West Yorkshire Hunt Saboteurs

17/12/2024

Middleton 14/12/2024
BADGER SETTS BLOCKED; FOXES CHASED.

This saturday we joined York Hunt Sabs and Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs at the Middleton, who met at Pasture Hill Farm and High Sleights Farm, near Acklam.

Right from the off the intentions of the hunt were clear, as straight out the meet they pursued a fox by Lower Sleights Farm, before thankfully losing the scent. A second fox was seen very shortly after at Back Warren Plantation, who was subject to a longer chase from the hunt. In part due to actions from sabs to cover the fox’s scent line, and in part due to poor hunting from Jason O’Donnell - who spent some time chasing the scent in the wrong direction - we believe this one escaped too, but cannot be sure.

It was a similar story for much of the rest of the day, with hounds frequently in cry and multiple foxes seen. On a number of occasions Jason O’Donnell allowed his pack to split - possibly a result of his incompetence at hunting, but more likely a sign of his willingness to let his hounds kill without him needing to be directly involved. Conveniently for the hunt a number of badger setts - particularly in Brownmoor Plantation - had been blocked, meaning that foxes did not have the option of escaping below ground.

After a final attempt at killing near Rabbit Hill, the hunt packed up just past 4.

Aside from all the foxes chased today, York sabs were nearly run off the road in the morning by a psychotic denizen of Pasture Farm, who drove at them in his tractor with his forks down. While the police did attend following a call made by York sabs they were utterly useless, taking no action against the farmer, but just watching on as horses, hounds, and hunt support blocked public roads, and the hunt’s earth stoppers rode along the highway on quad bikes with no registration plates.

17/11/2024

BEDALE 16/11/2024

Yesterday we made a slightly longer trip north than usual, to find the Bedale at Bramper Farm, near Thirintoft in North Yorkshire (just a couple of miles west of Northallerton).

As soon as we arrived the police were called out to pointlessly check our driver's details, before almost immediately leaving again. Any reasonable observer would call this a waste of police resources, but in some parts of the country the hunt hold more power than the taxpayer!

For most of the day, the hunt seemed unwilling to actively hunt while we were present, and so they moved at speed along the River Swale, before eventually turning east towards Ainderby Steeply. In the fields around Broomfield House they found a fox, however sabs were on hand to cover its trail, and the hounds didn't give chase before heading further south.

Unfortunately here they were able to escape sabs for a substantial period of time, and appeared to be engaged in a lengthy chase, culminating at Langlands, where they were confronted by irate landowners. Unfortunately we are unsure if a kill took place.

After that the hounds were taken on a long walk through Morton Grange and Swalefields, where they eventually packed up.

Thanks to Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs, York Hunt Sabs for being with us, as usual!

16/11/2024

LAST WEEK AT THE MIDDLETON

Last saturday we joined Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs, York Hunt Sabs, and independent monitors at the Middleton, who met at High Farm in Firby, North Yorkshire.

The hunt initially headed east through Jeffry Bog, before doubling west through Firby Wood and Kirkham Park Wood, where they spent much of the first half of the day. Here the foliage is far too thick to take a quadbike to lay an artificial trail, and yet hounds were repeatedly in cry - almost as if the Middleton have never moved away from illegal hunting!

As the afternoon wore on Jason O'Donnell led the hounds south towards Leavening. At Scalla Moor the hounds put up two foxes - one looking extremely tired and disoriented as it made its way to safety through a hedgerow. Thankfully sabs were on hand to cover both fox scents with citronella, and they were not found by the hounds.

His blood lust clearly not sated, O'Donnell kept the hounds out until dark, as they slowly meandered back to the kennels, hunting in every small section of woodland along the way. While no kills were seen, a death at the end of the day is not impossible, as hounds were again in cry for extended periods around Heights Plantation as they pushed through bramble bushes - clearly not a place you'd lay a trail.

03/11/2024

MIDDLETON 2nd NOVEMBER 2024

Yesterday we joined York Hunt Sabs, Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs, and independent monitors and went off to bother the Middleton, who were meeting on Howe Hill, just north of Kirby Underdale in east yorkshire.

Surprisingly the hounds didn't set off until almost half past 12, a full hour after we had expected, and immediately set off west towards preserve plantation, where they were filmed chasing a fox in 2022. This time no foxes were seen, but Jason O'Donnell was clearly looking for blood, and the hounds were briefly in cry as they headed further west.

Much of the rest of day was spent around Bugthorpe. Hounds were cast into Keldsike plantation, before doubling back east to hunt along Bugthorpe Beck, Baffham Beck, and Salamanca Beck.

