PHOTO BY CHASE A. FOUNTAIN Lampasas High School Class of 1994 graduate Chris Davis was recently awarded the Shikar-Safari Club International’s Wildlife Officer of the Year Award after his undercover work that exposed black-market white-tail deer trading in Texas. Even undercover, he is in the spotlight.

Chris Davis, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department special operations sergeant, recently became just the 30th Texan to receive the prestigious Shikar- Safari Club International’s Wildlife Officer of the Year Award.

In addition to other work, the game warden and 1994 graduate of Lampasas High School was recognized for his part in Operation Texas Shuffle. The program was an 18-month undercover investigation of black-market white-tailed deer trading in Texas.

Davis worked as a lone undercover officer, and his efforts led to the filing of felony charges under the Lacey Act for the illegal importation of white-tailed deer and multiple Class B misdemeanor charges for illegally trapping and selling wild deer.

The award is presented annually by the worldwide conservation organization to just one officer in each state.

“It is a big honor within our circle, and I appreciate my boss for nominating me,” Davis said.

While Davis appreciates those who nominated and selected him for the award, he is especially thankful to his wife Sandi, also from Lampasas.

“She had to deal with me for nine months while I was off pretending to be someone else,” he said.

Davis is also the field coordinator for all undercover investigations conducted by the Special Operations Unit of TPWD. Currently, he is focusing on Internet-based crimes that involve the selling of prohibited and/or protected species.

During his days in Lampasas, Davis, now an Austin resident, played wide receiver and safety for the Badgers’ football team when he was not riding along with longtime Lampasas Game Warden Jim Lindeman and receiving pointers for his future trade.

“He was good enough to let me tag along and learn the ropes,” Davis said.