Authorities have removed arrows from the head and body of a pair of deer in the Shady Cove area, according to the Oregon State Police.

The agency announced Thursday that the adult doe and a yearling doe had been released in good health and without visible infection. The animals were shot illegally, according to the agency, and the reward for information leading to the arrest or citation of those responsible for the shooting has been bumped to $2,600.

"This is not ethical hunting, it's a twisted act of poaching," Zach Lycett, board member of the Rogue Valley Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association, said in a statement posted on Facebook by the Oregon State Police. "True ethical hunters respect the animals they hunt and are grateful for the opportunities to hunt. We do not stand for these kinds of criminal acts."

Authorities began receiving calls about the deer from Shady Cove landowners last week, the Oregon State Police said, and the agency circulated a news release about them Saturday.

Photos provided by the agency show that an arrow was stuck through one of the deer's heads and another arrow was through the other deer's body.

"Pictures of these does stuck with arrows have been circulating widely in the media and social media, and understandably, it's upsetting to see. We are happy to say the arrows were removed and these deer have a very good chance of survival," Steve Niemela, Rogue District Wildlife Biologist, said in a statement.

An Oregon State Police sergeant said in the Facebook post that the agency continues to investigate and encourages anyone who has information about the case to call 800-452-7888.

— Jim Ryan