Can We Pretend That It
Never Happened?
A Rockwall County game
warden checked two duck hunters on their way out of their blind. When asked to
provide three shells to check the plug, one of the hunters produced two shells
and a marijuana pipe from his pocket. The hunter quickly tried to take the pipe
back, but the warden took possession of it. The hunter was cited for possession
of drug paraphernalia, and the other hunter was cited for an unplugged shotgun.
Over haul
A Zapata County Game
Warden pulled up on a night set when he observed a vehicle traveling in his
direction on FM 2687. The warden hadn’t been on the set long before he saw a
vehicle shining a spotlight from the road. When the vehicle approached his
location, the warden saw the vehicle towing another vehicle. The two trucks
kept spotlighting when they drove past the warden’s position and stopped
approximately 75 to 100 yards from his position. Two individuals exited the
rear truck and ran over and grabbed a buck they had just shot earlier and threw
it in the back of the truck. The two vehicles were stopped shortly after, and
all four admitted to road hunting. When asked what the deal was with towing the
other vehicle, they said after they shot the deer, they sped off and blew the
transmission.
Dove Caught Your Tongue?
A Waller County game
warden and a Harris County game warden were patrolling Waller County when, just
before sunset, the wardens heard multiple shots coming from a wooded area. They
made their way through the trees and observed three dove hunters having a great
hunt, but not retrieving the doves that fell into the woods. If they had, they
would have found the two game wardens. After the wardens hid in the brush for about
30 minutes, one of the hunters announced to his friends, “I am done. I have
23.” The wardens looked at one another to make sure they both heard the same
thing when the hunter yelled again, “I am done. I have 23 doves.” The wardens
took his word for it and announced their presence, separated the hunters, and
discovered one with 20 doves, not 23. The other two hunters were within the
daily bag limit. One of the wardens walked the hunter who was over his limit
back to the hunter’s truck to retrieve his license. At the truck, the warden
observed dove feathers that appeared to be from earlier in the day. The warden
made a statement to the hunter, “This morning’s hunt was good, wasn’t it?” The
hunter promptly agreed that it was really good and then realized what he had
done, and said, “Oh, no.” He admitted that he had also shot a limit in the
morning. Citations were issued for exceeding daily bag limit and failure to
retrieve game.
Smile, You’re on Candid
Camera
Two Van Zandt County
game wardens were contacted by a local ranch owner concerning a unique picture
that was taken on his game camera. The photo showed a woman, with a very
distinct tattoo, holding a baby white-tailed deer fawn. The time stamp on the
photo said that this woman was on the ranch property in May on the same date
and time the ranch was burglarized and several firearms, hunting equipment and
a Polaris Ranger were stolen. The wardens then conducted a press conference
seeking help from the public in naming the woman in the photograph. The wardens
soon received multiple Operation Game Thief calls that matched the woman in the
photo with her name and the warden’s received a tip to her current location in
Smith County. The wardens, accompanied by a Wood County game warden, went to
the location and found her. After being interviewed, the woman confessed to
stealing from the ranch and identified her accomplice. The investigation led to
a substantial amount of stolen items being recovered, including three guns and
the missing vehicle. The case was turned over to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s
Office, where burglary of a habitation, trespass and unlawful use of a motor
vehicle were filed on all subjects.
It’s Raining Bird Shot
Two Taylor County game
wardens received a call from a landowner claiming bird shot was falling on
their house and even struck their horse. The wardens went to the residence of
the landowner and while getting a statement from him, bird shot fell on the
wardens. They located the shooters and had a very serious talk.
It Was My Girlfriend’s
Fault
A Milam County game
warden and Bell County game warden were patrolling Milam County on opening day
of dove season when they located a group of hunters right before sunset. The
wardens waited to see if the hunters would continue shooting after sunset, and
after waiting in the brush for a while, the wardens made contact with them.
While among the hunters, the wardens found three men and two shot guns, one a
12-guage, the other a 20-gauge, and spent shells everywhere. The problem with
this is that only one man admitted to hunting. One warden asked one of the
non-hunters why he had so many shells in the back of his truck. The man said
his girlfriend was shooting beer cans. When the warden asked where she was
shooting from and to see the cans, the man said she was shooting from 15 yards
away and had missed every time. The warden called his bluff and the man later
admitted to hunting and citations were issued.
Oops, We Did It Again
A Red River County game Warden and two Bowie
County game wardens received information about a possible road hunting incident
near a residence. The property owner and his wife were outside at the time and
after hearing shots, the husband, who had been drinking, jumped into his
vehicle and began to chase the hunters. While in pursuit, in an attempt to stop
the hunters the man began shooting a pistol out of his window. The man rammed
the hunters’ vehicle and in the process flipped his vehicle over and suffered
serious injuries. The hunters had called 911 to report they were being shot at.
When wardens contacted the suspected road hunters, they denied having weapons
and shooting at anything. Unaware that their 911 call had not been dropped as
they believed, in the background officials could clearly hear someone say,
“hide the gun in them woods,” and “not that far, we’re gonna come back and get
it tonight.” After hearing the 911 tape,
the three hunters gave statements admitting to shooting at multiple animals
from the road that day as well as committing multiple burglaries of habitations
and storage buildings in the Dekalb area. Wardens also interviewed the hunters
about a year-long investigation regarding the slaying of an 8-point buck last
August in Red River County. The hunters admitted to being on the ranch
illegally and shooting the buck leaving it to waste. A total of 24 cases were
filed on the three individuals. Meanwhile, the overzealous property owner was
filed on for DWI and deadly conduct.
Drive-up Service
A Polk County game
warden was checking boat ramps on Lake Livingston when he saw someone motor his
pontoon boat up to a local boat ramp at a high rate of speed. The warden watched as the subject got out of
his boat and staggered up through the parking lot to retrieve his truck. The warden stopped the subject and conducted
standard field sobriety tests. The
subject failed the test and was placed under arrest for BWI.
