RUSSELL COUNTY — A cow believed to have been shot in Russell County this week died of other causes.

Herd owner Ted Schepmann told Hays Post Thursday night that an necropsy performed on the animal Thursday determined that the cow’s wounds were not caused by a gunshot.

“Everyone that seen the cow yesterday believed these were definitely bullet holes but apparently they are not,” Schepmann said. “Not sure what actually caused them.”

An official with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism confirmed that a game warden performed the procedure, skinning back the cow and finding no bullet holes.

“We are all extremely confused,” Schepmann said. “Will never know I guess.”

Schepmann said he found the cow dead during a regular check of the herd on Wednesday morning and called the Russell County Sheriff’s Office to investigate. The ranch is in the far southeastern reaches of Russell County, near the Barton/Ellsworth county lines.

The KDWPT official said any further investigation would be done by the sheriff’s department.

Undersheriff Andy VanDerWege said the department expected to have the investigation completed Friday, adding the sheriff’s office will issue a news release on the incident.