Category Archives: Wildlife crimes attorney

TPWD Is Collecting Anonymous Tips of Wildlife Crimes

Criminal Attorney, Criminal Defense, Defense attorney, Defenses, Fishing violation, Wildlife crimes, Wildlife crimes attorney, Wildlife violations

Earlier this year, Texas Parks and Wildlife proudly announced that a new tipline was in place, making it easier to report suspicious activity or violations. It’s now easier than ever to anonymously accuse someone of wildlife crime. But is that progress?

TPWD Is Collecting Tips and Reports of Illegal Activity

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is encouraging people to report suspicious activity by texting TIP411. People can also use the free Operation Game Thief App to make reports and submit photos or videos. The State even offers a bounty: Rewards of up to $1,000 are available for tips that result in a conviction.

Harsh Penalties for Wildlife Crimes

While tipline callers are offered a bounty, the accused—even if innocent—may face financial ruin. Common wildlife crimes cover several sporting areas:

Depending on the circumstances, such violations can lead to jail time as well as fines or restitution to the state. If you’re convicted, it may also mean the suspension of or loss of your license and sometimes forfeiture of equipment.

It’s Easier Than Ever To Accuse Someone of a Crime

Being fined, arrested or charged with a crime is stressful at best and life-ruining at worst. Civil or criminal charges are a serious matter requiring time, attention and resources to address properly.

It’s important to consider the implications of soliciting anonymous tips and evidence from the public at large. This may be particularly true when fake images are far more accessible than they once were.

Can Anonymous Tips Be Used in Court?

Luckily, in general, it’s not possible to use an anonymous accusation in a criminal trial. That said, a tip that leads to an independent investigation finding the accusation to be true gets around the problem.

After an anonymous tip, TPWD law enforcement officials can run an independent investigation that corroborates the information in the tip. That evidence would likely be admissible in court.

Anonymous tips, as well as any other evidence presented, must be dealt with carefully and correctly by your defense team.

Countering the prosecution’s evidence and presenting your own is the heart of an effective defense. We know how to present your side of the story in court. That can make a tremendous difference in penalties, such as fines and restitution, as well as help you keep your right to hunt and fish in the future.

Contact a Federal Wildlife Violations Lawyer for a Strong Defense

At Lee & Wood, GP, you get the benefit of an experienced wildlife violations defense attorney who is also an avid hunter. You get to talk to an attorney who understands the law and the real-life circumstances hunters face. Call 817-678-6771 or contact us online to discuss your situation.

What Happens if a Hunter Doesn’t Retrieve Their Game?

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Hunting has been a longstanding tradition in the state of Texas. Many people each year hunt to stock the fridge and freezer with delicious game meat. To plenty of hunters, it’s also a sport that goes back generations in their family and is often considered a right of passage.

There’s so much land and multitudes of different animals in Texas, which makes it an ideal place for hunters to respectfully participate in this classic pastime. Unfortunately, there are times when hunters are wasteful and disrespectful of the sport and nature.

Believe it or not, there are those out there who kill animals only to leave them where they drop to rot away. There are also people who take one piece of their kill only to leave behind perfectly edible portions of the meat.

These types of acts are against the law and are referred to as “Waste of Game” crimes.

Ways Hunters Can Commit Waste of Game Crimes

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, it’s illegal for a hunter to kill a game animal, bird or fish and:

  • Leave it behind without making an adequate effort to recover it and count it as part of their bag limit (daily and seasonal). Anyone who knowingly leaves a carcass behind is committing a Class C misdemeanor crime.
  • Leave behind edible portions of the carcass. One example of this could be killing a deer, taking the antlers and leaving behind the rest of the body.

It’s also against poaching laws to leave behind edible portions of whitetail or mule deer, pronghorn antelope or desert bighorn sheep without landowner permission. This type of crime would be considered a Class A misdemeanor. 

In addition, if a hunter wounds an animal and the animal wanders onto a landowner’s property, the hunter isn’t allowed to pursue the animal without the landowner’s permission. Failing to follow this law would be considered trespassing and the hunter could be arrested.

Penalties for Wasted Game

Punishments for wildlife laws vary, but if a person commits a Class C misdemeanor, the penalty would be a fine of $25-$500. For a Class A misdemeanor they’ll be subject to a $500-$4,000 fine and/or 1 year in jail.

These are only a few examples, but if you happen to be accused of committing waste of game or other wildlife crimes, you could be facing much worse penalties. Your best choice is to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to learn your options.

Facing Charges of Wildlife Crimes? Contact Lee & Wood, GP Today

If you’ve been accused of wildlife crimes in Texas, the trusted experts at Lee & Wood, GP are here to help you. Our attorneys can help you fight for your rights and potentially reduce your consequences. To schedule your initial consultation, call us at 817-678-6771 or send us a message.

Is it Legal to Hunt and Kill Nuisance Animals in Texas?

