Texas authorities say man illegally killed 13 white-tailed bucks across three counties

A Texas man is facing more than 70 charges after authorities alleged he carried out a months-long poaching operation involving at least 13 white-tailed bucks across multiple counties.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 55-year-old Darrell Maguire is accused of illegally killing deer in Comal, Hays, and Bexar counties between fall 2024 and late summer 2025.

Investigators say Maguire repeatedly used a crossbow to shoot white-tailed deer from his vehicle before removing only the heads and abandoning the carcasses at the scene. 

The alleged activity prompted an investigation in June 2025 after multiple deer remains were discovered in Comal and Hays counties.

Officials also reported that some incidents took place in residential neighborhoods, where game wardens recovered crossbow bolts from yards and porches, raising concerns about public safety.

Authorities said Maguire was arrested in September 2025 on separate drug and wildlife possession charges. 

A search of his residence allegedly uncovered additional evidence linking him to multiple poaching incidents.

As the investigation expanded, officials determined that Maguire also exceeded Texas’ legal hunting limits during the 2024 season, taking five white-tailed bucks over the permitted annual bag limit of three in Bexar County alone.

Wardens further allege that between June and September 2025, he illegally killed at least eight more bucks in residential areas across Comal and Hays counties.

The charges against Maguire include hunting without landowner consent, hunting deer at night, shooting from a public roadway, and failing to retrieve game in edible condition. 

He also faces drug-related allegations involving methamphetamine and marijuana possession, along with multiple Parks and Wildlife Code violations.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue reviewing evidence and additional potential violations.