Field operations weekly report, 2008 October 19-25

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report October 19-25, 2008
This report is a broad sampling of events that have taken place in the past week, but does not include all actions taken by the Law Enforcement Section.

Region I- Calhoun (Northwest)
BARTOW COUNTY On October 19th, at 6:30 am, Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from a hunter who was going into her property to hunt and saw a person in her pop-up deer blind and a large fire built next to the blind. The hunter's son had previously reported a deer stand that had been stolen from the property 2 weeks earlier. Sgt. Barr and RFC Young responded. Sgt. Barr arrived and saw a Dodge truck on Calico Valley Road also go into the property. When the driver was checked, he was found to have an open container of beer and no driver's license. He stated he was there to pick up a friend who was at the blind. A .22 caliber bullet was found in his pocket. A Bartow Sheriff's Deputy assisted Sgt. Barr and they went to the blind and found a subject who stated he was camping. Sgt. Barr was familiar with the subject and knew where he lived on Cagle Road. Sgt. Barr had also located a deer stand that was in a wooded area just behind the house of the exact type reported as stolen. The owner of the stolen deer stand was taken to the property of the person found at the blind and he was able to positively identify the deer stand through recent repairs done to the stand. The case was turned over to an investigator at Bartow County and the driver of the truck was charged with the violations of "open container of alcohol" and "driving without a license".
On October 19th, Cpl. Chip Cox was on patrol with a DNR Intern in the area of Oak Grove Road. As he entered into a hunting club, he noticed meat hanging from a tree in a pasture and saw where a deer had appeared to have been field dressed. Upon inspection, Cpl. Cox located two large treble hooks that were baited with deer meat and tied to strong limbs on a tree. The hooks were located high enough that when an animal jumped to eat the meat, they would catch themselves on the baited treble hooks and hang there until dead. Cpl. Cox was able to make contact with club members who identified the person who had just killed the deer and set up the illegal baited hooks. The person returned to the scene and admitted to the act claiming that he was trying to catch coyotes. Cpl. Cox advised him that the baited hooks would also catch foxes, raccoons, bobcats, and domestic dogs. The person was charged with violation of "unlawful devices, baited hooks".
On October 20th, RFC Byron Young received a call from a landowner who had heard a shot in his field off Shotgun Road. He saw 2 men pulling a deer from the field onto adjacent property. The hunters claimed the deer had been shot on their side of the fence. RFC Young and Sgt. Mike Barr checked the area and found a ladder stand and bait, whole kernel corn, where the two were hunting. RFC Young also found a button buck deer hanging in a tree behind a house. The hunters were contacted and met the Rangers at the scene. They admitted to hunting over bait, and that the deer was shot on the adjacent property. One hunter did not have a license or big game license. Both hunters received citations for "hunting big game over bait" and one hunter received a citation for "hunting without permission". Warnings were issued for the "license violations" and "possession of illegally taken wildlife". The button buck was confiscated as illegally taken wildlife.

CHATTOOGA COUNTY On October 20th, Ranger Roger McConkey, Ranger Brad Hamby, and Cpl. Tommy Gentry assisted the GA Dept. Of Correction's search for two escaped inmates. They patrolled the Chattooga River by boat. The inmates escaped from Hayes State Prison on October 13th.
On October 23rd, Cpl. Tommy Gentry took a baby alligator to the Trion City School. A fisherman who did not think the gator could survive the upcoming winter captured the alligator in the Chickamauga Creek in Graysville, GA. just north of Ringgold. Cpl. Tommy Gentry showed the alligator to the kindergarten, third, fourth, fifth and seventh grades. Cpl. Gentry talked to the students about the characteristics and habitat of the alligator. He also spoke to them about the dangers of trying to make wild animals household pets. After leaving Trion, Cpl. Gentry took the alligator to North LaFayette Elem. School in Walker Co. At North LaFayette he showed the first grade the alligator. Cpl. Gentry will relinquish the alligator to the Game Management Office in Armuchee.
On October 25th, Ranger McConkey received a phone call from a complainant in Chattooga County. The complainant stated one hunting club member found a couple of vehicles and a campsite on the hunting club property. Ranger McConkey contacted other Rangers in the area to assist with locating several illegal hunters on the property. Ranger McConkey entered on the west side of the property and made his way to the opposite side to meet up with Rangers Cunningham, Elmore, and Hamby. A total of five subjects were found. Citations were issued for hunting without permission and hunting without hunter orange.
On October 25th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore checked a baited stand on Josh Ward Rd that was located earlier in the week from information received from Alabama Game & Fish. A Ringgold man was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Brooks Varnell and his K-9 "Rock" patrolled with a DNR Intern in Cherokee and Cobb County. They responded to a call of a deer that had been shot off of a public road and a tag number of the vehicle that had shot the deer. "Rock" scent checked the area and located fresh deer blood in the woods just off the side of the road. Evidence was collected. The incident is still under investigation.
COBB COUNTY On October 24th, RFC Brooks Varnell and Sgt. Mike Barr appeared in the State Court of Cobb County to testify on a hunting privilege suspension. The case involved a habitual game and fish violator who had been convicted of four separate cases of poaching in Cobb County in recent years in and around the city of Acworth. His convictions included hunting with a firearm for deer in Cobb Co., multiple hunting without license violations, multiple possessions of illegally taken wildlife violations, and multiple hunting without

