Pregnant Cow Found Shot, Butchered Near Chelsea

A special ranger from the Cattle Raisers Association is investigating after a cow was shot and partially butchered in Rogers County. 

Tuesday, February 10th 2015, 12:50 pm

By: News On 6

Pregnant Cow Found Shot, Butchered Near Chelsea

A special ranger from the Cattle Raisers Association is investigating after a cow was shot and partially butchered in Rogers County. The owner found the 12-year-old animal dead near the intersection of Winganon Road and NS 4200 Road near Chelsea.

The rancher says he's sick and tired of people killing his cattle. It's the third time he's lost an animal. This time someone shot a pregnant cow and cut off one leg.

Special Ranger John Cummings said the cow was shot in the head with a small-caliber weapon. Investigators will pay $1,000 to anyone who helps find out who did it.

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Investigators say someone parked on the street and crawled through a barbed wire fence to get the cow.

"I think he just walked up and shot her right in the head, because that bullet hole is huge," said rancher Rick Tosh.

The animal was days away from giving birth and valued at $2,500.

Tosh said it's the third time a cow in the same pasture has been shot and killed, but this time was the worst.

"They just chopped off a hind leg and that was it," he said. "It was an old cow; she's not going to be that good to eat."

Cummings agreed the cow was butchered in a very crude manner.

"They took very little meat, so possibly they got spooked," he said.

"Like stealing my paycheck; it's a bad deal," Tosh said.

Special Ranger Cummings said typically, cows are killed for one reason.

"For the most part, they are shooting them to try and get meat, to either sell the meat or get meat to eat," he said.

With little meat taken, both aren't sure what the suspect was really after. Tosh has a message for the person responsible.

"Don't kill my cows," he said. "If you are hungry and you need it, we got plenty of meat. But just to shoot a cow that's going to have a baby, that is just no good."

Investigators hope a neighbor or possibly someone driving by saw what happened. If you have information, you are asked to call the Rogers County Tip Line at 918-341-3620.

You could also call the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association at Operation Cow Thief: 1-888-830-2333.

"We need help," Cummings said. "Someone knows who did this, and we need them to call."