Man arrested after wild deer shot in the head with crossbow

[BalanceOfPower]

Man arrested after wild deer shot in the head with crossbow

By AOL Travel, Dec 30, 2013

A male Fallow Deer on a wooded hillside, taken on September 6, 2011. (Photo by PhotoPlus Magazine via Getty Images)

A 25-year-old man has been arrested after a wild deer was shot in the head with a crossbow near Plymouth on Sunday.

Police have called the act "barbaric" and are appealing for information after the animal was seen with a crossbow bolt in its head.

The BBC reports that the deer may still be alive.

Police and RSPCA officers have searched Plymbridge Woods in Devon after a member of the public reported seeing the deer running from the woods with the crossbow bolt embedded in its head.

According to the Plymouth Herald, the man was arrested after armed police officers arrived at the scene. He was carrying a loaded crossbow and was immediately held for being in possession of an offensive weapon in a public space.

Sgt Ryan Canning, Plymouth's wildlife crime officer, said: "It is barbaric and it's also extremely dangerous.

"This is public woodland on a Sunday morning. There's always children and dog walkers around."

He said that the public should not approach the injured deer.