Dragnet, Texas Game Warden Edition
That Dog Does Hunt
While patrolling the Sam Houston National Forest, a Montgomery County Game
Warden contacted four individuals who had firearms, rope and GPS tracking equipment.
The hunter’s claimed that their dogs had gotten off the private property they were
hunting, and they were trying to get them back. The warden asked if they knew it was
illegal to run dogs in the national forest and they said that they did but were only trying
to retrieve their dogs. The warden told them to gather their dogs and leave the forest as
soon as possible. Once out of sight, the warden parked his vehicle and doubled back on
the group just in time to witness them dragging a pig out of the woods. All four
individuals received citations and a few warnings, and one was taken to Montgomery
County Jail on local warrants.
Smile! You’re on Camera
Hardin County Game Wardens wrapped up a week-long investigation that resulted in
apprehending two local subjects in the act of taking 35 catfish by way of hoop nets that
were placed in Village Creek near the Polk/Hardin County line. The warden had begun
the investigation the week prior and walked several miles along the creek until he
discovered a boat that was tied up and unattended in a very remote part of the creek.
After a quick inspection of the boat, he believed it was possibly being used to run hoop
nets. The wardens devised a plan to enter the property before daylight, ahead of a
forecasted heavy rain event, to catch the subjects in the act. After lying in wait for over 6
hours, the wardens heard the subjects arrive by vehicle and get in their boat that was
still tied up on the creek. After they emptied one hoop net upstream, they returned to
check a net downstream that just happened to be right in front of the wardens hiding
spot. The subjects were captured on video removing fish from their nets and the look on
their face when they were caught was “priceless.” Two hoop nets and 35 catfish were
seized and several charges for taking fish by illegal means and possessing hoop nets in
prohibited waters were filed.
Can’t Hide on the Water
Beaumont District Game Wardens were on patrol transiting through the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway in Jefferson County when they observed a bass boat traveling at
high speed and attempted to stop it for a water safety inspection. Suspiciously, the bass
boat occupants never turned around to observe the wardens and the activated blue
lights on the patrol vessel. They were able to catch up to the bass boat after
approximately 3 miles at a public boat ramp, and it appeared that the subjects were in a
hurry to load their vessel. Contact was made and upon inspection, the wardens found
several water safety and fishing violations. Over the limit of red drum (X4), undersized
red drum (X5), and one undersized black drum were some of the violations noted.
Multiple citations were issued, and civil restitution is pending.
