The Prolonged Suffering Of The Quantock Stag

Following on from Monday's footage of the Quantock Stag Hounds' kill of a magnificent, healthy stag, we have compiled more footage from Wildlife Guardian, North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs and Mendip Hunt Sabs to show the extent of the hunt's cruelty and the stag's suffering on that day.

The difference in the stag's condition at the start of the chase compared to his state after two-and-a-half hours of relentless pursuit is clear. He is clearly exhausted, panting and tongue lolling out. With his energy depleted, he moves slowly and appears disoriented, likely suffering from myopathy.

For the Quantock Stag Hounds, inflicting this ordeal on a healthy wild animal constitutes entertainment. This is the spectacle their followers and riders pay for and consider "fun" and "sport", and they are clearly enjoying themselves, whooping and cheering after the kill. The disrespect the hunt have towards the stag is palpable as they manhandle his body, laying on top of him and throwing him around like a piece of trash. Blood poured onto their clothing and across the hills from the hole in the stag's neck, where his lifeless body had been stabbed to drain his blood in preparation for the ritualistic "carve up".

The Quantock Staghounds' chairman openly admitted to breaking the Hunting Act during this chase in a statement to West Somerset Free Press. He claimed that they are "culling" the deer, yet there are no exemptions in the act which allow an animal to be chased for the purpose of culling. If flushing to guns, the kill must happen as soon as possible - not after a prolonged chase to the point of collapse. Clearly, the Hunting Act is not fit for purpose if wildlife is still allowed to suffer like this.

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