permission violations. The most recent case involved him hunting in the immediate area of McEver Park where children play baseball and football. The Judge found his actions so egregious that he suspended his hunting privileges for three years along with fines, and 12 months probation. He will automatically be suspended in another 30 states participating in the Wildlife Violator Compact agreement.
GORDON COUNTY On October 21st, Cpl Shawn Elmore, while returning from working in Chattooga Co., stopped to check a baited stand that had been placed on a piece of property on Millers Ferry Rd without permission. As Cpl. Elmore entered the property, he located the suspect's truck. The suspect was not hunting the baited stand and Cpl. Elmore decided to wait on the him near a well used trail leading on to the property that the hunter did not have permission to hunt. Just before dark the hunter came walking along the foot trail from the wrong property. Cpl. Elmore confronted the hunter who was observed with a loaded rifle in his right hand and a corn bag in his left. He admitted to placing corn on someone else's property and hunting without permission. The Calhoun man was issued citations for hunting without permission, hunting deer without orange, and placing bait where others will hunt. He was also warned for hunting big game over bait.
PICKENS COUNTY On October 22nd, Sgt. John VanLandingham, RFC Eddie Tompkins, Wildlife Technician Ronny Holcomb and Wildlife Technician Joe Hill responded to a complaint of an alligator being held in a swimming pool. The officers located the three-foot long alligator and Game Management seized it. One suspect was arrested and charged with holding a game animal without a permit.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On October 19th, RFC Eddie Tompkins cited an individual for hunting big game over bait.
On October 20th, RFC Eddie Tompkins cited an individual for hunting big game over bait, and hunting deer without fluorescent orange, and issued a warning for hunting without a license.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FRANKLIN COUNTY On October 24th, Cpl. Craig Fulghum and RFC Chris Moore worked the deer decoy on private property where the landowner has had problems with poaching. The rangers charged one subject for hunting from a public road and hunting from a motor vehicle after shooting one time at the decoy.

MADISON COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Shane Sartor, Cpl Craig Fulghum and Sgt. Stan Elrod checked some property that had several baited deer stands. Two hunters from Florida were caught and charged with several violations. Violations included hunting over bait, hunting without fluorescent orange, non-resident hunting without a license and non-resident hunting without a big game license.
FORSYTH COUNTY On October 22nd, Ranger Pamela Garrison attended the annual banquet of the Forsyth County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Ranger Garrison set up the fishing simulator for over 100 guests that were present.
GWINNETT COUNTY On October 15th, RFC Mark Stephens observed a white vehicle parked down a dirt road off Hwy 124 and Hamilton Mill Road. RFC Stephens slowly pulled up to the rear of the vehicle and observed a white female sitting on the passenger side. The female saw RFC Stephens and put something in the center console. The female's child was in a child safety seat in the back of the vehicle. RFC Stephens smelled the odor of marijuana in the air as he approached the driver's side of the vehicle. The female admitted to being in possession of marijuana. RFC Stephens issued the female a citation for violation of Georgia's Controlled Substance Act possession of marijuana less than one oz.
On October 15th, RFC Stephens was investigating a complaint off Ewing Chapel Road. RFC Stephens received a complaint earlier in the week of someone burning illegal items and possible night hunting. RFC Stephens pulled into the area where the incidents have been taking place and observed a Hispanic male illegally burning trash. RFC Stephens issued the individual a written warning.
On October 17th, RFC Mark Stephens presented an Online Hunter Education class at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. Thirty students completed the course and were issued hunter safety certification cards.
On October 20th, RFC Stephens was investigating a complaint of hunting without permission with a landowner. While being shown the property lines, RFC Stephens observed a subject who appeared to be hunting. The hunter was checked and found to be hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting w/o a hunting or big game license. Citations and warnings were issued for these violations. The subject was not on the complainant's property.

