Grouse shooting supporters and hunt saboteurs have given contrasting accounts of disruption to a shoot in the Yorkshire Dales at the start of the new season.
The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) claimed its supporters prevented the Coverdale shoot from carrying out a day’s shooting on Wednesday — the first day of the grouse shooting season known as the Glorious 12th — after action by members from the Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs group.
The organisation also criticised North Yorkshire Police, claiming officers stopped saboteur vehicles and issued dispersal orders in an attempt to prevent them reaching the moors.
The HSA said some groups nevertheless made it onto the moors and disrupted the shoot.
It added: “Sabs are not easily deterred and great teamwork and communication meant that some groups made it onto the moors where they prevented the Coverdale shoot from a day’s killing.”
The organisation also alleged a vehicle associated with the shoot was driven at saboteurs while police were present.
The HSA used its statement to criticise grouse moor management, claiming the ecology of the landscape had been altered to accommodate shooting and arguing intensive management increased the risk of wildfires.
However, the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group, which represents rural estates in the area, played down the disruption.
A spokesperson confirmed a “small contingent” of masked saboteurs had interfered with a shoot at Coverhead, causing delays until police issued dispersal orders.
But the group said an estimated 15 or more shoots elsewhere in the area had continued without problems.
“The several saboteurs and their allies claimed success on social media, but overall it was merely a publicity stunt that made negligible difference to the start of the season.”
“Whilst this minor interruption was obviously an inconvenience at Coverhead, an estimated 15 or more shoots in the area continued without any problems,” the spokesperson added.
The group said shoots across the Dales had enjoyed good starts to their seasons and highlighted the economic benefits it says grouse shooting brings to rural communities and businesses.
It also defended the environmental management of grouse moors, saying the habitat was important for red-listed species including curlew.
The group said grouse are only harvested when surplus numbers permit.
The spokesperson added: “Despite the dry summer weather, the grouse have fared well in the Dales and most estates will be enjoying good seasons despite the trivial and futile efforts of a few extremist lawbreakers.
“It is reported that a small number of the hitherto sabs have asked to join the beaters on shoot days as the pay is better than sabbing. They’d be most welcome.”
Richmondshire Today has contacted North Yorkshire Police for a response.
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Harvested? Birds are not crops!
If grouse are considered “surplus” it’s only because they’re specifically bred to be killed for fun.
Sabs are volunteers, i.e. not paid.