DOG walkers in Savernake Forest fear poachers are at large.

They say their dogs are bringing back body parts of deer.

The animals are being butchered, and left near public paths in the forest. Some have been decapitated. Others left with entrails on the ground.

Debbie Storey has been walking her dogs in the forest for several years. She says the situation is far worse than she has ever seen it. Her spaniel Bruce keeps finding the lower parts of deer legs, and bringing them back to her.

“I don’t know if this is poachers, or just poor forest management,” she said. “But I can’t imagine that game keepers would leave these carcasses on the ground, and near to the public areas.”

She said she has seen young men, wearing camoflage outfits and carrying guns in the forest.

“I didn’t dare confront them,” she said.

Savernake Forest is privately owned by the Earl of Cardigan with timber rights leased to the Forestry Commission.

Earl of Cardigan, David Brudenell-Bruce said “Poaching has been going on in Savernake Forest for probably 1000 years, and I have no reason to believe it has stopped now.”

Forestry England manage Savernake Forest for Forestry purposes whilst Savernake Estate reserve shooting rights. It said that through the Savernake Estate, controlled deer management is carried out for improving the bio diversity of the forest.

A Forestry England spokesperson said: “We are saddened to hear that animal remains have been discovered in Savernake Forest as result of suspected poaching incidents.

“It is very important that if anyone witnesses any suspicious or illegal activity in the Forest, such as poaching, that they should report these incidents to the Police in the first instance and also report to either Savernake Estate or Forestry England.”