Game Warden Field Notes

Dove Tales

A Real County game warden received a call from a group of people who were trying to fish on their own property. The caller stated while they were fishing, they were peppered by shot gun pellets and were seeing a lot of dove flying in the area. The warden arrived at the location and met a truck leaving the property, asking the driver if he had been hunting. The driver said he had been dove hunting and killed seven birds. The warden informed the hunter that dove season in the Central Zone ended on the 14th. The hunter was cited for Hunt Dove in Closed Season and his birds were seized and donated. Case pending.

Ineligible

A Webb County game warden and Duval County game warden completed an investigation on an individual who had entered a deer into the local Muy Grande Deer Contest. The individual who shot the deer was from out of state and did not possess a license. She then bought a license five hours later after entering the deer into the contest. The deer scored 172 5/8 Boone and Crockett Score. Cases and Civil restitution pending.

Decoyed

While checking duck hunters along the Frio River, a game warden contacted a boat containing four duck hunters. The “so-called” guide stated he did not have a hunting license, identification and failed to have enough PFD’s for his hunters on board. While inspecting the ducks, one hunter attempted to awkwardly pick up a pile of decoys and move it away from the warden. When the warden asked the hunter what was under the pile of decoys and why he tried to move them in such a weird manner, the hunter stated he found a large alligator skull on the bank. He attempted to hide it as he was unsure if it was legal for him to possess. The hunter was informed he could not possess the skull which was found on the Daughtry Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Multiple cases were filed for hunting without a license, insufficient PFD’s and illegal possession of an alligator. The alligator skull is expected to meet or exceed the record for the largest alligator documented on the Choke Canyon.

Citizen Assist

A Lubbock District game warden received a call regarding hunters being on the Dimmit Playa WMA in Castro County. The Dimmit Playa WMA is a drawn-only hunt property and the informant that called was a hunter who had won the drawn hunt and was currently scouting the property for the upcoming weekend. The informant told the warden that when he arrived at the Dimmit Playa there was a pickup parked at the gate of the property. As he got closer, he noticed three hunters firing shotguns inside the property. The Castro County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched and arrived on scene first due to logistics. After interviewing the suspects, the sheriff discovered they had killed five pheasants. The warden coordinated with the sheriff and all five pheasants were seized and civil restitution was filed. The suspects were also cited for the following violations: Taking or Possessing species from a Wildlife Management Area, Failure to have an Annual Public Hunting Permit and a No Upland Game Bird Endorsement Violation.

The Munchies

Wardens were patrolling in Childress County for state law violations when they observed a vehicle with a Louisiana license plate traveling east on a rural highway. A traffic stop was conducted and during the initial contact with the driver, the wardens pointed out that there was a small purple box with a marijuana leaf insignia on it that appeared to have "THC" written on the box. Wardens had the driver exit his vehicle and questioned him about his trip across the U.S. During the investigation, the driver admitted to having some marijuana and THC edibles inside the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle yielded several containers of THC wax, THC edible candy, marijuana and several drug paraphernalia items. The driver was booked into the Childress County Jail without incident and charged with possession of a controlled substance PG2 4<400G, possession of marijuana less than 2oz, and possession of drug paraphernalia.