Beware: A Scary Wake-Up Call in Tom Green County, CWD Confirmed

I’ve hunted Tom Green County and the entire Concho Valley for more than three decades, sometimes with a rifle, many times with my camera, and I’ve never thought we would see it here. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) used to be something we heard about happening “somewhere else.” But now it’s here. It’s in our backyard. And it’s spreading in ways we hoped we’d never see in West Texas.

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This week, Texas Parks & Wildlife confirmed two positive cases of CWD at a Tom Green County deer breeding facility tied to last year’s now-infamous “Ghost Deer” investigation. These are the first-ever detections of CWD in Tom Green County, and they open a brand-new chapter in the fight to protect our Texas herds.

The “Ghost Deer” Scandal Comes Full Circle

The facility belongs to a 64-year-old breeder in San Antonio and is one of several sites linked to the massive statewide network uncovered by Texas Game Wardens. Their investigation revealed a disturbing pattern:

• Smuggling captive breeder deer and free-range white-tailed deer
• CWD testing violations
• License violations
• Mishandling of sedation drugs
• Felony tampering with governmental records

Game wardens say these intentional actions “jeopardize the health of every deer in Texas.” And after reading this press release, I believe them.

Why This Matters to Every Hunter in West Texas

By law, deer moved between facilities must undergo live CWD testing and have proper identification and movement reports entered into TWIMS. But violations at this facility threw all safety safeguards out the window.

Because the breeder failed to keep accurate records, there’s no way to know how many potentially infected deer were transported across Texas, or where they went.

Every deer in the facility was euthanized and tested. Two came back positive. How many were already on the move before investigators caught on? That’s what scares me most.

What Texans Need to Do Next

TPWD says this remains one of the largest deer-smuggling rings in state history, with 1,400 charges across 11 counties, and they’re stepping up enforcement to stop the spread.

As hunters, landowners, and conservationists, we must stay informed and follow every regulation designed to protect our herds. CWD has no cure, no treatment, and no way to stop once it infects a population. The only defense we have is prevention.

I love West Texas too much to stay quiet about this. Our deer deserve better, and so do future generations of hunters.

For more information on protecting our cervid population, visit TPWD’s CWD resource page.

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