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Articles by Jon Brauchle
Smith & Wesson and Friends
Halloween is just around the corner. Wanna hear a scary story?“Devil’s Pocket” is an area in the southeastern part of Newton County along the west side of the Sabine River near the Louisiana Border. Rumor has it that the area earned its name by being a cottonmouth-infested, swampy hellhole that was hard to work in, or travel through. Consequently, outlaw-types […] This content is only available to online subscribers. Please login below, or Subscribe today!
Possum Cop - Smith & Wesson and Friends
Smith & Wesson and Friends Halloween is just around the corner. Wanna hear a scary story? “Devil’s Pocket” is an area in the southeastern part of Newton County along the west side of the Sabine River near the Louisiana Border. Rumor has it that the area earned its name by being a cottonmouth-infested, swampy hellhole that was hard to work in, or travel through. Consequently, outlaw-types loved it. In 1979, Game Warden Milton “Bubba” Vincent was stationed in Newton County.
What? The New York Times??
It’s not every day that you can include the New York Times, the 1958 big-screen movie adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea, the Antlers Inn in Falfurrias, Tx, and Texas Game Warden Norman Anthony, all in the same story, but we’re fixing to go down that road.Yep, Norman arrested a lot of poachers in his day and made […]
What? The New York Times??
It’s not every day that you can include the New York Times, the 1958 big-screen movie adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea, the Antlers Inn in Falfurrias, Tx, and Texas Game Warden Norman Anthony, all in the same story, but we’re fixing to go down that road. Yep, Norman arrested a lot of poachers in his day and made a lot of big cases for all sorts of violations, but there was none bigger than one he made in 1982. Heck, it may be one of the biggest Texas Game Warden cases of all time.
What? The New York Times?? Possum Cop
What? The New York Times?? It’s not every day that you can include the New York Times, the 1958 big-screen movie adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea, the Antlers Inn in Falfurrias, Tx, and Texas Game Warden Norman Anthony, all in the same story, but we’re fixing to go down that road. Yep, Norman arrested a lot of poachers in his day and made a lot of big cases for all sorts of violations, but there was none bigger than one he made in 1982.
Things that go bump in the night
It was a cold dark night. Deer season. Game Wardens David Martinez and Henry Balderamas were out doing what game wardens do that time of year; sitting in a patrol vehicle with the windows down waiting to hear a shot. On this particular night, they were about a quarter mile away from a couple of nice bucks that were grazing […]
Possum Cop - Things that go bump in the night
Things That Go Bump in the Night It was a cold, dark night. Deer season. Game Wardens David Martinez and Henry Balderamas were out doing what game wardens do that time of year: sitting in a patrol vehicle with the windows down, waiting to hear a shot. On this particular night, they were about a quarter mile away from a couple of nice bucks that were grazing in the right-of-way along FM 186 near the El Sauz Ranch headquarters in Willacy County. There was no wind.
The Possum Cop Chronicles A Day in the Life
You know-if you buy a new car, everybody in your family wants to go for a ride. If you buy a new TV, everybody in your family wants to watch the latest movie. However, if you buy a new dishwasher, nobody wants to wash the dishes. What gives?Anyhow, speaking of dishwashers, I remember the first dishwasher I ever bought. I […]
Possum Cop - A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life You know — if you buy a new car, everybody in your family wants to go for a ride. If you buy a new TV, everybody in your family wants to watch the latest movie. However, if you buy a new dishwasher, nobody wants to wash the dishes. What gives? Anyhow, speaking of dishwashers, I remember the first dishwasher I ever bought. I purchased it used from an appliance salesman in Sarita, Texas who had a side gig as a Texas Game Warden.
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden (Part 3)
In 1977, Game Warden Rick Thomas was stationed in Live Oak County, which made him Game Warden Jim Daughtrey’s neighbor to the east. Warden Thomas vividly remembers an incident that Daughtrey was involved in one afternoon during deer season of that year. It all started when Daughtrey, sitting at the roadside park on FM-624, noticed a car coming from Cotulla […] This content is only available to online subscribers. Please login below, or Subscribe today!
Possum Cop - A real sure-enough game warden - Part 3
A Sure-Enough, Real Game Warden Part 3 of 3 In 1977, Game Warden Rick Thomas was stationed in Live Oak County, which made him Game Warden Jim Daughtrey’s neighbor to the east. Warden Thomas vividly remembers an incident that Daughtrey was involved in one afternoon during deer season that year. It all started when Daughtrey, sitting at the roadside park on FM-624, noticed a car coming from Cotulla that he had stopped on suspicion of road hunting a couple of nights before.
