A crossbow is believed to have been used to kill three cattle beasts and injure another near Dunedin last month.
Constable Jon-Paul Tremain, of Waikouaiti, said the internal organs were all that remained of one animal in a paddock in Coast Rd, north of Dunedin.
One was slaughtered but left behind and a third died from a stomach wound "more than likely made by a crossbow bolt", he said.
"The fourth surviving beast had two crossbow bolts recovered from its neck.
"All of the animals involved would have suffered significantly, with one in particular possibly taking hours to die, so it is important that whoever is responsible is held to account," Const Tremain said.
