Texas Game Wardens have wrapped up an investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of two men involved in the illegal transportation of seven deer including a captive white-tailed deer.
This case, which unfolded in the Houston-area, underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to protect the state’s natural resources.
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The discovery
The investigation kicked off when a South Texas deer breeder and his business partner were caught red-handed trying to smuggle deer during a traffic stop by Montgomery County Game Warden.
A red flag noticed by the warden was the fact that the deer were being transported without the necessary documentation and identification. Authorities say they were moving these deer from a licensed breeding facility in East Texas, through Montgomery County, with plans to release them illegally on private property in Brazoria and Duval counties.
Uncovering violations
As the investigation deepened, significant violations of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) statutes and regulations came to light, along with criminal and traffic violations. Both individuals were arrested and booked into Montgomery County Jail.
The deer breeder faced a staggering 41 charges, including one traffic code violation, 11 penal code violations, and 29 deer breeder violations under the Texas Administrative Code and Parks and Wildlife Code. He pleaded guilty to three penal code violations and 29 deer breeder violations. His business partner was charged with two penal code violations and 28 deer breeder violations, leading to convictions.
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The men were found guilty of multiple counts of violations committed with the intent to dodge disease monitoring and testing requirements. Combined, they were convicted of 57 deer breeder violations, one alcohol, and two dangerous drug violations, resulting in fines totaling $12,060.
Protecting natural resources
Col. Ronald VanderRoest, TPWD Law Enforcement Director, stressed the importance of compliance, stating, “Flagrant violations, such as intentionally transferring deer without identifiers, hinder Texas’ ability to identify the source of a deer in the event of disease detection.
This creates the potential for negative impacts to the health of both captive and free-ranging deer populations, the deer breeder industry, landowners, hunters, and Texas’ outdoor and rural-based economies, where white-tailed deer hunting has a $9.6 billion annual economic contribution.”
A clear message
Ann Kuykendall, Montgomery County assistant district attorney, commended the Texas Game Wardens' efforts, saying, “This case perfectly illustrates the dedication and hard work of Texas Game Wardens by not only uncovering the defendant’s illegal operation but also highlighting the importance of protecting our state’s natural resources. This prosecution sends a clear message: those who knowingly violate these laws will be held accountable.”
The fate of the “ghost deer”
Due to their unknown disease status and the risks associated with their release, the “ghost deer” involved in this case were euthanized following disease testing protocols. Although the suspects' activities suggested a heightened risk of disease exposure, the epidemiological investigation fortunately revealed no detection of CWD.