Cruel city thugs go for deer.

CRUEL thugs armed with crossbows and airguns are hunting city deer for fun.

Carcasses have been found strewn across parks.

Police said there have been an increasing number of dead deer discovered in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.

Some of the "thrill-seeking" hunters even set dogs loose on the animals during late-night city hunts.

The Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) say the development of areas of city woodland is encouraging deer to stray from their normal habitats.

Spokesman Jamie Hammond said: "People like seeing deer. They bring a lot of benefits but with that also comes negatives.

"More and more deer are living in close proximity to people and are being hunted for fun with weapons such as airguns and crossbows.

Pleasure "It seems to be most common in Glasgow but there have been reports of this in Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh."

Mike Flynn, of the Scottish SPCA, said: "The sickening and bloodthirsty practice of deer coursing is on the increase.

"Although we have noted particular activity in the north of Glasgow and Dumfries and Galloway, the problem is countrywide.

"In the majority of deercoursing incidents, the motive is predominantly pleasure."

Edinburgh vet Ken Urquhart said: "For some people, it is a thrill-seeking activity.

"This phenomenon is recent and is related to the incidental encouragement of deer on to the urban fringes by the creation of community woodlands."

A spokesman for the Scottish government said: "The illegal hunting of deer is classified as poaching and we are committed to tackling this issue."