On October 23rd, RFC Stephens received a call of someone cleaning a deer in a front yard. RFC Stephens responded with the assistance of Ranger Garrison. The rangers found a 10-point buck that had been shot and field dressed. A male subject admitted to killing the deer with a crossbow. RFC Stephens had previously documented a baited deer stand on the property and asked the hunter to show the rangers where the deer was killed. It was determined that it was taken over the bait. The subject was charged with hunting big game over bait, failure to record deer harvest and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
HALL COUNTY On October 25th, Ranger Pamela Garrison attended a fall festival event at Aqualand Marina. Ranger Garrison displayed a DNR patrol boat, answered questions, and passed out coloring books and stickers to kids at the event.
On October 25th, RFC Mitchell Crump checked a complaint that Ranger Garrison had received earlier in the week. Ranger Garrison had checked it without any success. RFC Crump checked two hunters that were hunting deer over bait and with the required fluorescent orange. Warnings were issued for these violations.
HENRY COUNTY On October 25th, Cpl. Sanders observed an illegal burn in progress on Linecrest Road. The subject was issued a warning for illegal burning.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On October 22nd, RFC Mitchell Crump received a call from a Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office Investigator about a subject that was in jail for shooting a house. RFC Crump was advised that the subject admitted to hunting deer to the investigator. On October 24th, RFC Crump along with the investigator interviews the subject at the Lumpkin County Jail. The subject admitted to hunting deer from a public road and a motor vehicle. The subject was charged with hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle and hunting without a hunting or big game license. He has charges pending on him from the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office and has warrants for his arrest from other agencies.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On October 23rd, Cpl. Eric Sanders received a call from the Conyers Police Department. Sgt. Harper with Conyers P.D. advised Cpl. Sanders about a subject that had shot a turkey on Business Center Drive. Sgt. Harper took the information down on the subject and took control of the evidence (shotgun and turkey). On October 24th, Cpl. Sanders interviewed the subject at Conyers P.D. about why he shot the turkey. The subject stated that the turkey was attacking his red truck. Cpl. Sanders drove out to the subject's house in Covington and looked at where the turkey was allegedly attacking the truck and found no evidence of any kind of damage by the turkey. The subject was charged with hunting out of season and possession of illegally taken wildlife. The 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun and male turkey are being held for evidence.

JACKSON COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Eric Isom was on patrol off Jackson Trail Road. RFC Isom found an individual hunting big game over bait and not wearing hunter orange. The subject received a citation for hunting big game over bait and a warning for hunting big game without florescent orange.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
RICHMOND COUNTY On October 19th, Cpl. Ben Payne checked Augusta Development property for on a hunting without permission complaint. Payne arrived at the first stand and apprehended one subject. After interviewing the subject, Cpl. Payne then began to search for another subject hunting on the same property. After looking for an hour, Cpl. Payne contacted other officers and began an extensive search of the property. Cpl. Crawley assisted with his canine TAR and tracked the subject to a fence on the edge of the property. After obtaining information about the subject, Cpl. Payne called off the search. Later in the afternoon the subject contacted Cpl. Payne. Cpl. Payne went back to the scene and interviewed the subject he had been searching for and obtained a confession. A total of 9 citations were given to both subjects.
On October 20th, Cpl. Ben Payne was notified of a large 9-point buck killed in South Richmond County. Cpl. Payne located the residence of the hunter who had killed the buck and checked his license. The subject did not have the proper licenses or hunter education. The buck was confiscated and it was later learned that the buck was killed without permission on International Paper property. The subject was issued citations for hunting without permission, possession of illegally taken wildlife, and license violations.
On October 14th, Cpl. Ben Payne and RFC Mattherly taught the first half of the Hunter Education 10 hour class to 24 individuals at the Wrens Library. Later in the evening Cpl. Payne responded to an in progress complaint of night hunting in south Richmond county. Evidence was collected at the scene and the landowner was later contacted. The next day, Cpl. Payne met the landowner at his hunting club to discuss evidence collected early in the morning. The landowner identified tracks in a dirt road as one of the club members. Later in the day Cpl. Payne received a call from the landowner that he had found fresh drag marks going to a residence off the power line to the property. Cpl. Payne investigated and found out landowner information to adjacent property. The complaint is still under investigation.

