05-21 | Texas Game Wardens File 74 Charges Against New Braunfels Man Accused of Poaching 13 White-Tailed Deer

May 21, 2026

Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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NEW BRAUNFELS – Texas Game Wardens have filed 74 charges against a New Braunfels man accused of illegally killing at least 13 white-tailed bucks in Comal, Hays and Bexar counties between the fall of 2024 and through late summer 2025.

Darrell Maguire, 55, New Braunfels, is alleged to have poached deer over an 11-month period, often shooting the animals with a crossbow from his vehicle, removing only the heads and leaving the carcasses to waste.

The investigation began in June 2025 after multiple white-tailed buck carcasses were discovered in Comal and Hays counties. Several of the incidents occurred in residential neighborhoods, where wardens recovered crossbow bolts from front yards and porches.

Texas Game Wardens arrested Maguire in September on wildlife and drug possession charges. While executing the search warrant of his residence, wardens recovered evidence they say linked him to multiple poaching scenes.

As the investigation continued, wardens determined Maguire also exceeded the annual bag limit during the 2024 hunting season, allegedly taking five white-tailed bucks over the legal limit in Bexar County.

From June through September 2025, investigators believe Maguire illegally killed at least eight white-tailed bucks in residential areas across Comal and Hays counties.

Charges filed against Maguire include:

Hunting without landowner consent, a state jail felony
Hunting white-tailed deer at night, a Class A misdemeanor
Hunting white-tailed deer from a vehicle from a public roadway, a Class A misdemeanor
Failure to retrieve and keep white-tailed deer in edible condition, a Class A misdemeanor when committed in conjunction with other Class A offenses
Possession of a controlled substance PG 1/1B (methamphetamines) 5.86 grams, a 2nd degree felony
Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor

Maguire also faces multiple Class C Parks and Wildlife Code violations.

The case remains pending.

About Texas Game Wardens

Texas Game Wardens, within the Law Enforcement Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, are responsible for enforcing laws related to the conservation and management of natural resources and public safety through community-based law enforcement. Their mission is to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Additionally, they play a crucial role in search and rescue operations during natural disasters, exemplifying their commitment to protecting both the environment and the people of Texas.

If you witness a fishing, wildlife or boating violation in progress, please call 1-800-792-GAME (4263) immediately and report it to Operation Game Thief (OGT), Texas’ Wildlife Crime-Stoppers Program. You can also text your tip by sending the keyword TXOGT plus your tip to 847411 or through the Texas OGT App, available for iOS and Android devices. Dispatchers are available 24/7.