A SEVERED deer’s head was left on a post next to a high street. 

As reported, the mutilated deer was found in the area of Burley in the New Forest “on public display” last week. 

Responding to further questions from the Echo, Hampshire Police has now confirmed the “single detached deer’s head” was found on a stone monument next to Burley high street. 

A spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing in relation to this incident and the circumstances leading up to it.” 

Multiple residents have been reporting it to Hampshire Police and in response, officers have been carrying out “high visibility patrols”. 

Although some species of deer are protected, it is not illegal to kill them. It is only illegal to hunt for deer on land without permission from the landowner, kill them with spears, poisons or drugs. 

You also cannot hunt wild deer during their closed season or at night, unless you have a licence to, or the deer are damaging your land. 

Culling the deer population is acceptable but must be done in a humane, responsible and sensitive manner.  

Overpopulation of deer is a problem, the general belief in the countryside is, because they damage the flora in woodlands, eat young saplings, compete with other mammals for space and eat farmers' crops.