HAMMOND John Washington was in his kitchen last week, looking out at his seven acres of land in Hammond when something took him by surprise.

A bull elk with an arrow sticking out of his side was looking back at him.

Washington and his wife called for authorities who came to investigate.

The animal was eventually euthanized, after Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division and Warrenton Police arrived.

It irritates me that someone stuck him with an arrow and he died a slow and miserable death, Washington said. We live within the city limits. You shouldnt be able to do that.

The incident happened Sept. 9. Authorities are now investigating who shot the animal and how it came to be on Washingtons property.

Meanwhile, the city of Warrenton is in the process of changing its firearm ordinance, which includes the use of archery weapons.

The first of two required readings for the ordinance change was held Sept. 11. If adopted at the next commission meeting, it will shift the books back toward the state law, taking out the citys more detailed law with subsequent possibilities for loopholes.

The old ordinance began, except on a persons own property, which if in the city limits is still not OK, Warrenton Police Chief Mathew Workman explained when he brought forward the issue in June. The old ordinance, adopted by the city in 1989, also suggested the Warrenton Police Department could grant permission for someone to fire a weapon in the city limits, which it cannot.

Still, on the elk issue last week, Workman said, There is no change in the fact that you cannot hunt inside the city limits or Urban Growth Boundary unless it is a designated area by the state of Oregon. The only area is the duck hunting area along the Columbia River and only during designated seasons.

So archery hunting is prohibited in the city, but target practice would be allowable under restrictions stated in the ordinance.