Criminal Attorney, Criminal Defense, Defense attorney, Wildlife crimes, Wildlife crimes attorney, Wildlife violations

For hunting enthusiasts, Texas is a great place to be, with several “no closed season” options for hunters. But does it include hunting and killing nuisance animals?

When owning land in Texas, it’s natural that you’ll come across nuisance animals. These are pesky critters and creatures that can wreak havoc on your land or are simply an irritation. So what can you legally do about the problem? Is killing or removing a nuisance animal a wildlife crime? Let’s find out what Texas law says in this helpful guide.

What Are “Nuisance Animals”?

Simply put, nuisance animals depredate or pose a threat to human health or safety. They may create a hazard for motorists or put housepets at risk. They may also trespass on property, make messes by tipping over garbage cans or destroy a lawn or garden.

There are many types of nuisance animals, including:

  • Raccoons
  • Foxes
  • Coyotes
  • Bobcat
  • Otter
  • Skunks
  • Badgers
  • Beavers
  • Mink
  • Muskrat

Texas Law on Fur-Bearing Nuisance Animals

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, landowners or their agents may take nuisance fur-bearing animals in any number by any means and at any time on that person’s land. There’s no need for a hunting or trapping license.

If you’d prefer to capture and relocate the animal instead of killing it, you can do so. To capture and relocate, you need to get authorization from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the owner of the property where the release will occur. 

You’ll also need to submit a monthly report on the number and kind of nuisance animals that you captured. Include the number, the location of the release site, and your name and address.

It’s important to know that no one except licensed trappers can take these animals or their pelts during their lawful open season and possession periods. It’s a crime (a Class C misdemeanor) to transport or sell live foxes, coyotes, or raccoons in Texas. It’s also a crime to take fur-bearing animals on land owned by someone else without that person’s consent. 

Why Is Knowing Texas Wildlife Law Important?

As a landowner, getting rid of nuisance animals is important. It will help keep your land pristine and help you avoid certain risks that these animals present. Knowing Texas wildlife law will help you do it safely and in the best interest of everyone. It will also protect you from potential legal issues.

If you kill and hunt nuisance animals incorrectly, you could run afoul of Texas hunting, fishing or wildlife laws. The consequences of a violation can be costly, including fines, loss of hunting licenses and even jail time.

Get Legal Assistance for Wildlife Crimes

Texas has an abundance of nuisance animals, and it can be difficult to know all the intricacies of wildlife law. The Fort Worth lawyers at LEE AND WOOD, GP. have extensive experience defending people against wildlife crimes, including those involving nuisance animals. If you have been accused of a wildlife crime or want to learn more, call us today at 817-678-6771  or send us a message for a confidential consultation.

Is Fishing Without a License a Crime in Texas?

Fishing violation, Texas attorney, Wildlife crimes, Wildlife crimes attorney, Wildlife violations

Is fishing without a license a crime in Texas? It’s a common question. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department publishes the many fishing rules and penalties that apply to residents and nonresidents fishing in Texas, and many sections of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Code pertain to fishing.

Under the Code, it is unlawful to fish on public water from private land without a fishing license. Fishing licenses are required of anyone who fishes in public waters in Texas, with some exceptions.

Penalties for Fishing Without a License in Texas

While fishing licenses are generally required, the penalties for fishing violations are sometimes minor. In most cases, people caught fishing without a license are fined less than $500. In those cases, it usually makes more sense to pay the fine than to hire a lawyer to fight the charges. However, it is important to pay the fine or resolve the issue. Failure to pay a fine can be considered a misdemeanor.

But, not all fishing violations are minor. The penalties can be steep when people fish for commercial purposes without a license, or when they fish rare and protected species of fish. Class B misdemeanors can lead to up to six months in jail, Class A misdemeanors can lead to up to a year in jail, and felonies can lead to up to two years in jail. Fines can also mount into the thousands of dollars.

Exceptions to the Fishing License Requirement

In some cases, you may not need a license to go fishing in Texas:

  • People under the age of 17 do not need a fishing license. The law encourages kids and teens to learn to fish at no cost.
  • Visitors to Texas State Parks can fish without a license. However, they must be within the boundary of the state park, and not all Texas parks are state parks.
  • People with intellectual disabilities may fish without a license. Fishing must be part of medically approved therapy, and the person must be accompanied by staff and carry authorization. People with intellectual disabilities can also fish under the supervision of licensed anglers who are family members or who have permission from their families to take them fishing. To do this, a doctor’s note is required.
  • People fishing on private land do not need a license. No license is required when fishing from a stock tank or other private body of water. However, if you are transporting the fish, you should carry documentation about where they came from. It is also unlawful to fish from private land into public waters without a license.

Get Legal Help After a Fishing Violation

If you have been accused of a fishing violation, call 817-678-6771 or send us a message for a confidential consultation with the Fort Worth lawyers at LEE AND WOOD, GP.  We have extensive experience defending people against wildlife crimes, including fishing violations.