Tales from Texas Game Wardens about “hunters” gone bad and “anglers” with a few too many fish in the bag are all too common — but never the same. Each one has its own wrinkles and its own unique bit of stupidity or ignorance.
HELPING OUT
In March, Texas game wardens in the Panhandle responded and assisted after several motor vehicle accidents as a result of extreme winds. Wardens also assisted with a wildfire in Gray County.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL BALE BLIND
While assisting other law enforcement agencies, a Texas game warden and his K9 partner, Jake, were called to track a bailout suspect. Before starting their search for the bailout, Jake alerted to the vehicle — an indication people could be inside. However, Jake and his partner began pursuing the track of the bailout suspect and left the vehicle to be processed for evidence. After successfully locating and aiding in the apprehension of their suspect, the warden received a call from the agent at the scene telling him the haybale in the bed of the truck had just flipped over and requested assistance from the warden. Officers discovered 10 undocumented individuals hiding inside the fake hay bale.
GOOD MEMORY AND PERSISTENCE FROM ND WARDEN
North Dakota District Game Warden Drew Johnson found a set of deer sheds on a wildlife management area. Eight months later, he stopped a pickup with two occupants who had rifles but claimed they weren’t hunting. They did not have permits to hunt the part of the state that included the WMA. The warden observed blood on the tailgate, and the driver claimed he killed a buck in another area and showed the warden the head and cape he was taking to the taxidermist. The tag on the buck showed another area where it was killed. That night, the warden recalled the sheds he had found, and the similarity to the buck. At the taxidermist, he compared the shed to the buck. After seeing the similarities, a search warrant was obtained. A sample was obtained from the antlers and compared with the sheds. The DNA matched. The shooter, who had failed to return calls, appeared and admitted he killed the buck near the WMA. The man pleaded guilty and received a 2-year license suspension and fines.
Updated: 4/4/2025
