Drive-by deer shooting 'not necessarily a unique case' in Alberta

Authorities in southern Albertaare looking for a black BMW believed to be involved in the drive-by shooting of a deer just outside of a Bragg Creek family's house, an incident officials say is more common than you might think.

"It's not necessarily a unique case,"saidFish andWildlife spokesmanBrendan Cox."There are always several instances of shot and left animals every year, but it is more concerning when it is in close proximity to a residence."

Cox confirmed officers who responded to the areaoutside a home in West Bragg Creek found a dead white-tailed doe about 15 metres from thehouse that had been shot by a rifle.

• Deer shot in drive-by in front of Bragg Creek home

Mackenzie Walsh, who lives in the home,said the family was startled when the gunshot went off and horrified to find the animal dead on the ground outside.

The doe and its two fawns were regular visitors to the home and"almost like pets" to the family, Walsh said.

They now worry about the fate of the young fawns, which the family had namedHope and Grace.

Walsh's husband chased after the driver, who sped away, and was only able to get a description of the vehicle a black BMWand a partial licence plate.

The shooter also put the family in danger, Walsh said.

"Had he missed it could've gone straight through our window."

Cox noted it is an offence to discharge a firearm from a vehicle and said anyonewith information about this casecan call the report-a-poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.

Fish and Wildlife officers got the call about thedeer shooting the morning of Oct. 3.

That same day, RCMP in High Riverabout 80 kilometres to the southeastresponded to a complaint of two sheep in a farmer'sfield that had been shot and killed.

Mounties said the shooting is believed to have happened sometime overnight, and the shooter fired from a rural road near the intersection of56th Street East and12thAvenue in the Municipal Districtof Foothills, west of High River.

Anyone with information about that incident is asked to callHigh River RCMP at 403-652-2357.