Two Whitehouse men have been arrested and face more than 30 charges after a random tip sparked a two-month investigation by state game wardens into a series of illegal hunting incidents.

The two were arrested by game wardens on charges ranging in severity from Class C misdemeanor to Class A misdemeanors. Among the charges include: hunting white-tailed deer at night and hunting white-tailed deer with a light. A rifle alleged to have been used in the crimes has been seized pending the outcome of the cases.

“This was an extensive investigation. Probably one of the more extensive cases we have worked in a long time,” said Game Warden Capt. Quint Balkcom.

Wardens believe the two were responsible for illegally hunting three deer from a Smith County road at night during deer season on more than one occasion. The pair is also suspected of illegally killing a hog on a Lake Tyler property and dumping the carcass into the lake, in addition to killing a goose by intentionally running it over with a boat.

One of the men has been released on bond and the other remains in the Smith County jail on an unrelated charge.

Wardens Brad Clark and Dustin Dockery were the lead investigators in the case. They were assisted in the investigation by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Whitehouse Police and Texas Department of Public Safety.

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