Police appeal after two deer shot and left in fields
Lincolnshire police are appealing for information after two deer were illegally shot on open fields between Sleaford and Bourne.
Lincolnshire Police Rural Crime team say two female fallow deer had been found shot and left on open fields opposite Callans Lane Wood at Kirkby Underwood on Thursday May 7.
Most concerning for the team was that the young female deer was shot in the neck and left alive but unable to move for several hours.
“Her suffering was ended by a deer stalker,” reported the team in their social media post.
“The other, a heavily pregnant fallow, had been shot in the neck.”
This species is out of season for culling and so it is illegal to shoot them.
The attending officer removed two bullets from the deer, believed to be from a .22 Rimfire rifle – illegal for shooting deer.
The spokesperson added: “This has been a reoccurring problem over the last few years. Concerns are obvious..
“Someone shooting deer illegally on land they have no permission to be upon and possibly with an unlicenced firearm, and in doing so, they are risking the lives of others whilst failing to humanely dispatch deer thus causing unnecessary suffering to those deer.”
Officers are appealing for anyone who may be out in the hours of darkness in the local area to report any vehicles that they see acting suspiciously in such locations. Contact police on 101 or online. Quote Incident 51 of May 7.