Game Wardens release field notes from week

The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

The case for not running

On Aug. 26, Harrison Co. two game wardens were patrolling the Sabine River in Gregg Co. when one warden decided to check two subjects stuck in a van beside the river. The game wardens became suspicious, so the game warden decided to check the individuals out through Gregg Co. Sheriff's Office. After completing criminal history, one of the subjects decided to take off on foot, leaving his friend stuck in the mud. The subject who ran thought the game warden had a warrant but was mistaken. Upon searching the vehicle, marijuana and a 9mm pistol were seized as evidence. The other warden was also dealing with a third subject at the same location. The second warden discovered marijuana in the subject's tackle box as he was fishing by the river. Cases pending.

Told you so

On Aug. 20, a Harris Co. game warden received information that a field near Cypress had been baited and that the subjects might already have been hunting earlier that week. The warden located the field and found cracked corn and milo along with dove decoys hanging on the barbed wire fences. The following Sunday, the game warden watched the field in the evening and observed four subjects shoot skeet for an hour before the temptation of all the doves got to them. The subjects shot doves until 8:15 p.m. before deciding to pack it up. As the game warden made contact with the surprised subjects, he overheard one say: "I told you guys this was not a good idea." Cases and restitution pending.

Canine alert

On Aug. 22 at 1:30 a.m., a Taylor Co. game warden heard his dog barking at something. When the game warden went outside to see what it was, he could hear a vehicle idling at a curve near his house. After about a minute, two shots rang out and the vehicle took off. The game warden got into his truck and followed the vehicle. The game warden stopped a vehicle just south of Merkel for running a stop sign and inside the vehicle were three individuals, along with two spotlights, a shotgun, a .243 rifle, and an open 36-pack of beer. All three individuals, 18 years old, denied shooting off the road but did state they had been hunting on some property south of Merkel and had driven to Nolan to look at the windmills. Two of the subjects did not have a hunting license or hunter's education. Citations issued.

The $65,000 hogs

On Aug. 19, a Montgomery Co. game warden received a call about someone trespassing to hunt on a lease near Magnolia. Information was that several subjects from a subdivision bordering the lease had come onto the property and shot several hogs.. The first game warden at the scene found where the hogs had been dragged from the lease then followed the trail back to a residence. Soon, another game warden joined the first at the residence to assist with the investigation. While one game warden was interviewing the suspect, the second noticed what appeared to be blood on a 2005 Kawasaki Mule 4x4. The suspect stated the blood on the Mule was old then challenged the game wardens to find evidence of illegal hunting on the Mule and gave consent to search. Well, he forgot about the baggie of marijuana he had in the glove box of the Mule. The game warden also noticed that the ignition had been tampered with and a master lock key was in it. The game warden started asking the suspect questions about the Mule 4x4 and received several different versions as to how he acquired it. The game warden located the VIN and a routine check found that it had been reported stolen through Rice University PD in November 2006. A Caterpillar skid steer loader at the location had its identification plate removed; the secondary VIN was located and it was found to be stolen. While all of this was going on, a man on an ATV drove by the wardens' location. Suspecting that he may be connected to the poaching call, the game warden chased the ATV operator down and stopped him. The ownership of the ATV came into question, so the game wardens followed the subject to a second residence where several other ATVs were located. They continued their investigation on the trespassing and poaching call along with the possible involvement of the newly discovered ATVs. When the dust finally settled, the Montgomery Co. game wardens had recovered one stolen 2005 Kawasaki Mule 4x4, a stolen Bobcat loader and three stolen ATVs, with an estimated value of $65,000. The first suspect was transported to Montgomery Co. Jail for possession of marijuana. Investigation continues with assistance from local Motor Vehicle Theft Task Force.