Game Warden Field Notes
On May 11, a Navarro County game warden was patrolling around Richland Chambers Reservoir when he noticed an individual fishing near one of the boat ramps. As the warden approached the individual fishing confessed, “I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t have a fishing license.” That proved to be the extent of his truthfulness.
He didn’t have any identification and couldn’t recall the name of the person who owned the vehicle he was driving. The individual also claimed he no longer had anything illegal left on his person or in the vehicle.
During a probable cause search of his person and the vehicle, multiple illegal narcotics and paraphernalia items were discovered.
The subject was arrested and transported to the Navarro County Jail on several drug-related offenses. He was also cited for not having a fishing license.
A boatload of fish
Jasper County game wardens received information alleging three local crappie fishing guides were permitting out-of-state fishermen to violate bag limits on May 6.
The daily limit for crappie is 25 fish greater than 10 inches in length. An investigation found 808 crappie had been retained by a dozen anglers, resulting in 245 game law violations. Several cases are pending along with civil restitution.
Casting a wide net
A Matagorda County game warden received an anonymous tip on May 3 about a group fishing with a large cast net off the jetties. Once at the scene, the warden made contact with a vehicle and two occupants in possession of an ice chest full of undersized fish and an oversized cast net.
During questioning of the subjects, the warden learned they had three accomplices aboard a canoe on the other side of the Colorado River. A second warden arrived and rounded up the other subjects.
Once the dust settled on the investigation, game wardens had tallied 125 separate game law violations between the five individuals, including; no valid fishing license, possession of undersized sheepshead, possession of undersized speckled trout, possession of undersized black drum, over the daily bag limit of sheepshead, insufficient number of PFDs, improper lights on vessel, illegal means and methods, and illegal cast net.
The appropriate citations were issued, and fish were donated. Cases and civil restitution are pending.
Improperly in disposed
In mid-February, a Rock-wall County game warden was notified of a vessel half sunk near a boat ramp. After being pulled from the water it was quickly determined it had been dumped intentionally. The last registered owner told wardens he didn’t want it, and had posted it to an online auction site where it was purchased.
The new owner had not registered the boat, but a subpoena served to the online auction site led wardens to the user data of the purchaser. The suspect was discovered to be incarcerated in Dallas County Jail for other charges.
The suspect was interviewed at Dallas County Jail and provided a written confession. An arrest warrant was secured for illegal dumping over 1,000 pounds, a state jail felony offense.
No gator selfies
A Louisiana game warden reached out to his counterparts in Sabine County about several individuals who had posted to Snapchat their alligator catching adventure on the Texas side of Toledo Bend Reservoir. A Texas game warden traveled to Sabine Parrish to assist with the investigation.
After being interviewed, the suspect said he and the other men were fishing around the Indian Mounds area, caught the alligator on the bank, took pictures of it and released it. The individuals each received one citation and couple of warnings.
Live feed leads to poachers arrest
A Liberty County landowner alerted game wardens of evidence someone had been poaching on his property near Dayton.
The wardens set up a live feed, motion detection security camera at the location so they could receive real time cell phone notifications should the suspects return.
Within a week, wardens got an alert and via the live video feed observed two individuals on the property carrying rifles. The wardens drove to the scene and arrested both subjects, who admitted to hunting hogs and rabbits on the property without landowner consent. Both were transported to the Liberty County Jail for booking.
And space for 15
Webb County game wardens spotted a late model Ford Expedition that failed to maintain a single lane of travel and appeared to be loaded down in the rear of the vehicle. When the wardens conducted a traffic stop 15 people bailed out and started running.
The wardens apprehended the driver and six subjects. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrived on scene and tracked down three more individuals. The driver said he had been paid $200 to drive the individuals to San Antonio. All subjects were turned over to Border Patrol and the driver was arrested on third degree felony human smuggling charges.
Hot to trot
While patrolling Cow Bayou for water safety violations, Orange County wardens encountered an untagged saltwater trotline that had been freshly set in April. After they picked up the trotline, a warden attached his card to one of the end posts to see if the fisherman would call him.
Later in another part of the bayou, wardens came across two fishermen tending another saltwater trotline. When questioned, one fisherman admitted to having placed the untagged trotline, and two others. He said he got the card off his other marker and was going to call after he got off the water. After receiving the citations, he removed the remaining trotlines, and returned the illegally caught resources to the water. Case pending.
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