On Saturday we teamed up with sabs from lots of other groups to oppose the closing meet of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds at Cussacombe Gate on Exmoor.

The hunt covered many miles across open moorland and farmland around Molland and Twitchen. Several groups of deer were hunted and in addition to the stag who was killed at the end of the day, we believe at least two others were separated from the herd at one point and hunted for some time before being left or lost.

Early in the day one hunt idiot came over to film and rant at us about drone laws. Obviously this lot make up the law as they go along, but it’s the certainty with which they insist it’s “definitely illegal” to do whatever THEY basically don’t like is quite staggering. Whether that’s drone laws, laws around filming without permission, or laws relating to the highway – all of which are pretty easy to Google! When this particular numpty was reminded it might also be worth looking in the mirror before accusing others of lawbreaking, he became very defensive. “It’s perfectly legal to use two hounds to flush a stag to guns!”, he insisted.

The Hunting Act allows for a stag to be flushed by two dogs to a waiting gun, provided that the stag is shot immediately upon being flushed. This is not what staghunts do and not what we witnessed on Saturday. Instead, they used dogs, quadbikes and riders to terrorise a group of deer and gradually break off the young stag they eventually went on to kill. That stag was then chased through woods, across fields and open moorland for hours, covering many miles in hot conditions, until he was completely exhausted and could no longer run. It went on for so long they had to keep swapping out the hounds for fresh ones to carry on the chase. This is traditional staghunting, not the ‘flushing-out exemption’. And it continues to happen across Devon and Somerset because those tasked with enforcing the law (Devon and Cornwall Police and Avon and Somerset Police) turn a blind eye and give these organised criminals free rein.

Continue reading “Devon and Somerset Staghounds, Exmoor, 20.04.24” →

In August, one of our sabs and a sab from Mendip Hunt Sabs were viciously attacked at a meet of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds. On Saturday, we returned to that hunt alongside sabs from Mendip Hunt Sabs, Plymouth & West Devon Hunt Sabs, Bristol Hunt Saboteurs, North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, Staffordshire Hunt Sabs, Brighton Hunt Saboteurs, Reading Hunt Saboteurs and Somerset Sabs. An attack on one is an attack on us all and as all the hunts we sab should know by now: violence only buys them plenty more visits from sabs.

Continue reading “Devon & Somerset Staghounds, Exmoor, 30.09.23” →

Today we joined sabs from North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, attempting to prevent the senseless killing of yet another defenceless stag on Exmoor by the Devon and Somerset Staghounds.

We arrived at the meet just before 8am. It seems the Devon and Somerset, terrified of our presence last season are starting a lot earlier in the day in an attempt to deter sabs from further afield attending.

It didn’t take them long for the support to clock our vehicle, so we parked up and walked around the perimeter of the showground. We noticed that despite the hot weather, there were roughly 50 or so riders, and at least 12 relay hounds. You would think these apparent animal lovers would have some consideration for these animals they claim to hold so dear.

Continue reading “Devon and Somerset Staghounds, Exford Showground, 10.08.2023” →

A new one for us…

Sabbing one of our local staghunts on Exmoor. Inspired by some of our neighbouring groups who have been taking on the DSSH and the Quantock Staghounds in recent weeks, we decided to go along and give it a try.

We joined North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, Mendip Hunt Sabs, Herefordshire Hunt Sabs, Three Counties Hunt Sabs and Wildlife Crime Action at the DSSH meet at Brendon Two Gates north of Simonsbath.

The DSSH hunt using just two hounds, but they carry spares in a Land Rover so they can swap them out when they get tired, which they clearly do, given the terrain and distance they cover. Exmoor is difficult at the best of times. Trying to follow the hunt across the boggy open moorland on foot as a sab requires a lot of stamina. Between the various groups we had teams positioned from the meet down to Warren Farm and across to Larkbarrow Corner to try and keep an eye on the hunt’s movements.

With only two hounds doing the hunting, the riders and supporters play a much more active role in the chase than they do in foxhunting. The aim is to locate a herd of deer and gradually break it apart into smaller groups, eventually isolating a stag and then chasing it to complete exhaustion before shooting it at close range. This ‘sport’ is undeniably cruel and that makes it all the more depressing to see so many riders and followers turn up to take part.

Continue reading “Devon & Somerset Staghounds, Simonsbath, 15.04.23” →