OXFORD – Police have narrowed their search for whoever was responsible for killing two domestic elk on Sam Hill Rowe Road early Tuesday.

One of the animals was shot with a bow and arrow, while the other was rammed with a vehicle.

Oxford Police Sgt. Rickie Jack said broken parts of a grill found at the scene belong to a charcoal Dodge Spirit made sometime between 1989 and 1992.

Jack, who came in on his day off Thursday to work on the case, said he is searching state Department of Motor Vehicle records for names of people in the area who have such a car.

Jack said the vehicle would show substantial front-end damage from the impact with the red deer-elk mix. He speculates that at least two people were involved, and that they stowed the animal in the trunk after hitting it with the car.

A much larger cow elk was found dying about 100 yards away after it had been shot with a bow and arrow, presumably by the same people, Jack said.

The animals escaped a fenced-in enclosure after a large hole was cut in the fence early Tuesday morning.

The crime was discovered by a Sun Journal carrier doing her paper route around 4 a.m.

Jack said he has received a grant allowing him to pay cash to anyone who can supply reliable information about the case.

“Even if they want to remain anonymous, we’ll work with them,” he added.

Jack may be reached at the police station at 539-4414.