THE number of red deer found on the Quantock Hills in a counting exercise at the start of last month was slightly up on last year.

Some 578 were counted by a team of 54, slightly up on last year’s figure of 563.

A small improvement in the proportion of prickets and stags was recorded, although the number of old stags over four years old remained quite low.

They were mainly looking for red deer but other deer recorded included 69 roe and one fallow buck.