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden (Part 2)
Back in the day, Max’s Cafe in Tilden, Tx, wasn’t just a cafe. There was a motel, filling station, mechanic shop, cold storage facility and more - all services catering to the many hunters who came from near and far to hunt in McMullen County. Naturally, it became the perfect place for Game Warden Jim Daughtrey to keep abreast of […]
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden
Back in the day, Max’s Café in Tilden, Tx, wasn’t just a café. There was a motel, filling station, mechanic shop, cold storage facility and more – all services catering to the many hunters who came from near and far to hunt in McMullen County. Naturally, it became the perfect place for Game Warden Jim Daughtrey to keep abreast of all the goings-on in the area, and he could be found drinking coffee or having a meal there on an almost daily basis.
Possum Cop - A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden (part 2)
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden (part 2) Back in the day, Max’s Café in Tilden, Tx, wasn’t just a café. There was a motel, filling station, mechanic shop, cold storage facility and more – all services catering to the many hunters who came from near and far to hunt in McMullen County. Naturally, it became the perfect place for Game Warden Jim Daughtrey to keep abreast of all the goings-on in the area, and he could be found drinking coffee or having a meal there on an almost daily basis.
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden (Part 1)
“Jack” was feeling lucky. Back in the early 70s, he had a job gauging oil wells in South Texas. One day while running his route off FM 624 in McMullen County, he saw a trophy buck the likes he had never seen before. Jack was a deer hunter, but he had never shot anything even close to that deer. So, […]
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden
“Jack” was feeling lucky. Back in the early 70s, he had a job gauging oil wells in South Texas. One day while running his route off FM 624 in McMullen County, he saw a trophy buck the likes he had never seen before. Jack was a deer hunter, but he had never shot anything even close to that deer. So, right then and there, he set his mind to killing it by any means necessary. But Jack had a problem. He had and old .303 British rifle with him, but no ammo for it. That type of ammo was hard to find.
Possum Cop - A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden, part 1
A Real, Sure-Enough Game Warden (Part 1) “Jack” was feeling lucky. Back in the early 70s, he had a job gauging oil wells in South Texas. One day while running his route off FM 624 in McMullen County, he saw a trophy buck the likes he had never seen before. Jack was a deer hunter, but he had never shot anything even close to that deer. So, right then and there, he set his mind to killing it by any means necessary. But Jack had a problem. He had and old .303 British rifle with him, but no ammo for it.
To all the licenses I’ve checked before???
Texas is, at times, home to some large birds. The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is 60-63 inches in length and has a wingspan of 96-110 inches. Then, there’s the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), that is 58-72 inches in length and has a wingspan of 72-102 inches. And of course, there’s the most endangered of them all, the Whooping Crane […] This content is only available to online subscribers. Please login below, or Subscribe today!
The Biggest Bird in Texas
Texas is, at times, home to some large birds. The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is 60-63 inches in length and has a wingspan of 96-110 inches. Then, there’s the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), that is 58-72 inches in length and has a wingspan of 72-102 inches. And of course, there’s the most endangered of them all, the Whooping Crane (Grus americana), which has a standing height of up to 4.9 feet tall.
Possum Cop - The Biggest Bird in Texas
The Biggest Bird in Texas Texas is, at times, home to some large birds. The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is 60-63 inches in length and has a wingspan of 96-110 inches. Then, there’s the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), that is 58-72 inches in length and has a wingspan of 72-102 inches. And of course, there’s the most endangered of them all, the Whooping Crane (Grus americana), which has a standing height of up to 4.9 feet tall.
To all the licenses I’ve checked before???
You remember that song Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias sang together about all the girls they’ve loved before? Yeah, well... it was never one of my faves, but for some weird reason it started playing in my head when I started thinking about what to write for this week’s column and the fact that licenses for the 2026-27 Texas Parks […]
To All the Licenses I’ve Checked Before???
You remember that song Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias sang together about all the girls they’ve loved before? Yeah, well… it was never one of my faves, but for some weird reason it started playing in my head when I started thinking about what to write for this week’s column and the fact that licenses for the 2026-27 Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) seasons are now on sale.
Possum Cop - To All the Licenses I've Checked Before???
To All the Licenses I’ve Checked Before??? You remember that song Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias sang together about all the girls they’ve loved before? Yeah, well… it was never one of my faves, but for some weird reason it started playing in my head when I started thinking about what to write for this week’s column and the fact that licenses for the 2026-27 Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) seasons are now on sale.
Dove Days Gone By
I don’t remember how it came up. I think it was when I took my monthly reports up to my supervisor in Kingsville in August of 1991. Mind you, the reports back then were all handwritten on paper. If you messed up on them, you heard about it; not only from your supervisor, but also by way of a letter […]
Possum Cop - Dove Days Gone
Dove Days Gone By I don’t remember how it came up. I think it was when I took my monthly reports up to my supervisor in Kingsville in August of 1991. Mind you, the reports back then were all handwritten on paper. If you messed up on them, you heard about it; not only from your supervisor, but also by way of a letter sent out by the regional office in which there was a list of every game warden in the region who, likewise, messed up on their reports.
