I consider that to be a very "nieve"sp view...

Wardens are spread thin, few and far between to adequately cover everything. Their are bad sides of town that you wouldnt leave your car in overnight right? Well its just like that with poaching too.

I believe there is only one or two game wardens for that whole county.

Well like I said I'm fairly new to hunting. Thanks for the info.

Chevydude,
Just exactly how is a GW supposed to know that there are poachers on a particular piece of property? Out of the hundreds of thousands of acres in that area how would a GW know to single out a specific property to target poachers?

If nobody calls the GW to report poaching he can't exactly look into a crystal ball and magically locate the poachers. C'mon man.

Mr pirate,
I think I stated that I know that is an impossible job to do. I wasn't talking about the particular place I hunt, rather the entire area is what I referred to. I was also referring to the post made by someone saying that the wardens know of the poaching. I applaud u defending the GW's. Considering what I read and learned in an earlier post regarding the amount of land that one GW covers. They do an excellent job. I guess I'll mention it one more time before someone else thinks I'm bashing the wardens :

I am fairly new to hunting. I am learning as much as I can as I go. This site has helped with that. lots of good info

Chevydude,
Understood.

In that region of the state it is generally known to be a lot of poaching. However, nobody is willing to give up specific info as to who is poaching, when or where. Makes the GW's job nearly impossible. Then factor in that there is only one GW per county and you can see how daunting the job is.

the game wardens are fighting an up hill battle in that county. Some of the wardens i used to deal with in business where what you would call special forces. They got to do the cool stuff. However even with all the tools at these guys disposal they where still out gunned. There are some hi tech poachers out there that know the land also and there game is big bucks and people apparently even pay to hunt with these outlaws.

One day I'm sitting in the shop years ago and talking to an old customer who is a crusty ol' fart. and in walks one of the said game wardens who is in charge of these certain details that combat poaching down in south texas. The warden says the customers name and a polite howdy. The old grump just grunts and tells me he will be back to pick up his truck later, and pretty much blew the warden off with out giving him the bird. Then he just hobbles out mumbling profanities under his breath. Well of course I'm curious at this point and he tells me they have been after this grumpy old man and his brother since the early 70's. The guy has money to hunt where ever he wants to, but I guess he likes poaching more. They have had him in there sights more than once, even a few high speed chases but never got close enough to see anything but tail lights through the dust. They have raided his and his brothers homes and ranches, and found nothing. Through rumors and intel they figure he has poached every major ranch in South Texas. The warden told me the old coot just knows every inch of the land down there and that he is not stupid.

I would just like to know what he does with all the horns. And that is just one poacher so there job is not going to be easy. but i believe he grew up in Duval County so he probably cut his teeth in San Diego area.

One thing in the area that I dont understand is why the agencies arent working together more. I have come across illegals, trepasser's that were probably poaching but the law is spread thin is what we were told.

yeah nado, thats what i was wondering. i guess if it cant be controlled then it just cant be controlled.

Like I said earlier I know the game wardens used to fly over with planes because of how big and thick the area is. When we saw people we didnt know or thought didnt belong we just avoided them and laid low unless they were messing with our stuff. I still hate that my grandparents sold that place I still love it down there.

How many acres r u hunting?

You boys got a lot to learn about South Texas politics and law enforcement. The GW's are State and probably not from the area. Therefore, they are outsiders. The local PD and SO officers are most likely life long local boys. They may even be related to or close friends with the poachers. In some cases they may be poachers.

Forget everything you know about how things work where you are from. South Texas is a different world.

just think Duke of Duval or read one of the many books on the man. There is another one about south texas boss rule. Like Landpirate said it is a different world

Wow guys! I had no idea all of this went on in the area I hunt. Thanks again for sharing. There's only been 2 deer taken off the property this season and I was lucky enough to take a hog a couple of weeks ago. My first big game kill! The ranch is not big and from what I've seen the surrounding properties have blinds up but the times I've been over there I haven't seen anyone hunting from them. It's all low fence. So if u have any more stories about San Diego keep on posting. Very cool to learn about the area even if it's bad... Haha.

Oh by the way , my wife's family has a 400 acre ranch in lopeno, tx. They do have it leased out though. I plan on hunting that property in the future as well. Since its so close to the border ( located very near falcon lake) I've heard some illegal activity that happens on these properties quite often from cartels, etc. But the area is still hunted so I assume it's a don't ask don't tell policy as well.

I know the game wardens in the area. I believe there is One in San Diego and One near Hebbronville..
Kinda a big area. I am not sure of how many work the surrounding areas, but my guess is there isn't more than two or three at a time.

I'll give ya an example. When I was in the Border Patrol we would come up from Rio Grande and work highway 649 just south of where it intersects with Hwy 16 which runs from Zapata to Hebbronville. We had backed off into the brush when a truck comes by, slows down, stops, we hear the shot, doors open, we hear voices, hear the fence creak as they are going through it, we hear them grunting and groaning, hear the doors shut, the motor start again, we crank up, pull out, hit the reds and blues and stop 'em before they've gone even a quarter mile.

We call the game warden, back then he was a young fella from Hebbronville, last name of Huff, (that's for anyone who knows the GWs) who has since climbed the GW ladder and moved on. He took them to the JP in Hebbronville.

Long story short, we had run the tags, knew the vehicle was from Salineno, and went back to the office that direction on US 83. The truck was back in their driveway before we got off shift.

Lots of JPs down in that area (at least back in the day) are also related to everybody and their brother and don't think poaching is a really big thing.

GWs down there work their butts off, just like in most of the rest of the state. I've worked with them often on Falcon and will tell you they are definitely professionals.

so is there alot of deer an hogs ? is it worth driveing from ft worth to hunt this area ? i got pemission to hunt 22,000 acers down that way , but from the sounds of it i wont be the only one hunting , you think if i called the game warden before i went that way if i see any body he might could come catch them ?

22,000 acres and you asking if it is worth it? Are there roads on that 22k?

Tell me where it is. I'll go scout it out for ya.

22000 acres? Yea I think you need help scouting, I'll volunteer.

22,000 acres.........my scouting/guiding services are available as well lol.

Lol my buddy checking it out this weekend we mainly run hog dogs an coyote hunt so hopefully we will have some caught here in a week or so when I get a chance to go down there thanks if I need sone help I let y'all know

I dont know how many hogs you will find but you will find plenty of coyotes and javelina.