Paula Evans / Horns and Hunters

We have seen and heard several stag being killed. The first occasion was walking past a German hunting party, all of whom seemed to be in very high spirits. As I walked past their second car I looked into the trailer to see a dead stag and then past a lodge where several men stood chatting around the body of another stag which they had begun to cut open. While I had no problem with the dead animal or with the hunting as such, I found the joviality of the men who had found sport in the hunt distasteful.

Now anyone who knows me would say that I am far from an animal rights ‘activist’ – but I found it unnecessary. Later, when I heard the hunting horn’s being blown and heard them echo around the hills of Knoydart and I heard the echo of laughter and German voices shouting I remembered the stag and I was surprised at how jarring it was against the beauty of the surrounding and I was surprised that I was angry.