LETTER: Deer management

Sir: Patrick Ellis is obviously a keen supporter of stag hunting but I wonder what his own scientific qualifications are which lead him to conclude that Professor Bateson's report The Behavioural and Physiological Effects of Culling Red Deer is based on "extremely dubious research".

This was a very exhaustive study over a period of 18 months. The work of Professor Bateson and his assistants was monitored at every stage by an independent panel of 14 assessors, which included members nominated by both the League Against Cruel Sports and what was then the British Field Sports Society.

The hunts accepted the methodology and co-operated with the project: it was only after the results were published that they started crying "foul!"

Mrs DIANA WILSON

Chairman

Conservative Anti Hunt Council

Taunton, Somerset