Someone with a crossbow in Coal Creek Canyon shot a deer in the head and wildlife officials had the animal euthanized.
The injured deer was reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Saturday, according to a news release. Wildlife officers located the deer on Sunday “and put it down over worry of infection and to keep it from suffering.”
The initial sighting was from an area just east of Wondervu, near the intersection of Colorado 72 and Copperdale Lane.
There is currently and active hunting season — rifle and bow — for deer in the area running from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31.
Wildlife officials don’t know the circumstances regarding how the deer was shot and an investigation is underway to determine whether it was illegal — without a license.
Even if the shot was legal, Jason Clay, a CPW spokesman, described it as “unethical,” if there was intent to shoot the deer in the head.
Anyone with information on the situation, or about the person who took the shot, is asked to call CPW at 303-291-7227. Information can be reported anonymously through Operation Game Thief at 1-877-265-6648 and by email at game.thief@state.co.us.
