NTexCopRetired wrote:I hit a deer several years ago with my new pickup (1400 miles on it). A really big deer. I stop my truck and called the SO to report it and to get a wrecker in route. A pickup stopped on the other side of the divided highway and two guys jumped out and started running toward my location. I thought how nice it was that someone stopped to check one me. They stopped at the side of the ditch and grabbed what turned out to be the deer by the horns and started dragging it toward their vehicle. As they begin to load the deer, a Deputy arrived with a Highway trooper right behind. The Highway trooper took the two gentlemen into custody and the Deputy called for another wrecker. A game warden arrived to take custody of the deer.
Apparently, the State considers a deer to be their property. I called the State later to see if they would pay my deductible for the damage caused by their property. I am still waiting for a check.
Yeah the State of Texas claims ownership of all deer here, but they don't take responsibility for their actions. I have heard about ( never personally seen it) game wardens allowing deer to be taken by the person that hit it. But yeah fresh road kill deer are not free for the taking as a general rule, as I'm sure the two gentlemen/good Samaritans found out.