Game Warden Blotter

HOMEMADE ATV USED BY TRESPASSER

Local ranch managers notified local Polk County game wardens that an individual trespassed on their property multiple times in the past few months. The landowner turned over footage from multiple game cameras showing the suspect riding through the property on a homemade ATV. Eventually, the ranch managers caught him in the act and tried to hold him at gunpoint. They were unsuccessful and the suspect fled into the woods, leaving behind his homemade ATV. Concerned the trespasser was utilizing the unusual route to deal drugs in a neighboring subdivision, one of the wardens drove to the suspect’s home. Once there, he spotted the suspect outside with two other males. The warden requested backup from a county deputy. When the deputy arrived, the suspect was working on a vehicle in the yard. Together, they questioned the suspect, who said he was unaware that he had been trespassing. The warden informed the suspect that he was trespassing because he crossed a fence as well as other barriers into a property that did not belong to him. The suspect was then arrested without incident and booked into the county jail.

BORROWS CAR, TRESPASSES,

STEALS AND ABANDONS VEHICLE

A local hunting club president passed information along to a Texas game warden about a member’s game camera capturing images of a possible trespasser wearing full camo on private land. Later that morning, a neighboring landowner reported two trail cameras, a gun rest and hunting blind stolen from the same location as the game camera. The landowner noticed an abandoned vehicle in proximity of the stolen hunting equipment. The warden obtained the vehicle’s registration information. The car, however, was no longer in the area. The following day, the warden found the owner of the vehicle. The individual claimed they loaned the vehicle out to another person they knew had a history of running into trouble. Shortly after leaving the owner’s residence, he received a phone call from the suspect. He confessed to taking the equipment, explaining that he thought he was hunting on public land. Besides theft of property, the subject did not possess a valid hunting license or proof of hunter education. Upon discovering a climbing stand on an adjacent property, it was determined he had trespassed on two different properties. All hunting equipment was recovered and returned to the hunting club. Multiple cases are pending.

LONGLINES, FISH RECOVERED, CULPRITS FLEE

On Dec. 13, Texas game wardens encountered an illegal longline in the Gulf of Mexico and within state waters. A small vessel rushed south of the Texas/Mexico maritime boundary line upon seeing the Capt. Murchison patrol vessel approaching. After a quick search of the area, the wardens located the illegal gear and removed it from the water and returned the fish to the Gulf. In total, 5,100 feet of longline was removed and 31 gafftopsail catfish, two tripletail, and three red drum were returned to the Gulf.

CLAIMING MILITARY SERVICE FOR 11 LICENSES

A Texas game warden was checking hunter licenses during archery season when he encountered an individual with an active-duty military hunting license. Suspecting that the individual was not on active duty and had purchased the license fraudulently, the warden questioned him for several minutes. He gathered further information and left the hunting camp. The warden then contacted his counterpart in the county where the individual resides for further details. After a week-long investigation, the wardens obtained information that yielded evidence of the individual possessing 11 active-duty hunting licenses over the years while never actually being in military active duty. Based on the previous conversation with the individual, the warden knew when and where the individual would be hunting next. At that time, he made contact once again with the individual and questioned him about the evidence he gathered. The individual finally admitted to never being in the military. Multiple citations were issued and the animal that was harvested was seized.

REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263

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