Action Against Staghunting Outreach, Lynmouth, Sunday 7th June 2026

On Sunday 7 June 2026, Action Against Staghunting held an outreach event in Lynmouth, in the heart of stag-hunting country. The aim was to raise awareness of stag hunting and challenge what we regard as a cruel and indefensible practice.

Our event was met with attempts at intimidation from hunt supporters, underscoring the aggressive response directed at those who oppose stag hunting. The hunters’ attempt to disrupt the event was a complete failure; we prevailed and they lost. 

Stag hunts wield enormous influence in the areas where they operate, maintaining an intimidating grip on local communities that is feudal in nature. Most normal people recognise that chasing a stag with hounds for hours across challenging terrain, purely for entertainment, before ultimately and pointlessly shooting him, is profoundly cruel. Yet the hunts continue this practice and, unable to win actual public support for it, rely on pressure, intimidation, and their local power to discourage opposition.

Volunteers from Action Against Staghunting refuse to accept this. Attempts to silence, intimidate, or suppress those who speak out against cruelty are completely unacceptable. No organisation, however powerful or well-connected, should be beyond challenge or scrutiny. 

Some people called us ‘foolhardy”. Others called us ‘brave’. 

In an unusual move, we publicly advertised our anti-staghunting outreach event in advance on social media. Date, location – they had all the details. Our choice of location was also daring – Lynmouth, a stronghold of stag hunting.

As soon as the event was published, stag hunters began targeting our social media accounts with abusive comments and credible threats. Their response showed a deliberate, coordinated and unsavoury hostility towards anyone speaking out against stag hunting, and no willingness whatsoever to engage with critics.

We were undeterred, of course. Nothing is going to stop us from sticking up for the animals and for free speech. 

Of course, it helped that the police took the threats very seriously indeed.

On 7 June, a cloudy but dry day, four AAS volunteers arrived at the agreed time and place. A small group of hunt supporters was already loitering on the pavement, there to deter us from proceeding. We were unsurprised – and undeterred. In fact, we were pleased to see them. Their threatening presence only reinforced the view that opposition to stag hunting is met not through reasoned engagement, but through sly attempts at intimidation. 

The hunt supporters split into two groups, positioning themselves on either side of our volunteers, hemming us in.

By this time, a number of police officers had also turned up. Several locals opposed to stag hunting also arrived to offer their support. Brave people, we thought. 

So the abuse and comments began. “You’re terrorists!” asserted one individual shoving his face close to one of our volunteers. “Don’t take their leaflets, they’re all lies!” screeched another, repeatedly. We noted that they had no literature of their own and provided nothing at all to inform the public about stag hunting. Of course, its nature leaves no defensible case that can be made for it. Their leaflet would be much the same as ours, in substance if not in intent. No wonder they didn’t want the public to see them. 

A local business owner (supportive of AAS) told us he often speaks to tourists who have encountered a stag hunt. Some were in tears, and most expressed shock that such cruelty is still allowed to take place.

Despite all the hunt supports’ efforts, we gave out a very large number of leaflets to locals and to tourists. The police presence, and the groups of loiterers drew the public’s attention to us with many asking, “What IS going on?” The day, for us, was a huge success. We have shown that we are not at all frightened of the stag hunts, and nothing they do will stop us from exposing their hideous activities. In the end, what can they really do to us? Bullies thrive on fear. Show no fear, and the bullies lose. 

We are only just getting started. And the stag hunts? They are as good as finished.