The BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) are investigating ongoing deer poaching in the Fairwinds area of Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island.
According to COS, multiple reports of deer being shot with arrows have come in, all of which resulted in the death or injury of a deer.
One deer was found dead with an arrow in it, and three others were found by conservation officers that had been injured from arrow fire.
The three that were found alive but injured had to be euthanized by responding conservation officers.
According to COS, the poachers who shot these animals were not after trophies or anything, as all four deer were found intact, including the one that was found deceased.
These instances of deer being shot are concerning to COS because in ‘Region 1,’ which includes Nanoose Bay, the general open hunting season for black-tailed deer like the ones found shot runs only from September 10th to December 10th.
Because the deer were shot outside of hunting season, this activity is considered poaching.
Poaching fines range between $345 to $1,495 in British Columbia.
COS are now asking for the public’s assistance in this matter, and are requesting that anyone with information call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277, especially those who have security or dashcam footage that may assist the investigation.
