Although the Hunting Act 2004 banned the hunting of foxes and wild mammals using dogs, hunting deer without hounds remains legal – deerstalking is said to be growing in popularity. Anti-hunt campaigners claim this is often used as a cover for illegal hunting. We found no trail-laying and we think it shows clear illegal hunting.” Avon and Somerset police said inquiries were ongoing. Nick Gibbon, chairman of the Quantock Staghounds, said: “If there [were] more than two hounds we would have been trail hunting. In 2007, Richard Down and Adrian Pillivant were fined £500 each by Bristol magistrates for hunting deer with dogs .

Source: The Guardian March 25, 2018 00:00 UTC