Protesters have called on Somerset Council to adopt a firmer approach to illegal fox and stag hunting. Representatives from Action Against Foxhunting (AAF) gathered outside the council meeting in Bridgwater before voicing their concerns during the chamber session.
The demonstrators urged the council to address local hunts, alleging that these groups are exploiting legal loopholes and avoiding repercussions due to insufficient enforcement.
Somerset Council responded by stating that its legal authority to intervene in cases of illegal hunting is very limited and encouraged AAF members to report any suspected criminal activities directly to the police.
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AAF member Alyson Rogers informed councillors that Somerset remains one of the final regions where stag hunting persists, with the practice having been eradicated from all other counties except Devon by previous generations of campaigners.
She clarified: “Stag hunting is not about quietly stalking a deer to shoot it; it is not culling. It involves dogs, riders on horseback, long chases, quad bikes, 4x4 vehicles, and people on foot. It is carried out for entertainment rather than population control, which is a separate matter entirely.”
Ms Rogers went on to describe the hunts targeting healthy stags to prolong the chase, with the animal ultimately shot at close range once exhausted. The deer is then butchered on site, with trophies such as antlers and hooves taken. “Sometimes, the heart is removed and presented to the landowner, while the entrails are fed to the hounds. This is done openly, for all to witness.”
According to the Hunting Act 2004, hunting wild mammals for sport using dogs is illegal. Ms Rogers criticised stag hunts for “misusing loopholes” in this legislation and escaping enforcement “week after week.”
She explained: “They claim to comply with the law by using only two dogs during the chase and conducting what they term an ‘experiment’ on the stag. The same ‘experiment’ occurs multiple times a week over 22 years. It is not only nonsense but blatantly so.”
Ms Rogers challenged the council: “Are you willing to permit this cruel activity in our county or will you confront it? We have already reported to the police, yet we seek your action as well.”
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, responsible for communities, environment and climate change, expressed her personal support for AAF’s objectives but highlighted the council’s limited enforcement capabilities.
Representing Taunton East, she stated: “We acknowledge that stag hunting with hounds is illegal under the Hunting Act 2004, but the council lacks direct enforcement powers. Therefore, any suspected illegal activity should be reported to the police, who are responsible for investigating crimes and pursuing prosecutions if justified.”
She added: “The council does not permit such activities on its land, and would refuse consent if it were sought.”
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport from the Curry Rivel and Langport division, recognised the protesters’ passion yet reiterated that the council cannot take direct action on many raised concerns.
He affirmed: “We understand the worries expressed and appreciate the strong sentiments within the community. However, our jurisdiction is limited, so while we cannot directly intervene in many instances, we continue to act within legal boundaries and refer any concerns to relevant enforcement bodies.
“Any event operators wishing to use council land, including highways, must seek permission from us, demonstrating that their event is safe with appropriate risk assessments and insurance. Trail hunts are no exception and receive no special exemptions from these requirements.”