Deer, blackbuck hunting cases raise questions over venison supply in Hyderabad

Repeated deer and blackbuck hunting cases involving Hyderabad residents are raising questions about the source and movement of venison in the city. Recent arrests, meat seizures and licensed firearms have prompted calls for investigators to trace the entire supply chain.

Hyderabad: Repeated cases of deer and blackbuck hunting in and around Hyderabad are raising questions over the supply of venison in the city and whether law enforcement agencies are getting to the root of the illegal trade. Despite a series of arrests and seizures, the larger network involved in hunting, transporting and selling protected wildlife remains unclear.

The latest is the case of September 28, in which Future City Commissionerate police apprehended nine persons from Hyderabad and seized blackbuck meat and a hunting rifle. On August 19, six persons, including three from Hyderabad, were arrested in connection with the alleged hunting of a blackbuck in Bidar district of Karnataka.

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Earlier, on May 5, six persons were arrested in a joint operation by the Commissioner’s Task Force and Forest Department in Shadnagar and Makthal for allegedly hunting protected wildlife, including deer and peacocks.

These repeated cases raise questions over whether these are isolated incidents or part of a wider network involved in hunting, transporting and selling protected wildlife meat.

The seizure of venison in several cases has also raised questions about its supply chain. In December 2025, Rajendranagar SOT arrested a man for allegedly selling deer meat and seized 15 kg of venison at Suleman Nagar. In September 2025, two persons, including a doctor, were arrested after 10 kg of deer meat and antlers were seized in a case linked to Zaheerabad forest. In May 2025, three persons were arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing deer meat sourced from Maharashtra.

Another concern is the alleged misuse of licensed firearms for hunting. In the Shadnagar case, police found one of those arrested possessed a valid licence for the rifle allegedly used to hunt deer. This has raised questions over the monitoring of licensed weapons and checks to prevent their misuse for wildlife hunting.

Despite repeated arrests and seizures, questions remain over how long some groups have allegedly been involved in hunting and how many animals may have been killed.

The recurring cases underline the need to trace the entire chain, from hunting and transportation to the sale of venison. Establishing the source of the meat, identifying buyers, and examining the history of weapons used in such cases could help determine the wider extent of the illicit activity.