New Braunfels Man Charged With Poaching 13 Bucks Across Three Counties, Faces 74 Violations
A New Braunfels man is facing dozens of charges after Texas Game Wardens accused him of illegally killing at least 13 white-tailed bucks across multiple counties, often taking only the antlers and leaving the rest of the deer behind.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 55-year-old Darrell Maguire of New Braunfels now faces 74 charges tied to an investigation involving alleged poaching incidents in Comal, Hays, and Bexar counties between the fall of 2024 and late summer 2025. Texas Parks and Wildlife officials allege Maguire illegally killed deer over an 11-month period, often shooting bucks with a crossbow from a vehicle and removing only the heads while leaving carcasses to waste.
The Investigation Started After Deer Began Appearing in Neighborhoods
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , the investigation began in June 2025 after multiple white-tailed buck carcasses were discovered in Comal and Hays counties. Several of the incidents reportedly occurred in residential neighborhoods, where game wardens recovered crossbow bolts from front yards and porches. Officials said the unusual nature of the cases immediately raised concerns among investigators because several animals had allegedly been left headless after being killed.
Reporting from the San Antonio Express-News stated that one of the deer discovered near Kuehler Avenue in New Braunfels had likely been shot from a roadway before its head was removed, apparently as a trophy. Other incidents reportedly occurred near residential streets, creating concern among nearby homeowners who began finding dead deer close to houses and yards.
Officials Say Some Deer Were Shot From a Vehicle
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, investigators believe Maguire frequently used a crossbow to shoot deer from inside a vehicle, often from public roadways. Authorities allege the deer were killed illegally at night and without landowner permission…