Warning: This story contains graphic details and images of a deer being killed on camera.
Hunters say they're disgusted with a video posted to social media showing a deer writhing in pain after being shot and having its throat slit near Campbell River.
The disturbing video was shared publicly by a hunter who says it was originally sent in a private message between friends on the social media app Snapchat.
In the video, a man is shown shooting a buck on the other side of a fence before retrieving it with help from another man. It then shows the other man dragging the deer up to the exterior side of a home.
The animal is next seen with its throat cut while flailing its legs and bleeding out on the ground. Those involved in taking the animal down can be heard laughing in the background.
"It's a sick act. There was no actual care shown for what was being done," said hunter Kelly Lance. "It was shot near homes with a firearm that's not a proper calibre to kill that thing in one shot."
Lance, who captured the Snapchat video to share publicly, said he and a number of other hunters were horrified at what they saw.
"It paints hunters in a bad light, both First Nations and everyone else. This isn't a representation of what a true hunter is," said Lance. "There was no respect for the animal."
The shooting of the deer took place on the Quinsam Reserve outside of Campbell River, just one block from Traviz Uzzell's home.
"Yeah, it was a brutal scene," said Uzzell. "There's lots of easier, faster, more humane ways to put a deer out of its misery after its been shot."
He said he's concerned not only for the way the deer was treated but also the fact firearms were used so close to Campbell River.
"As far as I'm aware they're allowed to hunt on their land, but is that actually allowed to be done with a rifle?" he said.
While the incident took place on First Nations property, a band administrator told CTV they are letting RCMP lead an investigation.
Police say those involved could face charges depending on where the deer was shot, how it was shot, how it was treated and the firearm that was used.
Lance said the man seen pulling the trigger in the video has since reached out to him and has said he's done nothing wrong.
"He's just not impressed with me sharing it around," said Lance. "He just sent me a picture of an elk he had killed that was in in the back of his truck and said 'I'm too busy to talk right now, I've got stuff to do.'"
The uncensored version of the video can be found here. Warning: This video contains graphic images of violence and gore.
With a report from CTV Vancouver Island's Gord Kurbis
