The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) law enforcement reports.

Penny Pinching

A Shelby County game warden followed up on an ongoing investigation of a local individual who had hunted without a valid hunting license when he shot a buck in 2019. The subject confessed to not buying the license to save money for college. Case pending.

Mama’s Got Your Back

Two Harris County game wardens followed up on a local poaching complaint and discovered a suspect who had harvested a white-tailed doe had done so without landowner consent. The suspect confessed to poaching and when asked to collect the deer meat, was surprised to find his mom had hidden the illegal deer meat under the couch while the wardens visited with him outside the home. Multiple charges and restitution pending.

Holy Crappie

An Upshur County game warden received an anonymous tip about a substantial amount of fish that had been cleaned and dumped at Lake O’ the Pines near Ore City. The warden and his partner responded and inspected the property where the fish were dumped and discovered that two out of state fishermen were responsible. The two fishermen had been fishing every day for a week and were staying at a motel at the local marina. Further investigation revealed 273 crappie, 173 fish over the legal state possession limit, were taken, filleted and stored in ice chests and freezers on the property. More than 350 crappie fillets were seized and donated to multiple families around the area. Multiple charges and restitution pending.

Turtle-y Illegal

A warden was notified about a complaint regarding a local pet store in San Antonio that had a tortoise for sale. Upon inspection of the pet store, the warden seized a Texas Tortoise (a threatened species) that was “given” to the store. Further investigation revealed the store was also selling Mississippi Map Turtles and River Cooter Turtles without a non-game dealers license. Charges pending.

What’s in the Bag?

A Val Verde County game warden was patrolling the northern end of the county for whitetailed deer hunting compliance when he contacted several subjects who were acting evasive when asked simple hunting related questions. Further questioning revealed the group had been trespassing and duck hunting without licenses or duck stamps in between their deer hunt. The breasted-out ducks were found neatly stored in a potato chip bag. Multiple cases and restitution pending.

— Contributed report