Several deer were shot and left to waste in the Estevan, Fort Qu'Appelle and Pinehouse areas in mid-November, according to Sasktip, a non-profit organization that works with conservation officers to solve environmental crimes, including poaching cases.
On Nov. 18, Estevan conservation officers received a complaint of a white-tailed deer buck that was shot and left to waste on private land, southwest of Redvers. Conservation officers found the buck located at SW 05-07-32 W1, shot through the heart. There was no evidence that any retrieval attempt was made. Officers believe that the animal was killed between 5:30-5:40 p.m. on Nov. 17. Officers believe that a dark-coloured truck may be involved. Some additional evidence was collected at the scene, but officers need the public's help in identifying the owner of the vehicle and/or who may be responsible.
Pinehouse conservation officers discovered a white-tailed deer that had been shot and left to waste on Nov. 19. The deer was found near KM 42 on Highway 914 north of Pinehouse. Officers were able to determine that the deer had been shot somewhere else and dumped at this location with a vehicle. It is believed that the deer was dumped sometime between Nov. 16-18.
On Nov. 19, Fort Qu'Appelle conservation officers received a call to the TIPP (turn in poachers and polluters) line reporting that a mule deer buck had been shot and left at NW 27-23-13 W2 (about 15 km east and five km north of the community of Drysart) on Nov. 18 between 4:30-5 p.m. The witness heard a single gunshot and observed a white truck leaving the area quickly after being spotted. The shot had been taken from the east quarter fence line and the animal was found 175m into the west quarter. No permission had been given to hunt on the land where the mule deer was found. Conservation officers attended the kill site and recovered some evidence.
The public is asked to call the TIPP line at 1-800-667-7561 if they witnessed any suspicious activity or have any information on who is responsible in regards to the cases above. Your name will be kept confidential, or you can choose to remain anonymous. Information that leads to an arrest or conviction may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through the SaskTIP Rewards Program.
