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

Authorities in southern Alberta are 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," said Fish and Wildlife spokesman Brendan 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 area outside a home in West Bragg Creek found a dead white-tailed doe about 15 metres from the house that had been shot by a rifle.

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.

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They now worry about the fate of the young fawns, which the family had named Hope 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 BMW — and 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 anyone with information about this case can call the report-a-poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.

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

That same day, RCMP in High River — about 80 kilometres to the southeast — responded to a complaint of two sheep in a farmer's field 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 of 56th Street East and 12th Avenue in the Municipal District of Foothills, west of High River.

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