As they’ve done in previous years (e.g. see here), members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association were out in force today in northern England to disrupt grouse shooting on the Inglorious 12th.
Today they were on the Wemmergill Estate in County Durham. If Wemmergill sounds familiar it’s because it’s previously featured on this blog (here, here and here) and on Mark Avery’s blog (here).
Here’s what the Hunt Sabs got up to today:
Further details on the Hunt Sabs’ website here.
I wonder if they’ll be out again this week and if so, where…?
UPDATE 17 August 2024: Hunt Saboteurs disrupt grouse shoot on Stean Moor in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
brilliant to see the Sabs out doing a fantastic job 👍
Brilliant work by the Sabs!
Hahaha 😂😂😂 Wemmergill (among others) deserves all it gets. Well done Sabs! Nice day for a hike up to Close House! 😂😂😂…again…
Bless the sabs, love them. True Heroes and of course Heroines. Also very brave to confront shooters as they are brave to do so with the Fox / Mink / Hare / Deer hunters also. Well said Spaghnum shooters do deserve everything they get.
…still though John Mink don’t deserve to be hunted by stupid, ignorant men and dogs, it’s not their fault they are over here. And yes Squirrel pox is horrendous on the Reds but again not the Grey’s fault their here it’s man’s fault. I’m guessing you mention Pheasants partly due to them eating adders (or so I believe they do I may well be wrong) ..again Man’s fault for breeding such numbers all to be shot by an entitled few. I saw 2 Mink bounding through a shallow river once and it’s up there with the best animal experiences I’ve had. The best being the big black cat (Panther or Puma) in Northumberland ..also not native! Although non native animals may be a shame it’s not their fault it’s always man to blame.
“it’s not their fault they are over here…”
Indeed not, but the damage they are doing to our ecosystems cannot be tolerated, or else far more will suffer….
In general I’m opposed to the killing of animals but definitely think that in some circumstances this needs to be done as they’re doing a huge amount of damage to the ecosystem. Mink would be one example. I’ve briefly helped with a mink eradication scheme, checking a raft, knowing this could result in the death of a sentient being, and would do so again. What I detest is wantonly killing animals for fun, especially if this involves environmental destruction e.g. intensively managed grouse moors or releasing millions of non native pheasants.
Some Environmental damage is done to the river banks by the Mink hunters whom I’ve above mentioned also often switch to hunting Otters though I appreciate no where near the scale that your comment is referring to with the release of birds all for to be shot and what is involved with doing so. To some extent they break branches trying to get Mink down from trees, dig out burrows in the bank and trample bankside vegetation though again I do appreciate that this is no where near on the scale of destruction that you are referring to. I stand by supporting and helping fund the saboteurs even if that does include them sabbing Mink hunts. ..and yes, the hunters do – do it for fun, they don’t do it to preserve ecosystems as if they care despite what they might try and portray ..it’s bloodlust.
…and that’s probably enough about Mink for now before I get complaints for being widely off topic …apologies all.
The Mink hunters also often switch to hunting Otters if there are no Mink around.
This is good to hear. Well done and thank you. I can only hope for more of this type of disruption. Barbaric to even be described as a sport.
Big respect to the sans you brave people
Well done to all you sabs who disrupt this abhorrent, so-called, barbaric sport.
Keep up the good work
Well done !respect to you all and thank you brave people as said by everyone a sight to behold.
The trap photographed in the HSA web site item about sabbing the Wemmersgill Estste shoot included a photo of a Tully spring trap in a wire tunnel.
That tunnel looks decidedly dodgy!
Under the Spring Traps (England) Approval Order 2018
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1190/contents/made
“2.—(1) For the purposes of section 8(3) of the Pests Act 1954, the following spring traps are approved, namely— (a)
any spring trap of a type and make specified in any entry in Column 1 of the Schedule;” (which includes the Tully trap) “and (b) so far as is practicable without unreasonably compromising its use for killing or taking target species, the trap must be used in a manner that minimises the likelihood of its killing, taking or injuring non-target species;”
The Schedule to the STAO states:
“The trap must be set in a natural or artificial tunnel which is, in either case, suitable for the purpose.”
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1190/article/2/made
The sides to that tunnel would allow non-target animals and birds to enter the tunnel and trap.
It is 5 years since the Humane Trapping Standards Regulations were introduced yet this estate appears to still be using these useless home made tunnels to house traps!
Hi Lizzy
I emphasise completely with your concern about that trap. I see loads of mediocre ones like that but having researched the arse out of it, I tend to believe they are legal in that form.
Here’s why – the inner baffle made from perspex will be manufacturer made and will reliably be 51mm diam. The distance from edge of the trap to outer excluder entrance (the larger gauge wire door) will likely be the acceptable legal minimum of 150mm. That leaves us with the crap looking excluder at the entrance. The keeper has snipped out some wire to allow entrance, and there is a dodgy big gap to the side because of the curved frame. But there is actually no strict legal diameter stated for those external entrance points, only “recommendations” to be about the same as for the inner baffle which as mentioned is 51mm. Yes those external entry points look a bit too big to us, but crucially I don’t think that they are actually illegal.
There won’t be true clarity on any of this until there is case(s) brought to Court of species like Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Polecat, Red Squirrel, etc being caught. And over recent years it is fair to say of the enforcement “authorities” that nobody gives a f–k.
Just before I go…once more… Wemmergill – “get it up ye” hahaha 😂😂😂
*empathise
Spaghnum Morose
I would agree with you if the frame around the Tully trap was classed as a tunnel but it isn’t. The Schedule specifically states for the Tully Trap that “The trap must be set in a natural or artificial tunnel which is, in either case, suitable for the purpose.” So – that home made frame is illegal. It allows grouse chicks or other non target animals and birds to enter the trap.
