FRIONA, Texas — A routine traffic stop in Parmer County last month turned into a significant wildlife enforcement action when Texas Game Wardens discovered evidence of multiple illegally harvested mule deer — all discovered outside of the season and without meeting legal antler requirements, according to officials.
Traffic Stop Reveals Illegal Deer Meat
The incident began when a Parmer County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a pickup truck north of Friona in late December. During the stop, fresh mule deer meat was found in the vehicle, even though mule deer rifle season had already closed in the region.
Texas Game Warden Jayden Rollins was called to assist. He later determined that the meat had been given to the driver by relatives who had been hunting earlier that day. During his investigation, Rollins found that the person who harvested the deer had done so out of season, and that additional illegal mule deer harvests from earlier in the year were involved.
Citations and Restitution Assessed
Authorities ultimately issued multiple citations stemming from the case:
– Two citations for hunting mule deer out of season
– Two citations for harvesting illegally taken mule deer
– One citation for failure to complete hunter education
Game Wardens also assessed civil restitution, a financial penalty designed to reimburse the state for the value of wildlife taken illegally — including mule deer bucks. Warden Rollins noted that the restitution value for a mule deer buck in Texas is around $1,900.
Antler Restrictions and Legal Season
In parts of Texas that include Parmer County, mule deer regulations generally include closed rifle seasons outside of specific dates and minimum antler measurements for legal buck harvest. According to current state hunting rules, a legal mule deer buck typically must have an outside spread of main beam antlers of at least 20 inches to meet criteria for harvest.
In this case, Wardens determined that the harvested deer did not meet that minimum antler spread requirement, further contributing to the enforcement action.
Officials Comment on Enforcement
Warden Rollins provided explanation on the restitution process:
“It’s actually where individuals that illegally harvest or kill wildlife have to pay the state back the monetary value of that animal that is killed.”
Parmer County Game Warden Wesley Driskill also spoke about the broader context of enforcement efforts in the region, including general encouragement for hunters to understand and comply with local seasons and tagging requirements.
What This Means for Hunters
This case highlights how routine enforcement actions — even a traffic stop — can uncover wildlife violations. In Texas, game wardens rely on checkpoints, landowner tips, and cooperation with local law enforcement to investigate suspected illegal harvests.
Hunters operating in the Texas Panhandle and other mule deer range counties should ensure they are familiar with:
– Specific season dates for mule deer in their county
– Minimum antler restrictions for legal bucks
– Proper tagging and reporting requirements
Details of these regulations are updated annually by Texas Parks & Wildlife and can be quickly checked through Hunterizer, which provides hunters with a convenient, field-ready way to look up current Texas seasons, county-specific rules, and legal requirements in one place.
