11/06/2026
Horrific footage which should be shocking, but unfortunately we're not surprised. The stag hunts (which also kill hinds between autumn and spring stag hunting) generally use the "Research and Observation" exemption under the Hunting Act 2004 to justify killing deer. But they have never been made to show any evidence of what research they're doing, so they've basically getting away with killing and telling the police (if they actually show up) that they're doing it for observation purposes. Absolutely sick that this suffering and cruelty continues under the guise of vague science.
Well done to whoever chose to leak this, and to the group who they chose to leak it to.
If you haven't yet filled in the consultation, please do so, and mention illegal stag hunting using a different smokescreen to that of those hunts that say they're "trail hunting" (the Tiverton Stag Hounds did tell us that they were trail hunting when we went out with them, which was a surprise as it's not an excuse either of the other stag hunts were using!)