The day ended after hounds went north at speed, clearly on the line of a fox, which they pursued north past lower sleights farm and high grange, before losing the scent. Jason O'Donnell cast hounds repeatedly around Buskhill Plantation and Denning's Plantation, eventually losing half of his hounds and getting bucked off his horse (he spent the rest of the day on a quadbike).

While the hunt didn't pack until almost 5pm, from 4pm no hunting took place, as O'Donnell tried to draw his hounds out of Dennings Plantation. When the hounds finally did emerge, one was covered in what we believe was its own blood. While hounds were frequently in and out of cry, the only fox seen at Denning's had its scent covered by York sabs, so we believe they were able to make their escape.

20/10/2024

BEDALE 19/10/2024

Yesterday morning we headed over to Bedale's kennels along with Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs and Teesside Anti Blood Sports - TABS. While there was activity in the Kennels before 7am, it seemed the hunt were unwilling to set off with us present.

After about an hour of dithering, huntsman and hounds eventually went out on foot for a morning exercise, choosing to forgo any actual hunting rather than run the risk of us catching them in the act.

When it became clear that no foxes were at risk of being killed we began to make our way over the the Derwent, but were informed by East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs - who were already on the scene - that the Derwent had had the same idea.

With so many hunts effectively sabbing themselves, it certainly makes our job a lot easier, but we won't let up the pressure. It remains certain that when we aren't there, wildlife slaughter continues unabated.

06/10/2024

MIDDLETON - 5th of OCTOBER

Yesterday morning we headed over to Birdsall to bother the Middleton, who were once again cubbing from their kennels.

Along with York Hunt Sabs we were with them from 7.05am, as they set off south towards Leavening Wold. It was clear that no trails had been laid, however Jason O'Donnell still cast them into woods and burred them on. Middleton have never been overly concerned about putting on a convincing smokescreen!

From there, Jason and hounds headed east past Vessey Pasture, at which point we were joined by East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs, who had earlier been checking in on the Derwent. Between us, we were able to keep eyes on the hounds until they circled back past Aldro Farm, and returned to the kennels for 8.45.

Thankfully we did not see any evidence of foxes being chased, although a hare was briefly chased at the very beginning of the day. Thankfully it was able to escape.

24/09/2024

Many people will have different opinions about Novara Media, but this interview with Guy Shrubsole is fantastic. Watch from the 18 minute 30 seconds mark for a breakdown of the environmental impact of grouse shooting, and the role that the state plays in enabling this enormously cruel and elitist institution.

1% of the population of England owns half of the land. Many of these parcels of land have been owned by the same families since they were given them by Willi...

22/09/2024

CUBBING UNDERWAY FOR MIDDLETON

Yesterday morning we met up with York Hunt Sabs at the Middleton Kennels in Birdsall where a number of riders were assembling for a morning of killing fox cubs. Led off by Jason O'Donnell a little after 7am, hounds and riders headed north through Langhill wood, eventually finding their way to Wandales (the fields just south west of North Grimston). With York Hunt Sabs in hot pursuit, however, the hunt seemed more focused on getting away from sabs than on hunting foxes, and the hounds didn't appear to get on the scent of an animal at any point.

From there they doubled back on themselves, and we were with them as they headed back south through Langhill wood, returning to the kennels at 8.30.

This autumn Middleton will be out killing foxes most days, but we're glad that on this morning at least, no deaths were recorded.

18/09/2024

14/09/2024

https://fb.watch/uBquQp0tsV/

13/09/2024

Tomorrow, Badsworth, Bramham, and York South are hosting a trail laying demonstration as part of the BHSA's national propaganda exercise "Smokescreen Saturday".

I wonder if they will be kind enough to demonstrate how they dispose of the bodies of the foxes they kill?

https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterHuntSabs/videos/2870895759800710/

10/09/2024

This saturday, the Badsworth, Bramham, and York South will be hosting a trail laying demonstration as part of "smokescreen saturday".

Don't believe their lies. Hunting kills, and only a strengthened hunting act will change that.

07/09/2024

Currently at The 1 in 12 Club Bradford! Come say hi 🥰

19/08/2024

Sorry to have missed it - but great work by various sab groups to sab the Stean Grouse Shoot!

Following on from Monday’s highly successful sabotage of the Wemmergill Estate’s first grouse shoot of the season, sabs were once again out taking action.

14/08/2024

Less than a month until Punks Against Hunts!

Hope to see you all at the 1 in 12 club in Bradford on the 7th of September for a great night of music 💖