An investigation into one of the largest deer smuggling operations in Texas history is winding down after two new suspects turned themselves into the Travis County District Attorney’s Office on felony tampering charges.
Ken Schlaudt and Bill Bowers are the latest suspects in the investigation. It began in March 2024 with a traffic stop and has since spread to 11 counties and over 1,400 charges. The charges are related to illegal deer smuggling, chronic wasting disease testing violations, and even mishandling of controlled substances. (For further background on the so-called Ghost Deer investigation, read Field & Stream’s previous coverage here and here.)
Schlaudt, of San Antonio, owns four deer breeding facilities and one release site. Bowers, of San Angelo, is a facility manager for the Rockin’ S Ranch, one of Schlaudt’s operations. Both men face charges of tampering with a governmental record after they allegedly entered false information regarding breeder whitetail deer into the Texas Wildlife Information Management System. Additionally, Schlaudt and Bowers face over 100 misdemeanor charges related to illegal deer breeding activities in Tom Green County, Texas.
A 2025 auction catalog from the Texas Deer Association, a non-profit organization associated with the deer breeding industry, confirms that Schlaudt was a member of the TDA board of directors going into this year. A Facebook post from Texans for Saving Our Hunting Heritage claims that the TDA website listed Schlaudt as a board member as recently as August 12.
TDA commented on the case in a statement sent to Field & Stream via email on August 27. “TDA has always been clear: proven bad actors who knowingly violate the law should be held accountable,” the emailed statement reads. “At the same time, we stand firmly with our members who may be wrongfully tied to allegations brought on by the misconduct of true bad actors. Our members deserve fairness, due process, and the presumption of innocence. TDA leadership and members are held to the highest ethical standards, and any violation will always be investigated and addressed appropriately."
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The “Ghost Deer” investigation has shocked hunters, biologists, and the wildlife law enforcement community alike in its breadth and severity. Whitetail hunting in Texas is a $9.6 billion business, TPW reports. The number of captive breeding facilities in Texas has decreased by roughly 50 percent since 2013, from over 1,300 to around 650, according to data collected by the National Deer Association. But regulations related to the transfer of breeder deer have tightened in recent years, due to the continued threat and spread of chronic wasting disease.
