HAYDEN — Protruding from the chilly Hayden Lake waters are the hind legs and butt of a decomposing deer.

A rope around its neck is tied to a cinder block, a failed effort by someone who tried to sink and dispose of the carcass.

For the last 10 days, Tim Williams has seen it floating not far from Honeysuckle Beach, noting the stench has worsened.

But that's not the only reason the Hayden Lake resident is concerned.

"It's been illegally dumped, and now it's a water hazard for jet skiers and boaters," Williams said Friday. "It's in the direct path of the Honeysuckle launch. I've tried to call the sheriff's department and Fish and Game, but nobody is doing anything about it."

On Friday morning, Williams said, a jet skier collided with the deer and wiped out, without sustaining injuries.

"I don't know what we pay taxes for if someone can't come out and get it out of the water," Williams said. "The sheriff's office is quick to ticket someone out there on the water, but won't come out and do anything about this. It's someone's responsibility."

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Williams called on Sept. 24, when he was referred to Fish and Game. He spoke with a sheriff's deputy on Thursday, KCSO said, who told Williams that Fish and Game was not going to take any action with the situation.

Phil Cooper, Fish and Game's Panhandle Regional Conservation Educator, said Friday he hasn't heard of any reports in the department about the bizarre, floating deer carcass.

“If I did hear about something like that, it would be the first in my 37 years working here," Cooper said.

"Typically, an officer will try and go out there and see if he can locate it. It is the middle of hunting season, which does make it hard for us to prioritize (the dead, floating deer)."

Williams is willing to remove the carcass himself, but said he was advised by a deputy to not touch the animal.