I wholeheartedly agree with you about the lack of action to deal with traps and wildlife crime in general.
Over 25 years I have tried and tried and tried to get police to take action over what I consider are illegal traps and snares. I frequently get police telling me farmers and shooting estates can do what they like on their land and refusing even to accept a complaint. Im sorry to say this but wildlife offences are almost non-existent in reality.
I have no objection to protest – within reason and without violence. But will someone please explain why face masks are needed? I joined all of the countryside marches and never found face covering necessary despite my being a protester. And yes, I practise a minority field sport.
Hi Nick,
I’ve never been sabbing so I can’t speak for those protesters but I imagine they chose to cover their faces to protect themselves from targeted intimidation and violence from those whose activities they’re protesting against. You only need to look at the various social media accounts associated with the fox hunting community to see the level of abuse that goes on. There have also been a number of recent cases where the police have stepped in, resulting in some of those masked hunt supporters being prosecuted. I’ve watched some of the Hunt Sabs’ videos showing armed, masked thugs attacking sabs’ vehicles with hammers (whilst the sabs are still inside the vehicle), and there are also videos of them physically attacking the sabs as well. There are several cases currently going through the courts.
Unfortunately there are also incidents where masked Sabs have been caught on film using intimidating behaviour, so it happens on both sides.
Then there are the gamekeepers who cover their faces when removing trapped raptors from cage traps, stuffing them inside sacks and carrying them away. It’s quite obvious that the face coverings in those instances are to stop individuals being identified and thus prosecuted for wildlife crime.
Fair points all. Just saying that I never saw a face mask on any of the Countryside rallies.
When people commit illegal acts they often cover their faces. This can be an admission of guilt – on both sides.
However, violence against what is currently a legal activity is as unaceptable as retaliation by those being attacked. Sadly, I once witnessed my wife being so attacked when on her horse. The sabs grabbed his bridle and when the horse protested they retreated to a safe distance and proceeded to pelt him with sods of earth. Animal lovers, my a**e.
I expect you can understand a slight prejudice on my behalf!
Nick,
I’m not sure that comparing the countryside rallies with hunt sabbing is legitimate; they are protests under completely different circumstances. For example, the hunt sabs were at the Restore Nature Now rally in London and I didn’t see them wearing face masks, just as you didn’t see anyone wearing one at the countryside rallies in London, but we both know that each group will wear them under the different circumstances presented in the field.
I agree with you, violence isn’t acceptable on either side, even when hunt sabs are provoked by witnessing illegal fox hunting events (please don’t try and argue that nobody fox hunts anymore) or when sabs are having to lock themselves inside their vehicle to avoid being attacked by armed masked men.
Wearing of masks is obvious to understand, although it would be a good laugh if they did it in the style of masked keepers doing their day-job rounds on the fell on quads – decked out not in their smart new tweeds (yawn) but in daily wear of drab green & camo combinations of Schoffel, Ridgeline & various army surplus. That aside – whichever cheeky bugger drew the penis on the mucky back window of the police car wants their hands chopped off…or wants hanging…or shooting…or better still all three…that’ll teach ’em!
I take your point. That’s childish stuff.
Hi Lizzy, sorry – I was being ironic – it gave me a good laugh and nothing wrong with a bit of childishness – kids are only trivially dishonest anyway! What a response in numbers from the plods though! Contrast that response to the seven month delay in publicising the two shot Short Eared Owls that were found shoved down a hole about a 1.5 miles away, and not much done about Marc Hen Harrier (about 1 mile away).
100% agree.
I have been waiting 9 weeks so far for a response (even an acknowledgement) to an offer by my new local sergeant to discuss the police’s responses to some of my complaints going back several years.
“But will someone please explain why face masks are needed?”
Because they are legal and stop identification by criminals.
Nick – let’s not forget that two sabs have DIED whilst sabbing and many, many more have been injured, threatened, abused, had their property damaged or arsoned.
To use non- violent tactics to stop hunters hunting and shooters shooting, sabs have to be brave and ARE brave.
Your comparison of attending a normal demo and sabbing bloodsports is disingenuous. These situations can be volatile and frightening.
I have had gamekeepers and farmers screaming abuse at me and threatening to call the police on me when I have tried to report injured and neglected livestock to them or wildlife crime – when they are the ones acting illegally! I’ve had my windows repeatedly smashed in and my car arsoned and more.
Sabs need to protect themselves from harm for the work they do in exposing the realities of hunting and shooting.
Shooters and hunters don’t simply enjoy a fun day out when they hunt or shoot. They enjoy bloodsports and it often shows!
and my wife’s horse….? Hardly the actions of animal lovers. And you will see that I am not condoning violence in any form.
I completely agree with you on that.
Sounds like your another Heroine for animals Lizzybusy. Going by your comments on here it seems you haven’t given up despite suffering smashed windows and arson attacks …that’s horrendous, don’t though the animals need you …although not for me to say when you’ve suffered over it. So sorry that has happened to you and sorry to hear that you have been abused for bringing attention to suffering animals I would have done the same.
Clearly you have never seen the hunt followers & terriermen that accompany illegal fox hunting: always masked so they cannot be identified when they attack the sabs / monitors, or when they are being filmed either blocking or digging out Badger setts, breaking traffic laws, threatening and abusing those who want the law to be upheld.
As to why the sabs are masked, I would bring to your attention the actions carried out by supporters of Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt in October of last year:
https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/dorset-hunt-thugs-smash-sabs-vehicles-in-cowardly-attack/
Could you imagine the reaction if a group of sabs carried out a similar act of vandalism at a venue that hosts hunts or on the property of hunters / followers?