Deer hunted for two and a half hours and captured in river 22 April 2009 One of the deer terrorised by the Ward Union last season was chased for two and a half hours before being captured in a river. The disturbing revelations appear in a document obtained by ICABS under the Freedom of Information Act. The deer's cross-country ordeal began just after midday on a hunt which took place on 14th November last. The animal emerged from the hunt's trailer, ran to the bottom of a field of stubble and jumped a ditch. According to a report made by a vet who was monitoring the hunt, the stag "was seen along the Macetown to Edoxtown road for a few minutes by a telephone post, then moved on south east. The stag crossed the Edoxtown to Rathfeigh road, went north of Rathfeigh Old Bridge and took shelter with sheep at Loughanstown." The stag was seen moving around the sheep for 15 minutes, he said, and at this point an attempt was made by the hunt to capture the deer. The animal moved away fast, the report outlines, adding that it travelled through Bellew and Burtonstown before "probably" going in to a wood. Later on during the hunt, the deer was again spotted sheltering among sheep. We are told that the animal was "recaptured in the river at Burtonstown at 14.40". A post-hunt "examination" was carried out by the vet at the side of the Kentstown-Navan road thirteen minutes later. Incredibly, the only comment made about the condition of the deer - which had been hunted for a full two and a half hours and dragged from a river - was that it "appeared to be unharmed". ICABS monitors present on the day witnessed the stag jumping onto a road from a gateway at a point where about twenty hunt followers were standing around. The deer looked terrified and nervous as it crossed the road between the mob and went into a field opposite. ICABS has renewed its appeal to Minister John Gormley to stop licensing this hunt. URGENT ACTION ALERT - SAMPLE LETTER (If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Minister John Gormley Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Custom House, Dublin 1. Email: minister@environ.ie Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640. To: Environment Minister, John Gormley Copy To: Green Party TDs, Senators Dear Minister Gormley: I was horrified to learn that one of the deer terrorised by the Ward Union last season was chased for two and a half hours and ended up in a river where it was finally captured. I urge you to fulfil the Green Party's pre-election promise to ban blood sports and refuse future licences to the Ward Union. Thank you. I look forward to your reply. [*** Insert Your Name and Location Here ***] The cruelty of carted deer hunting (1) A selection of images showing the cruelty of carted deer hunting. To enlarge an image, simply click on it. The cruelty of carted deer hunting (2) A selection of images showing the cruelty of carted deer hunting. To enlarge an image, simply click on it. Videos: Carted deer hunting cruelty Ban the Ward Union Duration: 00:30 Slideshow - Ward Union Duration: 04:06 Carted deer hunting Duration: 04:51 Video: Urge the Green party to ban blood sports Send video link to a friend More information about carted deer hunting Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition Make a donation to ICABS Please consider making a small donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you. News Menu | Join | Top | Home