'Most of us think this is inhumane to go for roe deer when they are so helpless.' Picture: Gorno-Altaisk.Info

About a hundred villagers got together in the Ongudai district of the Altai mountains to discuss ways to help deer after several weeks of heavy snowfalls. A thick layer of snow blocked deer from reaching forage and forced the animals to get down to villages, seeking food.

The men decided to stop hunting and to organise feeding grounds in places reachable for the roe deer. Most of the people of Ongudai district joined forces and helped hunters to bring hay up the mountains.

The men decided to stop hunting and to organise feeding grounds in places reachable for the roe deer. Pictures: Gorno-Altaisk.Info

'It would have been the easiest to use the situation to our advantage and continue hunting,' - one of the villagers said. 'But most of us think this is inhumane to go for roe deer when they are so helpless.'

Companies around Ongudai, Chemal and Shebalinsky districts of the Republic of Altai provided hay to help hunters, as well as the team of Republic of Altai Fauna Protection and Reproduction Committee.