WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County authorities are investigating the shooting death of a 6-month-old horse they believe was mistaken for a deer. The six-month-old horse was found dead in the pasture Thursday afternoon with a gunshot wound.

The wound was found at the bottom of the horse’s rib cage. The report indicated the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and the family believe the bullet came from a deer slug which is used in a shotgun to kill a deer.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff’s department are investigating.  Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s department at (618) 842-6631.