Young Deer Found With Arrow In Its Side

A Saint John woman has issued a warning to residents after making a startling discovery on the weekend.

Liisa Jeffrey was out for a drive with her husband in the Sand Cove Road area Sunday evening when they found a yearling deer laying on the edge of the road.

Jeffrey said they slowed down as they got closer to the animal, but it did not get up, which she thought was “kind of odd.”

“My husband stopped the truck beside her and she finally got up, and as soon as she did I could see that she had an arrow in her side,” said Jeffrey in an interview Wednesday.

“The arrow was nearly back to her hip, so it was either a really bad shot or they were intentionally trying to make her suffer for longer,” she added.

The couple immediately contacted the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development, and Jeffrey said a ranger showed up soon after.

Jeffrey said she was shocked to discover a deer with an arrow in its side, but soon learned it was not the first time it happened.

“Since that happened, I’ve heard several stories of very similar incidents from other people in the Sand Cove Road area,” she said.

In a statement, the Department of Public Safety said conservation officers are actively investigating allegations of illegal hunting in the area.

“Intentionally injuring a deer would be considered a major poaching offence that carries a minimum fine of $2,000 and one week of jail as well as a 5-year prohibition on hunting and fishing in New Brunswick,” said the statement.

Jeffrey said incidents like this give responsible hunters a bad name, but what concerns her the most is the fact it happened in a residential area within city limits.

“There’s a lot of kids that play in this neighbourhood, in the woods particularly, so to think that there could be somebody hunting in this area is very scary,” she said.

Jeffrey said she hopes sharing her experience will encourage other people who may have information to come forward.

The Department of Public Safety said anyone who sees or is aware of illegal activities related to illegal hunting should contact their local Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development office or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.