DELICATE FLOWERS

Reading the report about the decision not to extend the season for female deer in Scotland (News, 31 March), I couldn’t help thinking what a load of delicate little flowers Scottish stalkers must be if their mental health might be damaged by having to gralloch pregnant deer. Anyone who takes rabbits at any time after Christmas is used to the does being pregnant and I don’t know of any rabbiters applying for counselling. I don’t suppose the stalkers are quite so in need of psychiatric care when they shoot milky vixens.

I have great sympathy for those who genuinely suffer mental health problems, such as the keeper I knew who had a breakdown after his wife and