An East Texas man is facing felony charges for allegedly killing a 5-point buck and lying about it on social media back in October. The 35-year-old man is free on bond but has been ordered to appear back in court to face felony charges of taking wildlife resources without consent and with five misdemeanor violations, including hunting without a valid license.

According to the charges, Cody Alton Wharton, Maud, Texas, claimed in a Facebook post that he shot and killed the buck while hunting legally in nearby Arkansas, for which he had a hunting license. However, Texas wardens investigating the case said he shot the deer near his home in Texas that has state-mandated antler-point restrictions. The buck would not meet the APRs for that area, the report said.

The other charges against Wharton, including the felony charge, stems from what the state says are untruths in his story plus prior violations that caused him to have both his hunting and fishing license privileges revoked in the state of Texas. Specifically, the felony is being charged because he allegedly was  illegally hunting deer on private land without permission.

On Oct. 27, Wharton posted a photo of the 5-point buck on his public Facebook page. Included in the comments was this from one man: “That little guy isn’t even legal up here,” referring to Bowie County, Texas (where Maud is located). 

“Hes (sic) legal in Arkansas where I killed him,” a poster identified as Cody Wharton replied.

A follow-up court date has not yet been set.