Anti-hunt group offers large cash reward in bid to catch illegal stag hunters!

national | animal rights | press release Wednesday December 07, 2011 19:09 by Hunt saboteurs

The Association of Hunt Saboteurs is offering a substantial cash reward in our bid to help enforce the ban on the despicably cruel practise of carted stag hunting

Saying no to hunting cruelty

The Association of Hunt Saboteurs has just announced a reward of One Thousand Euro for information leading to the arrest and conviction of illegal carted stag hunters.

We have taken this unusual step because, despite the ban on carted stag hunting enacted last year, we believe that the cruel bloodsport is continuing in the Midlands. We have extensive evidence to support this concern and our belief that the ban is not being properly enforced.

The AOHS monitoring of hunts continues this season, as being the second year since the ban the Ward Union Stag hunt have issued their usual Meet Card signalling their intention to meet and to ride out twice a week until March.

It is almost impossible to follow a stag hunt closely as they usually begin on private land and are fast and unpredictable. Sometimes an outlier is hunted,{ a deer left out from previous hunting days or on purpose}other times a stag is carried to the release area. Up to 60 cars are usually blocking the roads in the area but the numbers have diminished since the ban.

Having succeeded in outlawing Stag Hunting after more than 20 years campaigning we want to ensure the ban is effective in stopping this cruelty. Similar to the situation in the UK, it is also left to the hunt saboteurs there to get evidence of illegal hunting. We have issued this 1000euro reward as many locals are regularly giving us accounts of hunting in their area. However for fear of retaliation, this stops short of reporting their findings to Gardai. We need the locals to help us and find great support for the new legislation. Two cases being brought against the Ward Union by local farmers for trespass were dropped when the ban materialised.

We want enough solid evidence  if this ban is being breached to ensure a conviction. We will be distributing flyers seeking information in the Meath area. We appeal to local people to be our eyes and ears. All Gardai have been notified now of the existence of the ban, we had problems last year in two Stations who were not aware of the updated legislation.

Despite a drag hunt taking place last Saturday from Kiltale with about 46 riders reports have been sent to us of riders chasing and releasing stags on other occasions. We ourselves have given video footage of a stag being hunted to both the Gardai and the National Parks and wildlife Service following last year’s hunting season.

Bernie Wright,

PRESS OFFICER ph 0872651720

Protest against hunting barbarism