PAWNEE COUNTY – Brian C. Langston, 54 of Houston, Texas, made his formal First Appearance via Zoom November 20, before Pawnee Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell on a two count Criminal Complaint for alleged fish and game violations, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.
Langston is charged with two counts of Unlawful Taking of Big Game alleging to have occurred on or about November 25, 2021, and September 29, 2022, in rural Pawnee County. The specific alleged fish and game violation is the alleged use of residential deer permits at a time when the defendant was a resident of Texas.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife (KDPF) into a social media post indicating that a trophy whitetail buck taken in Pawnee County, in September of 2022, had set a new State Record for typical by muzzleloader with an official gross entry score of 213 5/8 and a net score of 190 7/8. The investigation revealed Langston also tagged a trophy deer in November of 2021 with a gross entry score of 183 5/8. The US Fish and Wildlife Services Task Force assisted with the investigation.
At the First Appearance, Judge Cowell advised the defendant of the charges, the possible penalties if convicted and his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel. If convicted, the defendant faces up to six months in the County Jail and a fine of not less than $5,000 on each count.
Arraignment has been scheduled for December 17, 2025.
Under Kansas Law, an antlered whitetail deer is considered “trophy big game” when it has an inside spread measuring at least 16 inches. In addition to the mandatory fines, violations involving trophy big game also carry mandatory restitution which is calculated by squaring the gross entry score minus 100 then multiplying by $2. For example, a whitetail deer with a 200 gross entry score would result in $20,000 in restitution (100 x 100 x $2).