Is ‘game warden’ the wildest job in Texas?
Ken Herman says field notes from the state’s Parks and Wildlife Department show a wacky world happening out in the boonies.
AUSTIN — The title promises so little, but the product delivers so much.
This is the mundanely monickered “Game Warden Field Notes,” a periodic publication in which the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department updates us on the activities of the men and women who enforce our hunting and fishing laws and regulations.
“The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports,” we’re told in every installment of “Game Warden Field Notes.”
Here then, some recent “Game Warden Field Notes,” passed along with gratitude to our game wardens, to the Parks and Wildlife folks who write these up and to the enduring sense of bewilderment among us urban Texans about what’s going on among our neighbors out in the boonies:
•“Prop Scar: Comal County game wardens were called to the scene of a boating accident at Cranes Mill Marina on Canyon Lake where a 19-year-old male was struck by a boat propeller when he jumped in the lake unexpectedly to relieve himself. The individual was struck on his left shin and calf and received a significant laceration requiring medical transport to University Hospital in San Antonio.”
•“A Gator Tale: In March, a Duval County game warden got a tip about four individuals who had killed an alligator on the Nueces River in McMullen County. The individual gave the warden a list of the four suspects, a narrative of how the violation was committed and a picture of two individuals posing with the alligator . ...
“After initial denials of any knowledge of the event, one of the suspects admitted to catching an alligator and knocking it out with a paddle, then taking it to the bank to kill and skin. He also implicated three other individuals in the crime; however, he claimed he had no idea where the alligator skull was . ...
“A girlfriend of one of the suspects mentioned in passing the group typically throws all of their fish guts over the fence in the back lot. The game wardens searched the lot and found the alligator skull in the brush . ... In total, 16 citations and civil restitution for the alligator are pending.”
•“Caught With His Pants Down:
A Comal County game warden responded to a call for assistance from the Comal County Sheriff ’s Office after deputies received a shots fired call. The officers located an individual in a residential neighborhood on the south side of the lake who appeared to have fresh blood on his tactical boots, but did not have a firearm . ...
“After a brief interview with the suspect, the warden discovered that there were numerous deer shot and killed along the golf course neighborhood throughout the night. The warden was also able to determine that another individual was involved and was hiding out in the woods . ...
“The suspect hiding in the woods was not wearing any boots or pants. It was later determined he had removed them to conceal blood evidence. The warden continued to interview the suspects and determined that they had killed at least two white-tailed does and wounded another one.” • “J ust Can’t Make This Stuff
Up: A game warden patrolling Lake Corpus Christi for fishing and water safety violations inspected a small aluminum boat and then checked the fishermen’s licenses and catches. When he asked the fishermen what they were using as bait they said woodpecker. Sure enough, there were three dead woodpeckers in their cooler. Further investigation led to the fishermen admitting to killing an eight-point buck the previous year, without a license, and using it as fish bait as well. Water safety, fishing and hunting citations were issued.”
•“
Creative Rescue Tests Warden’s Sharpshooting
Skills: A Llano County game warden had to resort to extreme measures in order to rescue an injured great blue heron stuck in a tree in the Kingsland area. Upon arrival, the warden quickly realized he faced a significant challenge as the heron was hanging from a limb by his right wing approximately 40 feet up in the air.
“Climbing up to the bird was ruled out after the warden determined the tree could not support his weight. Plan B was scratched after the Kingsland Fire Department explained they didn’t have a 40-foot ladder available. The warden then tried to dislodge the bird using several lengths of PVC pipe fashioned together, but that, too, was ineffective.
“That’s when he employed a last resort option. Using a .22 rifle and his sharpshooting skills, the warden shot the limb the heron was hanging from enough times that the limb broke, allowing the heron to fall through the tree where it was safely caught and transported to an awaiting wildlife rehabilitator.”
•“ Inability to Resist a Redhead Proves Costly:
Responding to a call from a Williamson County landowner about excessive shooting taking place on a neighboring property the last day of duck season, wardens located three hunters and set up surveillance . ...
“Upon gaining access to the property, wardens made contact with the individual and found he was over the daily bag limit on redheads by 13. He told wardens he knew he was wrong but they were flying and kept coming. The other two hunters showed up shortly thereafter and upon seeing the game wardens, one immediately confessed, ‘We are over the limit on redheads.’ A total of 39 redheads were confiscated.”
•“Hold My Beer Kid: A Delta County game warden was parked along a county road one evening when he heard several gunshots and then observed a car and pickup turn onto the road. Contact was made with the pickup occupied by a man and his two sons, ages 10 and 13. There were several firearms and spotlights in the pickup and the 13-year-old was holding an open bottle of beer.
“The man stated his sons had received new guns for Christmas and they wanted to try them out. The man admitted to hunting from the roadway and handing his son the open beer when he saw the game warden. Backup was called and a state trooper arrested the father on suspicion of DWI, third or more. Charges for hunting from a public roadway were also filed.”