Health of deer herds dependent on hunts
JOHN Phelps, Points of view, April 8, writes "the job of the harbourer in stag hunting is to select the strongest stag to ensure that the hunters have a good long chase. Huntsmen have little interest in chasing weak quarry as there would be little fun unless the terrified animals can be pursued for several miles".
Dr John Salvatore, Points of view, April 22, is so impressed with the authority of this unsupported assertion that he grandly refers to it as 'exposing the fallacy' of hunting's role in wildlife management.
Before the ban made things so much more difficult for the hunts, the stag hunting season might be briefly summarised as follows: in the autumn the oldest stags were selected to prevent them serving their own daughters; in spring the poorest animals were hunted; in the case of hinds, initially the herd was pursued and then a hind breaking away since it would usually do so because of some hidden debility. The harbourer will always direct the hunt to deer injured by shooting or road traffic accidents.
The herds on Exmoor and the Quantocks have been strong when the hunts have been strong; when hunting has declined the herds have declined; in good health these herds have been the finest in the country.
Mr Phelps knows perfectly well that he has no evidence to back up his claim but he continues to make such defamatory statements. Dr Salvatore appears to believe that the anti- hunting case gains credence if such spurious claims are repeated often enough and couched in intemperate language.
Jonathan Higgins
Hunters Moon, Dartington
(by email)
2 Comments
by FWK, Crediton
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 3:21PM
“Paul - I think you will find that the deer in the grounds of Powderham Castle are managed by the staff there who would treat or remove sick animals. I am not pro hunting, but, before the Hunting Act, I made a point of talking to people who went stag hunting to find out how it was carried out. What I was told confirms the points made in Jonathan Higgins' letter - that the hunt selected the oldest, weak and wounded animals. Of course, this does not mean that they hunted these exclusively, I don't suppose. Red deer are a natural prey animal which in the distant past would have been hunted not only by man but by wolves and other larger predators. These activities would have involved a selection bias towards removal of the weaker individuals, resulting in genetic maintenance and improvement. If stag hunting were stopped altogether it would have to be replaced by increased stalking and shooting activity to perform the same role.”
by Paul, Alphington
Tuesday, May 12 2009, 7:42AM
“With reference to deer herd health, I note that the deer herd in the grounds of Powderham Castle have always looked in good health and still do. I do not remember any hunting taking place. It is about time that the pro-hunting minority realise that the majority of the population do not support their barbaric practices irrespective of what the law states.”