Arrow lodged in wild deer’s back won’t be removed, Montana officials say. Here’s why
Someone illegally shot a buck with an arrow, and now it’s roaming around a Montana area with the arrow lodged in its back, officials said.
But wildlife officers won’t remove the arrow.
A resident spotted the mule deer Nov. 2 in Billing Heights, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a news release.
Officers believe the animal was shot sometime that day with a gray, white and yellow arrow. The wild animal was within city limits, where it’s illegal to hunt, officials said.
Why won’t the arrow be removed?
Wildlife officials said they believe the arrow wound won’t be fatal for the buck, so they aren’t removing it.
Additionally, an immobilizing drug would have to be used to remove the arrow, the agency’s spokesperson, Chrissy Webb, told McClatchy News by email.
“The use of such drugs always poses a risk to the animal, to personnel working and to the surrounding community,” Webb said.
The drug could make the deer unpredictable and erratic, she said.
It’s also hunting season in Montana, so if the deer were drugged, the meat would no longer be safe for people to eat, Webb said.
Arrows can work themselves out of animals in some situations, but wildlife officials do not know if this will be the case for this buck.
Wildlife officials are keeping a close eye on this deer and may “reevaluate the situation if the deer’s condition deteriorates,” Webb said.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the local game warden at 406-860-7805. A $1,000 cash reward may be offered.
Billings Heights is about a 5-mile drive northeast from Billings.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Arrow lodged in wild deer’s back won’t be removed, Montana officials say. Here’s why."
