HIND HUNTING FROM THE SABS

The Horror Of Hind Hunting

While the autumn stag hunting season has come to an end, there is no reprieve for the red deer herds of the Southwest. Right now, the country’s three remaining stag hunts are targeting hinds, or female deer. 

Hinds are hunted from the end of the November rut - the mating season - right through to February. Traditionally, it was considered ‘unsportsmanlike’ to hunt during the rut and a period of several weeks was left before hind hunting commenced. Needless to say, the three remaining stag hunts do not follow these rules and hunting carries on throughout the autumn.

As with stag hunting, the cruelty is unimaginable.  Hounds and hunters work to single-out a hind from the herd, who is then driven onto the higher, more open ground to be hunted. The wretched hind is then chased by hounds and thugs on quad bikes - usually over a period of hours - before finally being shot. 

Even in deer hunting circles, some do not approve of hind hunting. This is because the hinds may still be accompanied by their young, born the previous spring. Many will also be pregnant after the autumn rut and will progressively show their condition as the season plays out. By the end of February, the hinds are heavily pregnant but still considered fair game by the cruel hunters. Once hind hunting has come to end in February, the spring stag hunting season starts up again and the whole sick cycle of abuse continues.  Fortunately, sab groups have been having a huge impact on the stag hunts over the last couple of years. Mendip and North Dorset Hunt Sabs, in particular, have faced down threats and serious assaults to expose the cruelty of the deer hunters. Please support their work if you can - thank you.

As the country prepares for a general election, the Hunt Saboteurs Association has launched a campaign to secure a real ban on hunting. You can find more about helping to close the Hunting Act loopholes exploited by the stag hunters and their fox hunting friends here.