Stop using wildlife for target practice!

How would you like to suddenly have an arrow stuck in your guts, or a blowgun dart embedded in your throat? Yes, that sounds a bit anthropomorphic, but it happens to wildlife around Sisters more often that most people like. The photo above is living evidence.

Every year, several dead mule deer are found throughout the Sisters area with arrows stuck in the bodies. The initial piercing of the arrow did not hit a vital organ, so the deer ran off carrying the arrow.

The outcome is inevitable; the animal dies. Not a good way to go.

It's about the same thing with the Steller's jay in the photo, which is not a "game animal." There is no "season" on jays, or any of our songbirds for that matter. So we cannot excuse the person who shot it with a blowgun dart by saying he or she was "hunting."

That person, like so many other people causing unlawful wildlife injuries and deaths, was using the jay for a living, moving target. Many of the deer that die from arrow strikes were not shot during hunting season. They too were being used for living, moving targets.

The people who unlawfully shoot raptors off power poles and trees are using them for target practice. It is not only unlawful, its just plain waste and animal cruelty!

"Boys will be boys" doesn't cut it anymore when one of them, be he a young boy or a good old boy, shoots wildlife that is never in season, or those out of season. We have encroached upon wildlife to the point where they can find little peace.

This year, over in the Ochocos, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Troopers put out a stuffed elk decoy during deer season in an effort to catch poachers and plinkers. The first day, seven people drove by the decoy and all seven stopped and one to three of the occupants shot at it illegally.

Target practice.

During the second operation, about 80 percent of the vehicles stopped and shot illegally; apparently the other 20 percent knew it was a decoy.

Using a Steller's jay for a target is inexcusable.

There are not enough wildlife troopers in the Oregon State Police wildlife division to investigate every case of unlawful "taking" of our wildlife. It will require you and me to help stop the indiscriminate killing of our wildlife treasures.

YOU can prevent people from using our beautiful wild creatures for target practice.

If you see someone shooting at game animals out of season, or for target practice, call 1-800-452-7888. Thank you for caring!