Reward Increased to $2,000 for Information in Oregon Crossbow Poaching Incidents

An Oregon crossbow killer remains on the loose after nearly two months of evading the law. And in response to the lack of answers in the case, the Traditional Archers of Oregon (TAO) has thrown some of their own money into the pot with hopes of someone coming forward with information regarding these heinous wildlife crimes.

With a total of $2,000 worth of rewards on the table, state officials and organizations such as TAO and the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) are looking for clues after a pair of nice bucks turned up with arrows recklessly lodged in different parts of their bodies.

The incidents took place in Corvallis and the deer were believed to have been shot using a crossbow around October 25, 2024 and November 18, 2024 near NW Walnut and NW Witham Hill Dr.

In the state of Oregon it is unlawful to hunt big game using a crossbow, which is a big part of the reason traditional bow hunters in the state are up in arms about the illegal killings.

"As you can imagine, being traditional archers, using a crossbow to commit such heinous crimes goes against everything we hold dear," Savage said, "The operator does not need the same skills required to use a handheld, vertical bow, like getting close and knowing when to draw and when to shoot. They are an assassin, lying in wait, at long distance, with no detectable movement visible to their prey."

Bringing an additional $500 to the table, TAO’s pledge joins the additional $500 previously pledged by the Mid-Willamette chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association along with the state agency’s standard $1,000 reward.

Each of the deer died from embedded arrows, in two separate incidents. One of the deer had an arrow lodged near its spine while the other had a bolt embedded in its neck. The killings represent a variety of wildlife violations including the use of a crossbow to kill a big game animal and shooting within city limits. 

State officials were made aware of the incident and the two suffering deer after local residents flooded OSP Fish and Wildlife with information about the suspected illegal killings.

"Our priority is to protect deer and elk, and their habitats, across the state," said Mid-Willamette chapter President, Ken McCall, "Someone knows who did this, and we want to encourage that person to do the right thing and come forward."

OSP F&W asks members of the public to report anyone they see carrying a crossbow in the area. Anyone with information relating to this case should contact OSP's Albany Fish and Wildlife office via dispatch at 800-442-2068 or OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Please reference case number #SP24-383408.