SIR — Backalong, in July last year, the Deer Forum meeting, under the chairmanship of Roger Martin, voted unanimously to lobby the Government about deer hunting. This was the first time in its history that a vote was taken and passed.

Our joint plea to the Government was that before they banned deer hunting, they put some kind of contingency measures in place to protect the deer herd on the Quantocks.

The Deer Forum meetings are attended by many and open to all. On this occasion, however, animal 'lovers' were noted by their absence.

In the event, Roger Martin did, indeed, attend on our behalf a meeting with Alun Michael in Exmoor. He voiced our concerns - but...

Of late, much has been written in your pages about the pros and cons of hunting, much has been gloated over and many reviled.

Pro or anti, we care not; where are the deer in all of this?

We have questions to ask of the Deer Protection Society, the League Against Cruel Sports, Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, the RSPCA et alia.

When hunting is banned, what are you animal-minded folks going to do? What contingency plans do you have in place?

How will you stop the trophy hunters? What, exactly, do you propose to do to prevent local farmers from shooting on their own land - and the Foresty Commission?

To date, you and yours have been all too ready with questions but silent about answers. You are 'crowing' now, you think you have a won a political point. Fine - but tell that to the deer.

Jenny Craven,

Deerwatch,

Over Stowey.