Game Warden Field Notes

Media Contact: TPWD News Business Hours, 512-389-8030

News Image Share on Facebook Share Release URL

Note: This item is more than nine years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.

The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

  • Missed a Spot
    When a landowner in Red River County heard gunshots near his property, he called his local game warden for help. The warden searched several deer camps and found evidence of blood at an unoccupied camp. There, the warden observed that the hunter had made an effort to rake up the remaining debris and place it in a nearby burn barrel. When the warden located the hunter, he had power-washed his vehicle in an attempt to remove blood evidence. After questioning, the hunter admitted to shooting an 11-point buck with his .30-.30 rifle during archery season. Case pending.
  • If At First You Don’t Succeed...
    A Titus County game warden received a call from a hunter about a trespasser on a nearby ranch. The hunter approached the trespasser and attempted to escort him off of the property, but the trespasser refused and continued across the ranch. The hunter then took video and photos of the male suspect, who was later identified and arrested for Class B criminal trespass and an active felony warrant from the neighboring county.
  • Who Let the Drugs Out?
    Two game wardens from Gregg and Upshur County were conducting surveillance near their county line when they observed an individual stop near their location and collect a whitetail buck from the roadway. The subject became increasingly irritable and uncooperative after contact was made. When consent to search was given, the wardens located multiple containers of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, suspected meth lab components and an illegal firearm. The subject was arrested for manufacture or deliver of controlled substance and unlawful carry of firearm. Additional charges and cases pending.
  • Dude, Where’s My Boat?
    A Jefferson County game warden responded to a call about a possible stolen boat and motor recovered from the Neches River. When the boat was towed in and contact was made with the owner, he said he had gotten hung up on a pipe and left his boat. When he returned, he discovered it was missing. The value of the recovery was estimated at $15,000.
  • “I’m Sure Glad to See You”
    As a Real County game warden pulled into a hunting camp to check for hunting violations, he was greeted by a hunter who said, “I’m sure glad to see you.” When the warden asked why, the hunter replied, “Seeing you reminds me that I have to put my tag on my deer.” The deer was already quartered in the ice chest and the cape in a trash bag. The hunter was cited for possession of untagged deer. Case is pending.
  • Oh Deer
    Two Bandera County game wardens and one Uvalde County warden responded to information about a few deer that had been illegally taken. At the residence, the wardens located meat from a freshly killed whitetail deer. During the investigation, it was learned that two 17-year-old males had killed one whitetail deer with a bow from a public road that night and also killed another whitetail deer by running it over with a truck a few nights earlier. The Uvalde County game warden obtained written statements from both suspects, and multiple charges have been filed.
  • Darkness Falls
    While a Hill County warden was patrolling Aquilla Lake for illegal hunting activity, he noticed a boat returning without running lights. As the warden performed a water safety inspection and license check, one of the hunters said he had left his license at his residence. When asked why he wasn’t displaying his running lights, the hunter said the lights had broken while traveling to the lake. The warden found that the vehicle and trailer registrations were expired, so citations were issued for failing to produce a resident hunting license and no running lights on a vessel while underway. A warning was also given for the expired registrations. Cases pending.
  • The Duping Deer Dumper
    A McCulloch County game warden received a call that a deer carcass had been dumped in the middle of a street in downtown Brady. A police officer removed the deer from the street and relayed to dispatch the name on the permit attached to the deer. Before the warden arrived, a bystander reported that someone jumped out of a dark-colored sedan, removed the tag and drove off, leaving the deer at the curb. Using the name that was reported, the warden traced the deer to a local property owner who informed the warden that he had donated the deer. The following morning, the warden went to the suspects’ place of employment. The individual admitted to dumping the deer and then returning later to remove the tag.
  • Scared Fishless
    Two Travis County game wardens were checking a known fishing area that has issues with trespassers. As the wardens approached the fishing tank, a male subject saw their truck, which he later said he thought was the landowner, and took off running into the wooded area. One of the wardens then requested assistance from a third Travis County game warden and K9 partner Ruger to track for the evading trespasser. Also deployed was a fourth Travis County warden who was positioned across the wooded area, which was the subject’s most probable path of escape. K9 Ruger tracked the male subject and assisted with flushing him out of the wooded area, where the game warden was in a position to observe the male cross the river and quickly take him into custody. The male subject told the wardens that he had placed his shirt along the river and hidden his fishing poles. Ruger was deployed for an article search and recovered the items. The subject was filed on for criminal trespass and fishing without a valid fishing license. Cases pending.
  • Baited and Booked
    A Cameron County game warden received notification of an individual offering protected fish and shrimp for sale. He made contact with the seller and arranged to buy some fish. The Cameron County sergeant met with the seller at a public parking lot and negotiated the buy of several spotted seatrout and a few bags of gulf shrimp for $100. Shortly after the sale, the Cameron County game warden along with a warden from Hidalgo County were on scene and apprehended the subject. The following were seized: 29 spotted seatrout, of which 26 were undersized; 20 black drum; 28 gallon-size bags of gulf shrimp; and two gallon-size bags of squid. Multiple charges filed.