Police have launched an investigation after footage was released of a deer hurtling for safety while pursued by people on horseback and on foot.
Hunt saboteurs published a video after they monitored a chase in Somerset of a deer, alleging “the most disgraceful treatment of a stag” by the Quantock Staghounds. Footage shows the hunted stag jumped over followers who had been running up the road and yelling.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating an allegation of illegal hunting on Broad Oak Hill, in Taunton, on Monday 24 August at around 6am following an online report. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Dorset Borders Hunt Saboteurs, working with North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, claimed the stag was chased for four hours non-stop.
They said in a post on social media: “In an attempt to escape, he jumped through trees onto the road, almost landing on the hunt support that were strategically positioned to scare him back towards the hunt. Even after evading the hunt for 4 hours, the stag may still have subsequently died from shock or exhaustion after the stress and prolonged chase.”
The Quantock Staghounds, one of three registered staghound packs active in the UK, claimed the footage misrepresented the chronology of events, according to a statement put out by the British Hound Sporting Association (BHSA).
Oliver Hughes, managing director for the BHSA, said: “The Quantock Staghounds disputes the chronology being presented and says the footage appears to have been edited out of sequence.
“The incident has been referred to Avon and Somerset Police, which is the proper course where allegations of this kind are made. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the detail at this stage.
“Once the police position is clear, the BHSA will consider whether any regulatory action is required.
“The Quantock Staghounds has a longstanding practical role in deer welfare on the hills and provides the live-deer casualty service used when injured deer are found.”
The footage has divided members and supporters of the Quantock Deer Management and Conservation Group (QDMCG), made up of local landholders and environmental groups, as well as the Quantock Staghounds. The group was created in order to manage the deer population in the protected Somerset Hills.
A National Trust spokesperson said they would raise the incident for discussion at the next meeting.
“Hunting deer and stags with packs of dogs has been illegal in England and Wales since the Hunting Act 2004 came into force,” they added. “As the incident occurred on neighbouring land, we cannot comment on the events shown or the activities of those involved. Questions regarding the incident should be directed to the landowner and, where appropriate, the relevant enforcement authorities.
“Landowners on the Quantocks aim to work together through the Quantock Deer Management and Conservation Group to support sustainable deer management across the landscape, balancing conservation, environmental and land management objectives. We’ll be raising this incident for discussion at the next meeting.”
Forestry England, as a land manager, said while it manages deer in the national forests to protect young trees and wildlife habitats, its professional wildlife managers didn’t manage deer in the way shown in the video, and had not permitted access for stag hunting.
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