A Virginia hunter whose wildlife-related charges were recently dismissed is calling for increased oversight of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources‘ law enforcement division, alleging a pattern of aggressive investigations and insufficient accountability within the agency.
Brandon Share posted a video to social media following the conclusion of his case, thanking supporters before outlining what he described as years of investigations, searches and legal proceedings involving conservation officers. Throughout the video, Share emphasized that he supports law enforcement but believes reforms are needed within the department’s wildlife enforcement division.
“I’m 100% pro-law enforcement,” Share said. “But something has got to change.”
According to Share, his case began after he legally harvested a doe and a buck during Virginia’s 2024 deer season. He said investigators later alleged he did not possess a valid muzzleloader endorsement when he harvested the buck because the endorsement had not automatically renewed through the state’s online licensing system.
Share said the investigation included search warrants for his trail cameras, cellphone and cloud-based data. Nearly a year later, he said he received six wildlife-related citations connected to the license issue, along with an additional trespassing-related charge.
According to Share, all of the charges were ultimately dismissed in court.
In the video, Share also claimed prosecutors offered a plea agreement under which he would plead guilty to one charge and remain violation-free for one year in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining charges. Share said he declined the offer because he believed he had done nothing wrong.
Beyond discussing his own case, Share alleged that his experience reflects a broader issue within the department’s law enforcement operations. He claimed that 76 wildlife-related charges issued to six individuals over the past three years resulted in no convictions, although Deer & Deer Hunting has not independently verified those figures.
Share also questioned the department’s investigative authority, alleging conservation officers entered private property without sufficient justification, obtained search warrants for electronic devices over misdemeanor-level offenses and lacked meaningful external oversight. He argued that internal investigations into complaints against officers are conducted within the department itself rather than by an independent entity.
“The abuse of power is so blatant, and nothing is ever done about it,” Share said in the video.
Share further criticized what he described as unnecessary expenditures of taxpayer dollars, arguing that investigations and court proceedings involving dismissed cases consume public resources. He also referenced the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ previously announced financial challenges, including a $7 million loan approved by the Commonwealth, suggesting the agency should focus on improving efficiency rather than increasing license fees.
At several points during the video, Share invited the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, state legislators and members of the news media to meet with him publicly to discuss his concerns.
“If the commissioner of the game department wants to sit down with me, I’m happy to do it,” Share said. “If any of our state representatives want to sit down and discuss this, I’m happy to do it.”
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources had not publicly responded to Share’s allegations at the time of publication. Deer & Deer Hunting has reached out to the agency for comment and will update this story if a response is received.
While the circumstances surrounding Share’s case have generated significant discussion among hunters on social media, many of the broader allegations raised in the video have not been independently verified. The discussion nevertheless has renewed debate over the scope of conservation officers’ investigative authority, the balance between wildlife enforcement and private property rights, and whether additional oversight of wildlife law enforcement agencies is warranted.
As the conversation continues, Share said he hopes the attention surrounding his case will lead to changes in how future investigations are conducted.
“This has gone on way too long,” he said. “It’s time for change.”
