TPW seizes 40-plus deer antlers
in taxidermy shop raid

FRIO COUNTY -- Texas Parks and Wildlife law enforcement officials seized more than 40 sets of deer antlers at a taxidermy shop raid on Jan. 8.
The owner of the shop was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence after he allegedly tried to get rid of the antlers when game wardens came to question him.
Most of the antlers were not properly documented. Also, the required hunting license tag or wildlife resource documents that are supposed to accompany the antlers contained questionable information, according to TPW Game Wardens.
TPW officials said it is unusual to seize this many antlers at one taxidermy shop.
According to Game Warden Maj. Albert Gonzalez of San Antonio, the concern used to be people having deer meat they were not entitled to. Today, there is more of a demand for the deer antlers than meat, he said.
The investigation is continuing and more charges may be forthcoming.