A DEER has been 'butchered' in a brutal attack near Studley.
The dead animal was found by police officers - left on show right under an anti-poaching sign.
Posting on Facebook officers from Warwickshire Rural Crime Team said: "Not a pleasant start to the shift this week when we stumbled across a butchered deer in Spernall, near Studley, South Warwickshire.
"And left on show right under one of our anti-poaching signs too.
"The deer was fresh so we missed the perpetrators by no more than an hour."
They added: "We aim to step up poaching patrols across the region having had reports of a deer shot on private land in Shuckburgh, near Rugby too.
"Please call 101 or let us know direct if you have any intel or 999 if you suspect there is poaching in progress."
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