Several bucks have been found over the last three months in the Nanoose Bay area, specifically around Fairwinds, severely injured or killed via arrow or crossbow shots to the neck and other parts of their body. (Image Credit: Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

deer targeted

‘High risk to public safety:’ Conservation Officers tracking suspected poacher in Nanoose

Jan 26, 2026 | 11:59 AM

NANAIMO — Local conservation officers believe someone, or a group of people, may be illegally poaching deer in a mid-Island community.

Multiple animals in the Nanoose Bay Fairwinds neighbourhood have been found either injured or deceased, including in residential areas and on the golf course, beginning in November 2025 and continuing through this month.

Conservation officer Andrew Riddell told NanaimoNewsNOW multiple bucks have been found with arrows or bolts lodged in their necks and other areas.

“Leaving an arrow or a crossbow bolt inside of an animal and not pursuing it, to ethically and humanely euthanize it, to then harvest the animal, is certainly one of the most unethical things you can do as a hunter. The locations where the arrows are being found in the deer are not common locations where a hunter would be placing an arrow if they were trying to harvest the animal lawfully.”

None of the recovered deer showed signs of being harvested for food.

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Riddell said they’re not yet certain whether the animals were being targeted lawfully, however, he did note there is currently no open season on deer during January, when two animals were recovered.

He also said it is illegal to hunt on private property without the landowner’s consent, and hunters may not pursue animals in urban areas.

“There’s no hunting allowed of any animal anywhere in the province within 100 meters of a residence, and the residential area of Fairwinds and the Nanoose area is quite dense when you get down along the water, where all the deer are being found.”

Riddell said the nature of these strikes was an “uncommon event” for officers to handle.

While the timeline is difficult to ascertain, Riddell said it appears animals are being targeted with some regularity.

“We have a pretty healthy deer population within our urban areas, and most definitely in the Fairwinds and Nanoose areas. Locals will see the specific buck walking in their backyard or down the street…and then about a week later is when they’ll find the deer with the arrow in it.”

He said their early investigation points to an individual or group of people potentially walking or driving around with bows or crossbows, posing a “high risk to public safety”.

The BC Conservation Officer Service remains in charge of the investigation, however, Riddell noted Oceanside RCMP could be called in.

“We take these types of cases incredibly seriously, like all investigations, but [especially] when there’s an added public safety risk to the community of an individual or individuals hunting near residences.”

He asked residents in the area to be vigilant and check their doorbell or home security cameras regularly for strange cars or people in the area.

Any information regarding the suspected illegal poaching can be submitted through the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).

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