Early visitors to the Rafferty Dam reservoir boat launch area on Sunday morning, April 17 were greeted with the sad sight of a dead goose with a mate standing guard over the body for what was believed to be for more than a day.
Barry Dies, a local hunter and conservationist, made the discovery along with another morning visitor who was exercising his dogs, taking advantage of the brief milder weather conditions at the time.
"It had been shot, it seemed, by a low calibre rifle like a .22, probably Saturday night," said Dies of the expired Canada goose.
"It's one of a few pairs that I've spotted around the dam for a couple of years now and of course because they mate for life, the mate wasn't about to leave it," he said.
Dies estimated that the dead goose was about 100 yards from the boat launch area.
He said he reported the incident to local conservation officers who suggested that making the incident public might also make citizens aware of the fact that incidents like this are taking place on a somewhat regular basis.
"So I'm taking the opportunity to bring it to the attention of the public that some people are out there shooting illegally, I can't call it hunting, they're shooting illegally," said Dies, adding that this also means there could be a real element of risk for other people who might happen to be using the area for walking or boating or other activities.
"I've also seen coyotes who have been taken down for no apparent reason. Some people just seem to feel that shooting wildlife, whenever they feel like it, is the thing to do. I really don't know why," he said.
Anyone with information that could help with an investigation into this incident or any other is urged to contact the local conservation officers Mick Bakke or Ryan Krienke at 637-4600.
