© 2025 Hunt Saboteurs Association
Last Tuesday, a young stag was killed by the Quantock Stag Hounds after a prolonged chase. Much of the hunt took place in land owned by Forestry England, despite the fact that FE have banned stag hunting on their land since 1998, when the Bateson Report unequivocally proved the immense suffering that hunted deer endure.
Sabs alerted staff in the Forestry Office as the incident took place, but no action was taken to enforce their ban or evict the hunt from their land.
This was just one of a series of recent kills that have resulted from a stag being chased through FE land where they should be safe. By failing to enforce their ban on hunting, FE are complicit in the suffering and torturous deaths of hunted stags on the Quantock Hills. We demand to know why FE are not enforcing their ban and what action they will take in the future. What is the point of having a ban if they don’t enforce it?
The Quantock Stag Hounds’ sense of entitlement surely grows each time they flaunt the ban without repercussions. Sabs are sick of seeing hunted stags suffer and die as the hunt chase them through areas where they should be safe.
The stag hunts operate under the guise of the “Research & Observation” exemption in the Hunting Act, using two dogs at a time as stipulated. Sabs on the ground are well aware that this is a mere smokescreen for their barbaric pursuit of stags as it was pre ban. For this exemption to be valid, a number of conditions must be satisfied. Landowner permission is required for any exemption in the Hunting Act, and specifically, by trespassing on FE land, the hunt are in breach of the following clause:
(5)… the hunting takes place on land-
(a) which belongs to the hunter, or
(b) which he has been given permission to use for the purpose by the occupier or, in the case of unoccupied land, by a person to whom it belongs
On Tuesday, sabs were also aware of at least three active hounds being used to hunt the stag in the Forestry land, with one out of control hound running freely through the forest at Dibble’s Firs, whilst another two hounds were closer to the huntsman at the Slades and Parson’s Plantation. This additionally contravenes another two clauses:
(3)… the hunting does not involve the use of more than two dogs.
(6)… each dog used in the hunt is kept under sufficiently close control to ensure that it does not injure the wild mammal.
As well as the questionable use of Relay Hounds, hunt followers take the place of a full pack, with horses and vehicles used to pursue hunted stags. Last Tuesday, we witnessed the field riding their horses off bridleways through Forestry land, and saw evidence of quad bikes on the bridleways and tracks. All this contributed to the continued chase and death of the young stag.
The inaction of FE enabled continued activity that was both illegal and cruel on their land. However, FE have the capacity to make a real difference to the lives of hunted stags on the Quantock Hills and provide sanctuary to deer enduring long, brutal chases.
We encourage our followers to contact Forestry England and ask them why they have refused to enforce their own ban on stag hunting, and what actions they will take in the future to prevent hunt trespass.
Email enquiries@forestryengland.uk or call 0300 067 4000.
Please let Mendip Hunt Sabs know of any responses you receive.
Images Copyright © Mendip Hunt Sabs, North Dorset Hunt Sabs, Wildlife Crime Action and Wildlife Guardian.
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