SIR — One of the great pleasures of walking and riding on the Quantock Hills has been the ability to watch the large herds of red deer, especially at this time of year when the roaming of the large stags is truly a magnificent noise.
Sadly, I feel I must voice my horror at the emptiness of the hills. Where are all the deer?
In the past two months I have only spotted a dozen hiding in the woods. The large herds have gone and not a big stag to be seen or heard anywhere.
While some have been legally culled, the poachers are having a field day, or should I say night.
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Why is nothing being done to stop this illegal activity? Shots echoing down off the hills at night can only be one thing.
If nothing is done soon, the red deer herd on the hills will be just a memory, the only deer remaining too timid to show themselves.
Many of my friends are saying the same, and some have even witnessed the sight of the deer being culled. We must stop this!
Sarah Bird,
Quantockside,
Bicknoller.