The Wrench - Raymondville Chronicle
The first time I responded, I saw two men in a driveway as I parked my patrol truck. The larger of the two men was ominously holding a huge pipe wrench. I got out, identified myself, and asked, “What seems to be the trouble?” I was keenly aware of the wrench. Oddly, both men turned and smiled. As I walked […]
Possum Cop - The Wrench
The Wrench The first time I responded, I saw two men in a driveway as I parked my patrol truck. The larger of the two men was ominously holding a huge pipe wrench. I got out, identified myself, and asked, “What seems to be the trouble?” I was keenly aware of the wrench. Oddly, both men turned and smiled. As I walked toward them, the big dude set the wrench down and stuck out his hand.
The Brisley Pistol Caper
Sometimes showing off can get you in trouble. The Colt Bisley pistol is a single action revolver introduced by Colt in 1894 for target shooting, and it was manufactured in various calibers from 1894 to 1915. Nowadays, the Colt Bisley is highly collectible, especially in .45 caliber. But even in a small town like Leakey, Texas back in 1970, it […] This content is only available to online subscribers. Please login below, or Subscribe today!
The Bisley Pistol Caper
Sometimes showing off can get you in trouble. The Colt Bisley pistol is a single action revolver introduced by Colt in 1894 for target shooting, and it was manufactured in various calibers from 1894 to 1915. Nowadays, the Colt Bisley is highly collectible, especially in .45 caliber. But even in a small town like Leakey, Texas back in 1970, it was the kind of gun that, if you had one, you would’ve shown it off, for sure.
Possum Cop - The Brisley Pistol Caper
The Bisley Pistol Caper Sometimes showing off can get you in trouble. The Colt Bisley pistol is a single-action revolver introduced by Colt in 1894 for target shooting, and it was manufactured in various calibers from 1894 to 1915. Nowadays, the Colt Bisley is highly collectible, especially in .45 caliber. But even in a small town like Leakey, Texas back in 1970, it was the kind of gun that, if you had one, you would’ve shown it off, for sure.
Lucky - Raymondville Chronicle
I have a friend - we’ll call him “Bob”. Bob grew up in a little commercial fishing town on the Texas coast. The town isn’t so little anymore, and things there have changed significantly over the years. Forty years ago or so, there were deer - GOOD deer - running all over town, only it wasn’t like it is now […]
Lucky
I have a friend – we’ll call him “Bob”. Bob grew up in a little commercial fishing town on the Texas coast. The town isn’t so little anymore, and things there have changed significantly over the years. Forty years ago or so, there were deer – GOOD deer — running all over town, only it wasn’t like it is now where the deer are so used to all the people around that they’ll come up and eat Cheetos out of your hand if you ignore all the signs posted telling you not to do so.
Possum Cop - Lucky
Lucky I have a friend – we’ll call him “Bob”. Bob grew up in a little commercial fishing town on the Texas coast. The town isn’t so little anymore, and things there have changed significantly over the years. Forty years ago or so, there were deer – GOOD deer - running all over town, only it wasn’t like it is now, where the deer are so used to all the people around that they’ll come up and eat Cheetos out of your hand if you ignore all the signs posted telling you not to do so.
Forrest’s Mom was right again
I was sitting in my patrol vehicle on an unusually warm December night just inside a gate on a remote piece of federal refuge property on the west side of Willacy County. It was one of those out in the middle of nowhere places that, if you saw a vehicle after dark, chances were that the occupants in it were […]
Forrest’s Mom Was Right Again
I was sitting in my patrol vehicle on an unusually warm December night just inside a gate on a remote piece of federal refuge property on the west side of Willacy County. It was one of those out in the middle of nowhere places that, if you saw a vehicle after dark, chances were that the occupants in it were up to no good. I settled in my spot and rolled down the windows. As I leaned back in my seat, I heard a faint sound coming from somewhere north of me. Clink, clink, clank.
Possum Cop - Forrest's Mom Was Right Again
Forrest’s Mom Was Right Again I was sitting in my patrol vehicle on an unusually warm December night, just inside a gate on a remote piece of federal refuge property on the west side of Willacy County. It was one of those out in the middle of nowhere places that, if you saw a vehicle after dark, chances were that the occupants in it were up to no good. I settled in my spot and rolled down the windows. As I leaned back in my seat, I heard a faint sound coming from somewhere north of me.
