continue reading →

Torrington Farmers, Rising Sun, Umberleigh, 18.01.2020

On Saturday we sabbed the Torrington Farmers who met at the Rising Sun in Umberleigh. We were joined by a couple of hunt monitors who were an awesome extra pair of eyes and ears throughout the day.

After drinks and sausage rolls the hunt headed to Fisherton Cross where they went into the land surrounding Bartridge farm. Sabs followed on foot but were evicted off the footpath by a group of masked men on quad bikes.

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt, Goldburn, Jacobstowe, 11.01.2020

Yesterday we sabbed the Eggesford who met at Goldburn, south of Jacobstowe. We know the area well: one long boggy valley full of deer, difficult to traverse for horses and sabs on foot. However, we had four foot teams out who persevered despite heavy wind and rain and kept tabs on the hunt all day, with many foxes seen to safety.

Jason Marles began by riding along the road north from the meet and entering hounds at the Jacobstowe end of the valley that runs back towards the meet. Immediately hounds picked up on the scent of a fox and ran south where they eventually marked a fox to ground near Parsonage Wood. Several foot sab teams were on hand to rate the hounds and spray the line of another fox seen fleeing from the area.

Continue reading →

South Tetcott Hunt, Wilkie Down Farm, Boyton, 04.01.2020

On Saturday we decided to surprise the South Tettcot hunt who were meeting at Wilkie Down Farm at Boyton. The hunt were pretty unhappy to see us and sabs faced a lot of aggression throughout the day.

The hunt started off east of the meet and then headed to the area around Downhayes and Colehill Wood. Hounds were heard speaking on and off but didn’t seem to get on any line.

Sabs in the field were then ridden at and grabbed at by hunt members. One particularly talkative redcoat declared himself first “a landowner”, asking sabs if they had permission to be there, and then decided that he himself owned all the land in a 10 mile radius… According to him “breaking and entering fields” allows him to use whatever force he likes against sabs.

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt, Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, 01.01.2020

On New Years Day we sabbed the Eggesford Hunt, who met at the Waie Inn in Zeal Monachorum, amid a great crowd of anti-hunt protesters organised by Devon Against Hunting.

Eight uniformed police officers and a riot van were also present who took it upon themselves to tell sabs that they ‘imagined’ they were trespassing. Strange that they knew that given the large number of public footpaths in the area and their inability to read a map.

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt, Oaklands, Okehampton, 26.12.2019

On Boxing Day we sabbed the Eggesford at Oaklands on the edge of Okehampton in horrendous weather conditions. Driving rain and gusty winds made crossing already boggy terrain pretty challenging for our sabs. At this meet last year they killed a fox in front of sabs.

Just like last year, the hunt started off in the fields south of Broadmoor Lane where we stopped them from digging-out a few seasons ago. Supporters lined up in ones and twos up and down the valley, waiting to catch a glimpse of a fox fleeing for their life and ready to turn the fox back towards hounds like they did at the meet the previous Saturday, resulting in a kill. The hounds did quite quickly get onto a fox and headed west in full cry before coming to an abrupt stop in the valley.

Continue reading →

Eggesford Hunt at Fox and Hounds Hotel, Eggesford, 28.12.2019

Two days on from Boxing Day we were back out with the Eggesford, who met at the aptly-named Fox and Hounds Hotel. We knew the likely route they’d take and positioned some foot sabs ahead of them on the Tarka Trail near Eggesford Garden Centre. Sabs pre-sprayed the area with citronella and hounds failed to get onto anything there. After riders had finished jumping hedges, Jason took hounds on towards Lyland Wood. Hounds ran straight down the steep slope in full cry and came back up to the top near a large badger sett where they were rated off the sett by sabs.

Continue reading →