Bowhunter shooting deer in B.C. city, officials warn

Someone hasbeen shooting deer with a high-powered crossbow in a residential area of Nanaimo, conservations officers warned people in the Vancouver Island city.

'It's unethical, it's illegal, you're breaking all kinds of laws.' -Dennis Bonwick oftheTraditional Bowhunters of B.C.

Three deer have been found shot with arrows in the past two months, all within a few kilometres of the Departure Bay ferry terminal.

One deer was killed and another was injured and had to be destroyed.

Conservation officer Steve Ackles said the third animal was also wounded, but was nursed back to health.

"It was wandering around a highly populated area with an arrow through its neck for approximately two weeks before we were able to immobilize it with drugs, remove the arrow and treat the wound."

Ackles said there are more than 100 deer in what has become a densely populated area just north of the ferry terminal.

"Anyone shooting a bow or crossbow in an area such as this, definitely there is a concern, not only for the suffering of the deer, but it's also a public safety issue here."

Reward offered

Dennis Bonwick, a spokesman for theTraditional Bowhunters of British Columbia, said his group has issued a reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.

"This incident kind of gives hunters a bad name. It's kind of a black mark. It's unethical, it's illegal, you're breaking all kinds of laws."

Conservation officers said they havereceived more than 20 tips about the case and have a few suspects in mind, but no arrests have been made.