GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

Crane Hunting Without Permission

During the sandhill crane season, a landowner contacted a Gaines and Andrews County warden regarding a group of people hunting cranes without consent. The warden determined the group was involved in a guided hunt through an outfitting service. After interviewing all hunters and guides, the warden determined the head outfitter and owner of the service were criminally responsible for each person for illegally hunting on the property. Howard obtained signed non-consent affidavits, as the landowner wished to file for each person that was present. The warden spoke with the head outfitter who was not present in the field and obtained a confession that he instructed his guides to hunt that area. A total of 11 arrest warrants were issued for hunting sandhill cranes without consent. The suspect was taken into custody at the Gaines County Jail, and restitution on 33 sandhill cranes is pending.

Floating Log Capsizes Fishing Boat

In Trinity County, a boater called 911 reporting his boat was sinking. A Trinity County game warden contacted the boater, advising him to put on a life jacket. The boater dropped a pin for his location, and

Busy Weekend On The Water

Over the Fourth of July holiday, Texas game wardens issued 1,521 citations and 1,891 warnings for various boating safety laws. Wardens also arrested 56 individuals for Boating While Intoxicated and filed four other charges for Driving While Intoxicated. An additional 36 individuals were arrested for a variety of other charges. Wardens also conducted multiple search and rescues over the holiday weekend and assisted with 18 boating accidents at several Texas lakes and rivers. On Lake Palestine, wardens observed a dock fire started by fireworks and were able to extinguish the blaze before major damage occurred. In Comal County, wardens located a missing swimmer 125 yards offshore swimming outside of the designated area. The swimmer was exhausted and requested a ride back to shore where he was united with family and friends. On Lake Travis, wardens helped locate a missing 7-year-old female who was found safely with a friend. TPWD aviation assisted game wardens in Zavala, Uvalde and Real counties patrolling the Nueces River for riverbed enforcement activities. Wardens also handled one boating fatality and five open-water fatalities on Texas waterways.

the warden launched the patrol vessel and found the boater quickly. When the warden arrived, the man was hanging on the top bow of the boat, while half of the boat was submerged. The boater was assisted in the warden’s boat, and the boater’s vessel then became completely submerged. The warden tied a bowline to a nearby tree to save the vessel. A pontoon arrived to assist towing the upside-down vessel to the boat ramp. An ice chest with fish and a few fishing rods were recovered. The boater explained that due to the recent rains, the river was swift with lots of floating trees. While he was fishing, a huge floating tree came over his motor pushing the back of the vessel underwater.

CATFISH WITH A FISH SHOCKER

On the Neches River, a Tyler County game warden encountered an unregistered flat bottom vessel approaching. Once given a hand signal to stop, three adults on the approaching vessel recognized him as a warden and immediately stood up and appeared to throw a long wire overboard. The suspects initially denied throwing a wire and claimed to have thrown an undersized flathead catfish. Observing the rest of the catfish on board, Mann noticed that none of the catch had a hole or hook mark in their mouth. A search of the vessel

SPONSORED BY: revealed a “Gizmo” fish shocker in the pocket of a suspect. The violator confessed the shocker was his and using it to shock the fish. A call to dispatch revealed the suspect also violated parole and had a warrant. The fish were released, and the violator was booked into the Tyler County Jail.

DEER SHOT OUT OF SEASON, NEXT TO ANOTHER’S HOUSE

A complainant heard a gunshot coming from a county road next to his house and contacted a Karnes County game warden. The witness indicated he drove to the area where the shot originated, they located a man lying on the ground next to a dead deer. After yelling at the man, the man got up and ran into the brush. The warden coordinated with sheriff’s deputies and witness to identify and locate the subject. When interviewed, the subject said after partaking in a couple of beers, he shot the deer for food. Citations were issued and the deer was donated to the witness.

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