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Game Warden Blotter
PLENTY OF TICKETS OVER HOLIDAY
As Texans hit the waterways across the state to recognize July 4, Texas game wardens issued 1,560 citations and 1,976 warnings for various boating safety law violations, arrested 49 individuals for Boating While Intoxicated and filed eight other charges for Driving While Intoxicated. Additionally, another 23 people were arrested for other charges.
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STOLEN VEHICLE A LONG WAY FROM HOME
Pecos County game wardens encountered an unoccupied vehicle parked in the back of a gas station. The vehicle had not moved in a week. The vehicle’s license plate was run and came back stolen out of Sherman. The Sherman Police Department was notified, and information was provided to remove the vehicle. The vehicle was towed without incident.
LICENSE BOUGHT A LITTLE TOO LATE
A game warden received information about a hunter who had shot a deer on the same day that his license was purchased. The license was purchased on November 12, 2021, at 5:17 p.m. The hunter admitted to having shot the deer around 2 or 3 p.m. before going to purchase his license. Citation was issued.
WHILE FISHING, GETS HUNTING CITATION
Fishing license compliance checks were being performed by a game warden near Lake Palestine. One individual’s license was missing a White-Tail Deer tag, and the harvest log had not been completed. The warden learned the individual had allowed a relative to hunt under his license and take a doe. The relative was notified of the situation, and both subjects were issued citations.
WAY TOO MANY CRAPPIE
An OGT call was received by a game warden reporting two Illinois fishermen being over the possession limit of crappie on Lake Fork. A warden contacted the fishermen at a local boat ramp where both fishermen had their limits of crappie for the day. Further investigation revealed that the fishermen were over their possession limit by 100 crappie.
DROWNINGS, BOATING ACCIDENTS OVER JULY 4 WEEKEND
Texas game wardens conducted multiple search and rescues over the July 4 holiday, and assisted with 38 reportable boating accidents at several Texas lakes and rivers. In Hunt County, game wardens responded to a reported drowning in the swim beach at West Tawakoni City Park. The patient was airlifted in critical condition but is expected to make full recovery. Willacy County game wardens conducted a boating rescue just outside Port Mansfield Harbor. A recreational vessel capsized within the intercoastal waterway on the way into Port Mansfield. Wardens rescued four occupants who were in the water. All occupants were safely taken to shore without injuries. At South Padre Island, game wardens encountered a boat with too many people on board. When wardens approached, the boat took on water over the bow and three passengers fell off. No one was injured and all passengers were transported safely to land. Texas Game Wardens also dealt with one boating fatality and 10 open-water fatalities on Texas waterways over the Independence Day weekend.
MAN FALLS OFF SKIFF, RESCUED
The Coast Guard rescued a person in the water near Matagorda Bay. Coast The Port Lavaca Police Department notified the Coast Guard that a man fell off of his skiff into the water near Indianola Beach Park. A shallow water boat crew launched to assist and pulled the man out of the water and safely transferred him to TPWD personnel. The TPWD crew returned the boater to his skiff and escorted him back to Magnolia Beach. No injuries were reported.
