Game Warden Blotter

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WARDEN RESCUES 6-YEAR-OLD WHO DRIFTED ASEA

A Calhoun County game warden rescued a 6-year-old girl after she was swept into the Matagorda ship ping channel while floating on an inner tube near Magnolia Beach. The girl and her grandmother had been swimming when the girl was swept away by strong winds and waves. The warden responded to a call from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. He located the girl about 3/4 mile from the beach and returned her to her grandmother.

SHOOTING DOVE NEAR THE GUN RANGE

Two game wardens responded to a call regarding individuals shooting birds near a gun range in Donna. With the wardens approaching the area from opposite directions, two men were found exiting a brushy area carrying a rifle and piece of plywood with a target affixed, while a third man was sitting under a blue tent near his pickup truck. The wardens confronted the men and asked if either of them owned the property or had the landowner’s permission to be there. The men admitted that they did not have permission, although one offered that he had hunted there a couple of years before. The group denied hunting birds. Unfortunately for

RUNNING FROM THE LAW

Around Calaveras Lake, no public access is allowed on CPS Energy property. A Bexar County game warden observed two suspects trespassing on the powerplant property. When the warden identified himself, the suspects absconded into the brush. One subject surrendered and came back to the roadway. This suspect was cited and released. The other suspect was unable to be located due to the thick mesquite brush. The warden called for assistance and two wardens searched the mesquite brush for about an hour, and located the suspect hiding behind a mesquite tree. The suspect was waiting for a vehicle to pick him up. The suspect was arrested for criminal trespass and evading arrest or detention. The sus pect was transported and booked into the Bexar

them, the wardens found the seven white-winged dove they had hidden in a bait bucket. After consulting with the landowner, charges were filed along with civil restitution for each of the dove shot out of season.

SO UPSET HE NEEDED AN AMBULANCE

Three men were caught fishing on Lake Welsh without fishing licenses by a Titus County game warden. One subject gave a false name and date of birth, refusing to cooperate in proving his identity and re quested an ambulance because he was so upset. After the ambulance arrived and he refused transport, the male gave the EMTs a different date of birth when he signed the refusal for transport. The male was arrested and transported to the Ti tus County Jail for failure to identify and no fishing license. At the jail, the male’s real name and date of birth was located and found to have been previously issued a citation in 2009 by the same warden for no fishing license. The man was issued a citation for no fishing license and for failure to identify, and was released.

FALL FROM PONTOON LEADS TO BROKEN RIBS, SURGERY

Game wardens responded to a possible boat accident on Lonestar Lake in Morris County the previous evening. A man and his wife were attempting to dock his boat at their lake house, when he slipped off the pontoon boat and fell onto the front port side pontoon. The male had a large laceration to his abdomen and had to have his spleen removed as well as numerous splintered broken ribs. The male was transported to Longview Regional Hospital for surgery.

YO-YO FISHING FOILED

A San Augustine County game war den discovered an individual that had multiple illegal fishing devices (yo-yos) in Huxley. Three wardens responded and observed four indi viduals in the bushes. Contact was made and the individuals admitted to the yo-yos. All devices were re moved from the water. A total of 48 yo-yos were removed and multiple citations and warnings were issued.

OFFSHORE SNAPPER CHECK

A crew of game wardens, aboard the PV Pauling, checked several recreational boats out to 60 miles offshore. The crew encountered a recreational fishing boat with three red snapper on board approximately 30 miles off the Sabine jetties. Given the recreational red snapper season was closed, the violation was documented and the case is being referred to NOAA for prosecu tion.

ILLEGAL NETS LOADED WITH FISH

South Texas game wardens ob served two Mexican commercial fishing vessels enter and set gill nets on the Texas side of Falcon Lake. The wardens launched a patrol vessel and recovered six sections of monofilament gill net totaling 1,980 feet in length. The nets contained tilapia, freshwa ter drum, shad, crappie, catfish, plecostomus and largemouth bass. Several fish were returned alive to the waters and the remaining fish in the nets were donated to Zapata County residents.