Retrieved footage from a stolen drone of the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs reveals the Beaufont Hunt making a fox kill earlier this month, and it’s undeniable evidence of their despicable crimes against our wildlife….
The Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs have exposed The Beaufort Hunt numerous times, recording a kill on the Fosse Way in November 2025, on the Duke’s Badminton Estate in December, and another at Cranmore Farm, Shipton Moyne, in January this year.
This distressing footage was recorded earlier this month at Commonwood Farm, Luckington. It clearly shows a fox hiding the hedgerow, the hounds doubling to the exact spot where a field rider was waiting, and dragging the terrified fox from the edge of the hedge, tearing it apart. The fox is then killed in front of hunters, who do nothing to stop the attack.
If this sickens you, the next part of the process is utterly terrible; the cover-up. Whilst they bag the remains of the fox, their terrier‑men and hunt supporters surround the drone, waiting for it to land, in an attempt to steal it, while the sabs rush to protect it. This is now common practice added into their “traditional country sport.”
The Police were called, and an officer from the Roads Policing Unit took the drone. “He just took it,” The Sabs explained, “he didn’t say what powers and didn’t give a receipt, hence we call it a theft.” Meanwhile, many of the terrier-men, with “registration plates deliberately muddied out,” realising they too were being recorded, fled. Police engaged with the leader, but not with the sabs. A rural crime officer viewed the footage on the drone controller, and another officer from Chippenham Response also attended.
The Rural Police Unit seized the drone containing vital evidence, but did nothing to stop the hunt, or locate the remains of the fox, disposed of in a bin bag, according to the sabs. The drone was returned to Wiltshire Hunt Sabs, following a week‑long campaign exposing the circumstances of its seizure. The evidence has now been posted to their social media platforms.
This leaves me with little faith the new laws will do anything to stop this, if police do not act on them. Because, there was me thinking the objective of the police is to prevent crime, not just punish after a crime is committed? I asked the Wiltshire Hunt Sabs how they feel about these new rules regarding trial hunts, and if they think it will really make a difference?
“It’s hard to say without knowing what the government will implement,” a spokesperson told me. “Any improvement is welcomed but this is our only opportunity to get rid of the loopholes – and the government must make sure it doesn’t introduce new ones.”
“The Hunt Saboteurs Association has produced a brilliant booklet detailing the key changes needed to ensure an effective ban on hunting wildlife with proper sentencing deterrents. Currently the Hunting Act allows only for a fine, which isn’t a deterrent or punishment for fox hunters with deep pockets. Landowners and hunt management also need to be held accountable more often too; they are supportive of their law-breaking hunt staff. Trail hunting needs to be banned; it isn’t an activity in itself, it simply exists only as a legal defence. Reckless clauses will certainly hurt them as every defence comes down to “ooops, it was an accident!” It’s nigh on impossible to prove intent – as you can’t hop into anyone’s mind, even though everyone knows when fox hunters hunt or kill foxes, it’s 100% intentional.”
The continuous scroll of comments on The Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs’ social media posts show the overwhelming support for the organisation’s attempts to prevent this criminal activity, their anger this continues, and criticisms of the seemingly inactions of the Police. Myself? I call the Beaufont Hunt something which rhymes with hunt.
You can follow Wiltshire Hunt Sabs HERE and support their work HERE.
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