STAG HUNTING — THE SABOTUERS EXPOSE AGAIN THE CRUELTY OF IT

View this email in your browser Hi, Cruelty And Carve-ups: The Horror Of Spring Stag Hunting We are now several weeks into the Spring Stag Hunting season. As opposed to the trophy hunting of Autumn Stag hunting, Spring Stag hunting is all about the sport of the chase, with a young stag between one and three years old being selected. Without the weight of large antlers, heavy body mass, and the strain of the rut, young stags can run much faster. However they often lack the experience of the older stags, who will use various tricks to hide and throw off their pursuers. The young stag may just straight-line it away in terror, with no plan of where he will go. The large number of riders and followers often end up corralling the stag, giving him no opportunity for any rest. As a result, although the distance covered may be greater, it can actually be over quicker. Studies have proved that deer are not well adapted to run for long periods. Spring stag jumps across the road before being killed and carved up in a field ©WCA Spring stag hunting also sees the largest number of riders and followers as the fox hunting season comes to a close and those participants move to persecuting other animals. There can be over one hundred riders and just as many car followers, all tracking the stag’s every move. It’s a daunting prospect, but there are ways we can help. Our most important tool is our cameras: these can go a long way to curbing the very worst of their behaviour. The simplest aspect being that they are only allowed to use two hounds to hunt the stag. And when they’re being watched they have to stick to that. This severely limits them when it comes to finding the stag when he’s hiding and separating him off from the herd. They have been caught out a number of times with more than two hounds when they think they’re not being watched. Beautiful stag flees from the Quantocks Staghounds. They will also drive at the deer with vehicles, whip them and even manhandle them if they think they can get away with it. We’ve heard some truly horrific stories about what has gone on out there with no one watching. Of course, in the heat of the moment, when the red mist of the kill descends, nothing and no one will stop them getting their kill. But we’ve been there to expose their behaviour. Who will ever forget seeing the young stag laid down defeated in the river at Twitchen Mill before his brains were blown out at close range with a short barrelled shotgun. We all remember the heartbreaking sight of the Yeo Stag swimming for his life, then stood at bay exhausted with blood pouring from his nose. And of course, the stag shot next to the River Barle with a sab in the line of fire. Stag killed in front of Devon County sab, next to River Barle. We weren’t able to save those animals, but they will never be forgotten and each one is another nail in the coffin of stag hunting and can even save future stags’ lives. The fallout from the stag by the Barle is still ongoing and has resulted in at least one other stag being saved from certain death. This came about as the landowner was unhappy with the bad publicity that ensured from the stag’s brutal death and warned the hunt that they would lose access to the land if they made a scene in there again. A year later a young stag was at bay near the same spot, but with several sabs in the vicinity they didn’t dare to shoot him! Of course, they can be sabbed in more direct ways when the opportunity arises, but that is generally rare due to the vast areas they cover. Their own hound control is also abysmal making calling off the dogs in cry very difficult! However sometimes the deer can be diverted towards safety on land where hunting is not allowed. We have also hidden deer from the hunt when we’ve managed to arrive in the area before them and seen deer out in the open. Even if they are eventually found, valuable time has been lost, which is especially important when the days are short! Pitiful: this exhausted spring stag hides his face. He was shot dead moments later. So far this season we have attended three Devon & Somerset Staghounds meets. The first two we were pleased to have helped the stag escape when he entered the sanctuary of League Against Cruel Sports land. However, last Saturday's meet had a sad and shocking outcome. Not only was the stag chased to exhaustion and killed, we then witnessed a brazen carve-up in front of spectators including children, which ended with the huntsman blowing the horn call for a kill as the hounds were thrown pieces of the stag’s body as a reward. On reviewing the footage, we could also see a follower stashing his personal trophy of a piece of the stag’s liver in a plastic bag. Ironically while this was going on, another hunt member was telling us how they were hunting within the law and were taking a blood sample from the stag to test for TB! This was the first time we’d witnessed a carve up, usually they hide well away for it. They obviously wanted to show off in front of the extra attendees from the Tiverton Staghounds, whose hounds are currently out of action with kennel cough. Carve-up: hunt supporter with bagged-up stag liver. Although we are gutted that we were unable to prevent the death of this stag, documenting the barbaric practices and how the law is being brazenly circumvented, is all contributing to the strengthening of the Hunting Act as promised in the labour manifesto. We have no doubt that without the evidence being collected by sabs and monitors, stag hunting would have been overlooked with most people unaware it is even happening. Last year, for the first time ever, the stag hunters ended their season early due to the increasing number of sabs attending as the month went on and more groups became free as their own local hunts finished. We hope for an even bigger attendance this year, so let’s hope we bring about another early end to the season. Please support the brave North Dorset Hunt Sabs in their campaign against stag hunting: paypal.com/NorthDorsetHuntSabs Get involved! Find out how you can be part of our campaign to Strengthen The Hunting Act Take Action Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2025 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe