|
Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
The Facts About Carted Deer Hunting
Carted deer hunting is a cruel “sport” which causes horrific suffering to defenceless red deer. It subjects the deer - captive bred specifically for the abuse - to a distressing ordeal, leaving them exhausted, injured and severely at risk of dying from heart failure.
The red deer used are taken from a herd which is privately owned by the Ward Union hunt. This hunt is based in Dunshaughlin, County Meath.
Every Tuesday and Friday between November and mid-March, two deer (stags or hinds) are taken out in a cart to a hunt location. They have their antlers sawn off to prevent injuries being caused to the dogs and the manhandlers who wrestle them to the ground at the end of each hunt.
|
One deer is turned out of the trailer, and forced to run. The other is kept as a spare in case the first deer is caught too soon.
During the hunt, the deer is at risk of sustaining injuries as it frantically tries to outrun the horseback riders and the pack of dogs. Being in unfamiliar terrain, the deer has an extremely hazardous route ahead.
Crashing through hedges, over walls, across busy public roads and even into lakes and rivers, the terrified creature does everything it can to stay ahead.
A Department of Agriculture Veterinary Inspector who monitored a Ward Union hunt wrote: “One stag was seen attempting to jump a very high fence and getting his front leg caught on a top strand of barbed wire and hanging, thus suspended, for some seconds before his struggles and/or weight tore him free.”
He also outlined how a stag “having run at least 8 miles in 90 minutes showed extreme physical distress, panting through its mouth and with a lather of white foam around its muzzle.” Reported fatalities highlighted how one deer died of an aneurism while another was “accidentally” choked to death during capture.
|
In a suppressed 1997 document (only obtained by ICABS in Autumn 2003), another Department of Agriculture Veterinary Inspector concluded that the deerhunt was “inhumane”.
Yet, no action was taken to stop the hunt which, we contend, is in breach of the 1911 Protection of Animals Act.
ICABS continues to call for a complete ban on this barbarism which surely should have no place in a civilised society.
We have appealed to the Minister for Agriculture, who is well aware of the cruelty involved, to follow the example of her counterparts in Northern Ireland who outlawed a similar hunt, the County Down Staghounds, in 1997. It was ruled that the deer used by that carted deer hunt were domestic animals and thus covered by animal welfare legislation.
|
Video: Carted deer hunting cruelty
How can I help end this blood sport?
Please appeal to Minister John Gormley (his department issues an annual licence to the Ward Union deerhunt under the 1976 Wildlife Act) and Minister Brendan Smith (he is responsible for animal welfare and the Protection of Animals Act) to end carted deer hunting.
Minister John Gormley
Email: minister@environ.ie
Minister Brendan Smith
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Print and distribute this leaflet
Please print out this leaflet and distribute among friends and family. Thank you.
Note: The above pdf files can be viewed and printed using Adobe Acrobat. If you need to download this, visit the Adobe Website.
More information about carted deer hunting
Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 888 2403.
Fax: 01 878 8640.
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
The Facts About Carted Deer Hunting - Printable pdf version (Colour, 85Kb)
The Facts About Carted Deer Hunting - Printable pdf version (Black and White, 40Kb)
Leaflet Menu | Join | Top | Home
