Two Convicted in Texas White-Tailed Deer Smuggling Case

• Texas Game Wardens Bust Illegal Deer Smuggling Operation
• Two convicted for violating wildlife laws, fined over $12,000

Texas Game Wardens have shut down an illegal white-tailed deer smuggling operation, leading to the conviction of two men caught transporting captive deer without required permits.

The Investigation

• A South Texas deer breeder and his partner were caught moving seven deer from an East Texas breeding facility to Brazoria and Duval counties.
• A Montgomery County game warden stopped their vehicle and discovered the illegally transported deer.
• Further investigation uncovered multiple violations, including failure to conduct required chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing.

Charges & Penalties

• The breeder faced 41 total charges and pleaded guilty to 32 violations, including deer breeder infractions and penal code offenses.
• His business partner was convicted of 30 violations related to illegal deer possession and transport.
• Both men received a combined $12,060 in fines.

Wildlife & Disease Concerns

Game wardens stress that illegal deer transfers threaten Texas’ ability to monitor diseases like CWD, which can impact both captive and wild deer populations.

"Flagrant violations like these create serious risks for landowners, hunters, and Texas’ $9.6 billion hunting economy," said Col. Ronald VanderRoest, TPWD Law Enforcement Director.

Due to their unknown disease status, the smuggled deer, often called “ghost deer,” were euthanized per TPWD protocols. Fortunately, testing found no CWD cases in this instance.

Find out more about Texas Games Wardens here.