Dec. 12, 2008

Game warden Field Notes

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

Nov. 10, 2008

Coastal Fisheries Bay Team Tournament Slated for Aransas Pass

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has scheduled a Coastal Fisheries Bay Team tournament targeting flounder for 6 a.m. until noon Nov. 15 at Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass.

Nov. 3, 2008

Wharton Co. Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in Trial of Man Accused of Killing Game Warden

AUSTIN, Texas — A Wharton County jury took just two-and-a-half hours this afternoon to return a verdict of "guilty, capital murder" in the trial of 27-year-old James Garrett Freeman, of Lissie, who shot and killed Texas Game Warden Justin Hurst March 17, 2007.

Oct. 17, 2008

Memorial Fund Created for Fallen Game Warden George H. Whatley

AUSTIN, Texas — A memorial fund has been set-up for the family of Texas Game Warden George H. Whatley. Whatley, a 45-year-old native of Atlanta, Texas, died in Fort Stockton Friday, Oct. 10, after participating in a training exercise.

Hurst Murder Trial Begins Oct. 20 in Wharton

AUSTIN, Texas — The capital murder trial of the man accused of killing Game Warden Justin Hurst in 2007 begins 9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 20 in Wharton, southwest of Houston.

Oct. 11, 2008

Texas Game Warden Dies after Training Exercise

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Game Warden George Whatley, 45, died yesterday in Fort Stockton after collapsing following a training exercise. Whatley was participating in a physical agility test along with 10 other West Texas wardens when he was stricken.

Oct. 10, 2008

NOAA Authorizes Temporary Use of Restricted Tow Times in Lieu of TEDs for Upper Texas Coast

AUSTIN, Texas — NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) Oct. 8 announced a temporary authorization affecting shrimp trawlers who are required to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in certain state and federal waters off Texas. The authorization will allow shrimp trawlers in the affected areas to use restricted tow times instead of TEDs due to the large numbers of debris left by Hurricane Ike.

More than Half of Galveston Bay Boat Ramps Now Accessible

DICKINSON, Texas — For those anglers who have found a way onto Galveston Bay since Hurricane Ike passed through nearly a month ago, fishing reportedly has been better than average.

Oct. 1, 2008

Biologists Assess Ike Impacts To Coastal Ecosystems

AUSTIN, Texas — Hurricane Ike’s big storm surge caused hundreds of localized oil and hazardous materials spills that pose threats to fish and wildlife, and it pushed saltwater into upper coast freshwater wetlands that support migrating waterfowl and estuarine life. But ecological damage to coastal habitats may not be as widespread or severe as some had initially feared.

Ike Impact on Coastal Fisheries Mixed, but Overall May be Beneficial

AUSTIN, Texas — Hurricane Ike, which devastated communities and residents of the upper Texas Gulf coast Sept. 12-13 may ultimately prove beneficial to the marine organisms that also call the area home.