Residents of a rural area located west of Edmonton told CTV News they're fearful that recent incidents in the area are directly linked to illicit activities taking place on a nearby abandoned property.

A number of residents who spoke to CTV News had become so afraid, they asked for their identities to be concealed.

"The parties started getting worse," One resident said Thursday. "The gun shooting kept on going down there, even at night."

"[On] various evenings, 300 rounds of ammunition have been discharged, drug paraphernalia, liquor, fires when there was a fire ban," Anther resident said.

All that remains in the area are fire pits, beer cans, bullet casings and garbage – all of which litter the grounds of an abandoned gravel pit.

Residents said crime and vandalism is on the rise in the area, ranging from property damage, a fire at the local community hall and speeding vehicles – and dozens of calls have been made to RCMP on the activities.

"We've seized a firearm," Insp. Gary Graham with Stony Plain RCMP said. "[And] we've laid some liquor charges, and discouraged some of the untoward activities that have been [happening] out there."

Many residents told CTV News they believe the recent rash of shootings on livestock in the area are also connected to activities at that gravel pit, and it all has Wade Thordarson considering moving his family out of the area altogether.

Earlier this week, three cattle on his land were shot and killed, all of them had been owned by his 13-year-old daughter.

Police are investigating; it's believed five cattle and one horse were shot in the overnight spree earlier this week.

Initially, only the horse survived – however it too had to be put down.

"Who would do this?" Wade Thordarson said Wednesday. "If you would do this to an animal for no reason, what would stop you from doing it to a human?"

CTV News has learned the pit in question is crown land – making it the RCMP's responsibility to police.

The land had previously been leased to Parkland County until 2008 – as a response to recent developments, the county is attempting to develop the land into a public park.

"That way it'll be subject to Parkland County bylaws, and our own enforcement officers can actually go out and control the activities that are happening there," Jackie Ostashek, with Parkland County Communications said.

The County will have to lease the land from the province again to be able to develop the land; officials said the process could take several months.

With files from Amanda Anderson