Hunting - Fishing - Lone Star Outdoor News

MEN FISHING COULDN’T RESIST THE DUCKS

Near Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Sabine County Game Warden Sam Smith observed two subjects fishing from the bank. As Smith checked the subjects’ fishing licenses, he heard gunshots nearby. Smith finished the contact and walked through the thick brush in the direction of the gunshots. Smith observed five male subjects standing near the water; two of the subjects were fishing. Smith waited and another shot rang out. One of the subjects was shooting at ducks that were in the water. Smith announced his presence and made contact with the subjects. The subjects did not have fishing licenses, and two of the subjects admitted to shooting ducks off the water. Cases pending.

DEER BREEDER FAILED TO PROPERLY TAG, MOVE DEER

Atascosa County Game Warden Derek Iden came across a parked trailer with live deer at a gas station. The breeder deer were being shipped to a buyer. The deer had apparent ear tag violations, and Iden escorted the load back to the deer breeder facility in Atascosa County. Twenty deer were offloaded back into a holding pen, where Iden discovered another 20 deer being held. In less than 24 hours, the Law Enforcement and Wildlife divisions worked together to handle all 40 breeder deer. Twelve deer were set aside for further investigation. Iden issued the deer breeder 42 citations for having adult deer without any unique numbers and moving deer out of the facility without any indication of a tattoo in an ear. The driver of the load was cited for failing to mark the trailer with "TXD."

MAN CAUGHT KEEPING BIG BLACK DRUM

Nueces County Game Warden Scott Lindner responded to a call regarding an individual retaining oversize black drum on a fishing pier in the Laguna Madre. Lindner located an individual who had in his possession three oversized black drum ranging in size from 35 to 38 inches. Additionally, the man did not have a valid fishing license and saltwater endorsement. Cases pending.

AD TO BUY DEER MEAT COMES BACK TO HAUNT BUYER

Tarrant County Game Wardens Patricia Vannoy and David Vannoy worked covertly to apprehend an individual soliciting to purchase white-tailed deer meat. The wardens contacted the man after his ad was found on a popular Internet site. A meeting was arranged, and the man agreed to purchase various forms of deer meat from the warden posing as the seller. The cash from the sale was seized, and the case is pending.

CATFISH RUSTLER FROM JUG LINE CAUGHT

Tarrant County Game Warden David Vannoy contacted the operator of a vessel that displayed an expired registration decal on Joe Pool Lake. Vannoy also discovered that the man was in possession of a large blue catfish. The issue arose when Vannoy found that he had caught the fish from a jug line that did not belong to him. The subject did not have a fishing license. The fish was seized, and cases are pending.

BOAT REGISTRATION BLUNDER

While conducting a water safety inspection of a vessel on Joe Pool Lake, Tarrant County Game Warden David Vannoy discovered that the vessel's registration was not quite right. The operator stated that he had recently acquired the vessel but hadn't transferred the title or registration. What the subject did transfer, however, were current registration decals from another boat to the new boat to cover up the actual expired decals. Claiming that this was the way the boat came to him, the man could no longer deny wrongdoing once Vannoy informed him that the decal in question had his name on it in TPWD's database. Case pending.

FOLLOW THE BEER CAN ROAD

While checking white bass fishermen on the Neches River, Smith County Game Wardens Chris Swift and Dustin Dockery observed four subjects who were trespassing and fishing. Following a trail of empty beer cans, the wardens made contact with the subjects — none of whom had a fishing license. Several fish were returned to the river and citations were issued. Later that evening, the wardens observed a truck driving through a pasture with red and blue lights flashing. The volunteer fire chief was sent on a call for two lost fishermen. The wardens were able to determine that the two subjects were some of the fishermen they had checked earlier. The subjects were lost in an oxbow in the river, did not have a flashlight, and had been walking in circles. Swift and Dockery returned to the area and located the men. A local bow fisherman's airboat was utilized in helping get the subjects across the river.