Protesters have demanded that Somerset Council takes a tougher stance on illegal fox hunting and stag hunting.
Representatives from Action Against Foxhunting (AAF) protested outside the full council meeting in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (September 16) before airing their grievances within the council chamber.
The protesters called on the council to take action against local hunts, claiming they were "exploiting loopholes" in the current law and "getting away with it" due to a lack of enforcement action.
Somerset Council said its powers to tackle illegal hunting were extremely limited and urged AAF to report any concerns of criminal activity directly to the police.
AAF member Alyson Rogers told the full council that Somerset remained "a stronghold" for stag hunting, with the practice having been driven out of every other county (except Devon) by "generations of campaigners" who came before her.
She added: "Stag hunting is not quietly stalking a deer and shooting it. It’s not culling.
"It involves dogs, mounted riders, a long chase, quad-bikes, 4x4s and people on foot. It is done for fun - not for population control (which is another thing entirely).
"What do the hunts do? They pick on healthy deer, because they want a long chase. Hours later, when the stag can run no further, the deer is shot at close range, butchered in the field, and trophies taken from the body, such as antlers and hooves.
"Sometimes, the heart is cut out and given to the landowner, while the entrails given to the hounds. The stag hunts do this openly for all to see."
Under the Hunting Act 2004, it is illegal for people to hunt wild mammals for sport using dogs.
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Ms Rogers said the stag hunts were "exploiting loopholes" within the Act, and were "getting away with it, week after week" due to a lack of enforcement.
She said: "They claim to comply with the law by using just two dogs in the chase and carrying out what they call an 'experiment' on the stag.
"The same 'experiment', several times a week, for 22 years It’s nonsense - and not just nonsense, it's obvious nonsense.
"Are you happy to allow this barbaric activity to continue in our county? Or will you challenge it?
"Don’t tell us to go to the police - we have. We want you to take action too."
AAF chair and founder Pip Donovan singled out one particular hunt - the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers, who hold annual meets in Axbridge town centre on Boxing Day and in Wiveliscombe town centre on New Year's Day.
She said: "This hunt has multiple court convictions. Wayne Gregory was convicted of illegal fox hunting in April this year, and as he left the court, he said: 'I don't care, I'm going to go stag hunting'."
Mr Gregory, 48, who resides in Huish Champflower, pleaded guilty on April 20 to breaching the Hunting Act, following a six-month investigation by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
He was fined £250 and was ordered to pay £185 in costs, while two others charged alongside him - 45-year-old Ross Cordery, from Highbridge, and 31-year-old James Parish, from Uffculme - had their cases discontinued.
Ms Donovan continued: "At the Wiveliscombe hunt meet on New Year’s Day, I witnessed roads being blocked without a road closure order, horses being ridden along pavements and congregating on them, children playing behind horses, loose hounds urinating and defecating where children were playing, hunt vehicles parked on pavements, intimidation of protesters, and untrained hunt members illegally directing traffic.
"I also overheard and recorded a violent racist threat - that was personally horrifying. Similar breaches were witnessed and recorded at Axbridge on Boxing Day.
"The hunt had obtained no permissions at all - no road closure order, no risk assessment, no permission to hold an event on the pavement area owned by Somerset Council in Wiveliscombe.
"We provided clear evidence afterwards, including evidence of the road being blocked - yet the police refused to take action or even contact the hunt about their anti-social and illegal behaviour.
"Would you allow any other organisation to behave in this way? If not, why is this organisation being treated differently? Is it because it is a hunt?
"This hunt calls itself a 'trail hunt' and claims its activities are legal. However, the government thinks differently and after campaigning by ourselves and other groups, is now ready to ban trail hunting as they know that it’s a smokescreen for fox hunting."
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, environment and climate change, said she was "personally supportive" of AAF's aims but said the council had only limited powers to tackle illegal hunting.
Ms Smith-Roberts (who represents the Taunton East division) said: "From a council point of view, we recognise that hunting stags with hounds is illegal under the Hunting Act 2004, but we do not have any direct powers of enforcement.
"The activity you allege would be illegal, and so we advise that it must be reported to the police, who have the responsibility for investigating alleged criminal offences and referring cases for prosecution where appropriate.
"We do not give consent for any such activity to take place on council land, and were consent to be sought it would be rejected."
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport, said he recognised the strength of feeling from the protesters but said the council was "unable to take direct action" on many of the issues Ms Donovan raised.
Mr Wilkins (who represents the Curry Rivel and Langport division) said: "We recognise and understand the concerns that have been raised regarding these matters, and we appreciate the strength of feeling that they generates within parts of the community.
"However, our powers in this area are limited, and while we are therefore unable to take direct action on many of the issues described, we continue to work within our legal powers and refer concerns to the appropriate enforcement agencies where necessary.
"To be clear, any event operators that seek to use council land - including the highways - should seek the appropriate consent from us, and in doing so demonstrate that they are operating a safe event with the appropriate risk assessments and insurances.
"A trail hunt is no different and is given absolutely no dispensation from these requirements."
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