(Editor’s note: The videos linked out in the first paragraph of the story contain graphic content and may be disturbing to some readers)

A viral video apparently showing a pair of boys, reportedly from Brookville in Jefferson County, beating and torturing a white-tailed buck after the deer was shot but not immediately killed on Saturday is under investigation by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The agency posted the following on its social media channels on Sunday:

“The Pennsylvania Game Commission is aware of a video purporting to show individuals assaulting an injured deer. The conduct portrayed in the video is reprehensible and potentially a violation of the law.

“Pennsylvania State Game Wardens are currently investigating the matter. If you have any information related to the video, we ask that you report it to the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888–PGC-8001 or the Game Commission’s Northwest Region Dispatch Office at 814-432-3187.

“Thank you for your help and for your concern for Pennsylvania wildlife.”

In the video the boys appear to kick the buck in the face, step on its legs and rip off one of its antlers, all while it was still alive, but unable to escape because of its injury after being shot.

The video went viral, sparking outrage and disgust, first among hunting-related groups on the Internet and then the larger digital world.

At least one online petition was launched seeking felony charges against the boys.

Saturday was the first day of the firearms hunting season for deer across Pennsylvania.