What makes it fun
When a peace officer makes a traffic stop on a dirt road, city street, highway or interstate, he or she has a lot of options. If all goes well, the driver of the vehicle being pulled over sees the red and blues, pulls to the side safely, and comes to a stop. But what if the driver doesn’t stop? Well, […]
Possum Cop - It all comes Full Circle in the End
It All Comes Full Circle in the End Man, I learned a LOT when I rejoined the workforce after retiring with almost 30 years of service playing game warden. COVID had just hit, and it was tough to figure out what was what. I took a part-time job at the local newspaper, proofreading articles and writing some too.
You’re danged if you do and you’re danged if you don’t
July isn’t really the month that most people, even game wardens, associate with illegal hunting in the wee hours of the morn. But at times, it’s a thing. It’s not a thing game wardens like to necessarily do, because the number of hours you have to put in to maybe, or probably not, catch someone isn’t worth it. July is […]
What Makes it Fun
When a peace officer makes a traffic stop on a dirt road, city street, highway or interstate, he or she has a lot of options. If all goes well, the driver of the vehicle being pulled over sees the red and blues, pulls to the side safely, and comes to a stop. But what if the driver doesn’t stop? Well, a call will go out on the radio and a pursuit will ensue.
What Makes it Fun Possum Cop
What Makes it Fun When a peace officer makes a traffic stop on a dirt road, city street, highway, or interstate, he or she has a lot of options. If all goes well, the driver of the vehicle being pulled over sees the red and blues, pulls to the side safely, and comes to a stop. But what if the driver doesn’t stop? Well, a call will go out on the radio, and a pursuit will ensue.
How to Catch a Cop Killer
At around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 1975, Atascosa County Deputy Sheriff Aerl Jernigan received a call regarding two drunks harassing patrons at a convenience store located on State Highway 16 about seven miles north of Poteet, Texas. The drunks had left before Deputy Jernigan arrived, but they didn’t make it far. Jernigan found them parked on the side […] This content is only available to online subscribers. Please login below, or Subscribe today!
You’re Danged if You Do and You’re Danged if You Don’t
July isn’t really the month that most people, even game wardens, associate with illegal hunting in the wee hours of the morn. But at times, it’s a thing. It’s not a thing game wardens like to necessarily do, because the number of hours you have to put in to maybe, or probably not, catch someone isn’t worth it. July is best spent working fishermen and water safety and that kind of stuff. But Retired Game Warden Jesse Garcia was never one to follow trends or go with the flow.
Possum Cop - You’re Danged if You Do and You’re Danged if You Don’t
You’re Danged if You Do and You’re Danged if You Don’t July isn’t really the month that most people, even game wardens, associate with illegal hunting in the wee hours of the morn. But at times, it’s a thing. It’s not a thing game wardens like to necessarily do, because the number of hours you have to put in to maybe, or probably not, catch someone isn’t worth it. July is best spent working with fishermen and water safety, and that kind of stuff.
The Blue Tsunami
As a law enforcement officer, you never know what’s in store for you when you put the badge on and go to work. One minute, you might be eating a burger at the local bowling alley, and the next, you could be barreling down the highway in a Plymouth Fury in a lifeand death fight to make things right. And […]
How to Catch a Cop Killer
At around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 1975, Atascosa County Deputy Sheriff Aerl Jernigan received a call regarding two drunks harassing patrons at a convenience store located on State Highway 16 about seven miles north of Poteet, Texas. The drunks had left before Deputy Jernigan arrived, but they didn’t make it far. Jernigan found them parked on the side of an adjoining road about a quarter of a mile away.
Possum Cop - How to catch a cop killer
How to Catch a Cop Killer At around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 1975, Atascosa County Deputy Sheriff Aerl Jernigan received a call regarding two drunks harassing patrons at a convenience store located on State Highway 16 about seven miles north of Poteet, Texas. The drunks had left before Deputy Jernigan arrived, but they didn’t make it far. Jernigan found them parked on the side of an adjoining road about a quarter of a mile away.
More Gator Stories
They say everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame at some point in their lives. For me it was when I got my picture on the front page of the Sept. 21, 2004, edition of the Corpus Christi Caller- Times. I had just caught an alligator off an aircraft carrier. No - I’m not making this up. OK, so maybe […]
The Blue Tsunami
As a law enforcement officer, you never know what’s in store for you when you put the badge on and go to work. One minute, you might be eating a burger at the local bowling alley, and the next, you could be barreling down the highway in a Plymouth Fury in a life-and-death fight to make things right. And that’s just how it was for Texas Game Warden Arthur McCall around lunchtime on Friday, September 8, 1978.
Possum Cop - The Blue Tsunami
The Blue Tsunami As a law enforcement officer, you never know what’s in store for you when you put the badge on and go to work. One minute, you might be eating a burger at the local bowling alley, and the next, you could be barreling down the highway in a Plymouth Fury in a life-and-death fight to make things right. And that’s just how it was for Texas Game Warden Arthur McCall around lunchtime on Friday, September 8, 1978.
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