“Criminals are using dogs to kill wild deer and sell the meat in towns across Fife.

PC Ian Laing, the region’s wildlife crime officer, said trained dogs are used to chase and attack the animals before the bodies are removed and butchered, often in unsanitary conditions.

The illegal hunting of deer is taking place in communities across Fife, although the Wemyss area, Cardenden, Leslie, Oakley and Saline are known hotspots.

While Mr Laing said some groups continue to hunt deer purely for sport, there are elements who have now turned to the illegal practice for business.

“A lot of it is sport but there are other cases where they are taking the meat and selling it around the doors,” the officer said. “It might be prepared in a bath and is butchered there, put in polythene bags and sold around the doors. They’re even selling to motorists outside shops”.

Source: The Courier

Author: Jonathan Watson

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