Game Warden Field Notes

Game Warden Field Notes

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

  • Buck Wild
    Two Shelby County game wardens received a tip of a buck possibly being shot off a roadway. When they went to investigate, they found a truck with fresh blood all over the tailgate. They then found a 10-inch spread 8-point buck. After further investigation, the game wardens issued an arrest warrant and the owner of the truck was placed in jail.
  • Red “Hairring”
    While investigating a hunting camp, a Houston County game warden discovered deer hair on a skinning gambrel and a couple of old blood spots on a four-wheeler. When the game warden asked one of the hunters at the camp if they had taken any deer this season, one hunter replied, “No, only hogs,” while another hunter said they “haven’t been seeing any.” The game warden then showed the hunters the deer hairs he had found on the skinning gambrel. One of the hunters began to shake and admitted his dad had taken a young doe last Saturday. After further investigation, the father said he had not taken any deer this season before finally admitting he had taken a young doe.
  • Under the Bridge
    A Newton County game warden and a Jasper County game warden were patrolling when they noticed a vehicle parked under an overpass. The wardens walked over to check on the car and found two people sitting inside the vehicle, which was still running. One warden approached the car and tapped on the window to get the attention of the female passenger, just as she was about to light a glass pipe filled with meth. Both individuals in the car were arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance.
  • Poaching, meth and stolen tools – oh my!
    A Harris County game warden was investigating a call regarding possible poaching. The caller had reported seeing a man with feed and a rifle clearing out an area of the woods with construction equipment. When the game warden arrived, he saw two men using an old 4×4 truck and a trencher to dig up and pull out tons of bundled copper wire. The truck bed was already full of copper wire when the warden made contact with the men and placed them in handcuffs. The warden found a loaded .22 rifle and a meth pipe. When backup arrived and the vehicle had been searched, law enforcement found a total of 14 grams of methamphetamine and numerous possibly stolen tools. One of the men was a convicted felon. Both men were arrested and face several felony charges, including theft and possession of a controlled substance.
  • Fifth Time’s the Charm
    In 2013, a Montgomery County game warden and a Madison County game warden arrested a man on Lake Conroe when they noticed his erratic operation of a boat. On Oct. 31, 2014, the man pled guilty to felony boating while intoxicated. It was his fifth arrest for an alcohol-related offense.
  • Boating While Intoxicated
    Chambers County game wardens were called out on an accident that involved two boats that had collided. There were no fatalities but one of the boat operators was arrested for boating while intoxicated.
  • Full Throttle Recall
    On Lake McQueeny, a boat operator lost control of his vessel and ran aground, striking a boat dock. While the accident resulted in a total loss of the vessel, there were no injuries. The investigating Guadalupe County game warden found that a throttle recall issue, which had not been addressed by the owner, caused the accident.