Letter: Deer hunting
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Due to pressure from a voluble minority, however sizeable, deer hunting has been banned on National Trust land. We were warned that this might lead to the reduction of deer numbers by other methods, notably shooting ("Bloody revenge for stag hunt ban", 25 November). We were even told why, but we chose to ignore the facts.
Grass feeds sheep and cattle, which are a cash crop; this business is called farming and provides an income, usually small, for a number of hard-working people in rural areas. These farmers nurture their grass through the spring, summer and autumn to provide feed for their animals during the winter. The deer eat this grass.
The culling of half the stag population in the Quantock Hills at this time of year is not a slaughter, it is a wise precaution to reduce the number of deer next year. This was not indiscriminate slaughter of hinds and young deer; their chance of reproducing, however, has been lessened. By removing the stags before the breeding season starts (next spring), and before the sheep and cattle have to be brought down from the uplands to their winter grazing areas, there will be more food for all the animals.
This act is not revenge, it is economics. Deer may be pretty and feature as red-nosed darlings on Christmas cards but they can have a serious impact on the rural economy on a localised scale, something that has been largely ignored in favour of more emotive issues.
DAVID LUARD
London NW10
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments