Lubbock District Game Wardens Say Saturation Patrol was a Success

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Saturation Patrol Efforts during the 9 Day Mule Deer Season Lead to Decrease in Poaching

With the mule deer season coming to a close in most counties on Sunday November 27th, Lubbock district game wardens say the increased number of wardens patrolling in the area lead to an increase in voluntary compliance. img_1374

During the opening weekend alone, the assisting wardens patrolled just over five thousand ground miles making contact with hunters in the field. Lubbock district public information officer Aaron Sims believes the increased presence, which also included a spotter airplane, led to a deterrence in the usual number of wildlife crimes. “The West Texas mule deer attracts people from around the country to hunt these large bucks. With hundreds and thousands of people coming into these rural areas, there is an increased chance for some of those hunters to try and break the law or cut a few corners to bag a buck. Working in cooperation with county sheriffs’ offices, Lubbock game wardens answered numerous calls and worked many long hours throughout the day and into the night to protect the wildlife resource.”

However, even with the increased patrol efforts, Sims told us that wardens made multiple arrests including hunting deer without landowner consent, criminal trespass, and are following up on several road hunting reports. “The overwhelming majority of hunters follow the law, respect wildlife, and the ethical hunters themselves directly help in the protection of the resources of this great state. But there are some individuals who try and cheat as if the ends justify the means.” The wardens received numerous tips and information from area hunters, landowners, farmers, and citizens which lead to many of the arrests. According to reports, the majority of the illegal activity occurred in the state line counties where the mule deer season was also running concurrently in New Mexico. Lubbock game wardens in the western panhandle counties will now switch gears to focus on waterfowl, sandhillimg_1471-002 crane, and pheasant hunting in the coming weeks, while the eastern county wardens will continue to work the remaining white tail deer season.
Also to note, there are certain counties that have an extended 14 day mule deer season which will end on December 4th. Hunting deer without consent in Texas is a state jail felony carrying a possible punishment of up to 2 years in jail, ten thousand dollar fine, and loss of hunting privileges in Texas and other states across the US.

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