By David Cole, Tom Hasslinger
Five more deer were found shot dead Thursday and Friday in Dalton Gardens, bringing the total to eight deer fatally shot by poachers in the last week.
Three of the deer were does that were carrying fawns, and a small caliber weapon was used in each instance, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
"They are likely being shot at night or in the very early morning," said Phil Cooper, an IDFG spokesman, on the string of shootings around residential neighborhoods in the small town north of Coeur d'Alene. "It's hard to believe nobody heard any shot."
The first three dead deer were originally reported between Feb. 7- 9. On Thursday morning, two more deer were killed near 16th Street and Hanley Avenue. Another three were then found Friday also in the vicinity, at 16th Street and Wilbur Avenue and at Snowberry Street near Hanley Avenue.
Two of the first three deer shot last week were also found near 16th Street and Wilbur Avenue.
Neighbors Friday said news on the shootings was alarming. They hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary to raise suspicions, but knowing that one or more people were opening fire in the middle of town was an unsettling thought.
"It's scary," said Rebecca Heffter, who has lived on the corner of 16th Street and Hanley Avenue for nine months, but didn't hear or see anything relating to poaching. "We moved out here so our kids could run around and be safe ... It's very concerning." More....