Usually, game wardens have few clues to go on when they discover deer remains dumped alongside a road. A recently wrapped up investigation in Live Oak County gave them an easy trail to follow.
Last September, wardens were made aware of several deer carcasses and other items dumped in a bar ditch. Among the discarded animal parts, were blood-stained clothing and a backpack. Inside the backpack were check stubs belonging to an individual who resided near the area in Chambers County.
Wardens interviewed the subject, who admitted that he and another person shot several white-tailed deer over several nights. One particular buck, a huge 17-pointer, they shot after entering a high-fenced ranch. Wardens recovered the buck’s antlers, which scored 176 3/8 B&C, and made numerous cases against both subjects.
Over a period of three nights, it was determined that eight deer (four doe, three fawn, and one buck) were shot from, and loaded into, their truck. They confessed to shooting at and wounding many more deer that were not recovered. Charges for hunting without landowner consent, from a vehicle, at night, with artificial light and failure to retrieve or keep in edible condition were filed and both subjects arrested.
That’s not a serpentine belt - Game wardens got an unusual request for assistance when an employee at a business next to their office stopped in to ask for help removing a large snake from the engine compartment of his vehicle. The individual was unsure of the species and reluctant to attempt removal.
The wardens assisted in untangling a six foot rat snake, which had wrapped itself around the engine parts. The vehicle’s owner believed the snake may have hitched a ride earlier in the week while he was parked at a farm. The snake was exhausted but unhurt. Lake Bob Sandlin State Park employees asked to keep the snake for a few days to use for educational purposes before they released it.
Caught in the act -
Willacy County game wardens responded to a call regarding possible trespassers fishing within the historic El Sauz Ranch. While searching the area, a warden observed two individuals fishing from a canoe.
Contact was made and a water safety/fishing inspection was conducted. After a short interview, the two individuals admitted to fishing from the bank within the El Sauz Ranch not long before the warden arrived.
On top of criminal trespassing charges, other violations were also discovered such as harvesting an alligator gar without a valid Texas fishing license, no personal identification and insufficient number of life jackets. Citations were issued and one 54-inch alligator gar was seized. Restitution totaling approximately $700 for the gar and cases are pending.
Anti-social media behavior - Game wardens in Limestone and Leon counties completed an investigation into an animal cruelty case. The suspect used fireworks to torture a live, injured raccoon and posted the act on social media. The suspect was indicted by a Limestone County Grand Jury and warrants for his arrest were obtained. The suspect was arrested.
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