JEFFERSON COUNTY On October 19th, while on patrol checking baited deer stands in Jefferson County Capt. Thomas Barnard and RFC Grant Matherly wrote one citation for hunting big game over bait. On October 24th, RFC Matherly and RFC Billips responded to a complaint of two subjects shooting a hen turkey from the road. After investigating the area of where the turkey had been shot and getting a statement from the eye witness, RFC Matherly and RFC Billips were able to find the two subjects in Wadley, Ga. The two subjects were arrested and charged with the following:
1. Hunting from a motor vehicle. 2. Hunting from a public road. 3. Discharging a firearm from a public roadway. 4. Hunting out of season. 5. Possession of illegally taken wildlife.
On October 25th, while on patrol checking baited deer stands in Jefferson County, RFC Matherly wrote one citation for hunting big game over bait.
On October 14th and 16th, RFC Grant Matherly and Cpl. Ben Payne taught a ten hour hunter education class to 29 students. All 29 students passed the course and were given two gunlocks to use in their homes to help secure their firearms to promote safe gun handling in the home.
On October 18th, RFC Grant Matherly, and Capt. Thomas Barnard checked several baited deer stands in Jefferson County, but no contact was made with any one. The two officers responded to Johnson County to meet with Cpl. Michael Crawley were he had made contact with several subjects on a piece of property that were hunting deer over bait, and had other violations that were being addressed
WASHINGTON COUNTY On October 17th, RFC Matherly assisted Cpl. Michael Crawley work two road hunting complaints in Washington County.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Phillip Nelson and Sergeant Brian Carter were working Winns Mill Road and caught a group of night hunters. There were 4 people in the vehicle and all were charged with hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting deer at night. A doe deer was recovered and taken to Hicks Processor where it will be donated to Hunters for the Hungry.

On October 26th, Corporal Julian Wilkins and Corporal Greg Colson received a complaint in reference to a convicted felon hunting with a firearm. The subject was located and was confirmed to be a convicted felon. The subject was hunting with a shotgun. Warrants were taken for the subject and he was charged with convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and hunting without fluorescent orange. A second subject was also found and charged with hunting without fluorescent orange.
WARREN COUNTY On October 22nd, RFC Brian Adams and RFC Bobby Timmerman assisted the GBI with surveillance and takedown of a residence in the Norwood area that illegal drugs were being sold at. Cocaine and ecstasy were found at the residence.
On October 25th, RFC Brian Adams apprehended a subject hunting over bait and hunting w/o permission. Further investigation led to a large 8-point buck that had been killed the previous weekend over bait and without permission. The deer was seized from a taxidermist.
GLASCOCK COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Brian Adams investigated a hunting w/o permission complaint. He located and charged a subject that was hunting on the property without permission.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On October 26th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins checked an area where a baited deer stand had been located on an earlier date. The subject that was present in the stand was cited for hunting w/o orange and hunting over bait.
TALIAFERRO COUNTY On October 25th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins checked a piece of property where three baited stands had been located on an earlier date. Two subjects were found on the property. One adult was cited for hunting big game over bait and a juvenile was warned for the same violation.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Bobby Timmerman investigated a boating incident that occurred on Clarks Hill Lake the prior evening. A bass boat was caught in a severe storm that created six to eight foot swells. The large waves caused the motor mounts on the boat to break and the motor to separate from the boat. No one was injured.

NEWTON COUNTY On October 26th, Ranger Ricky Boles received a night hunting complaint from Newton County 911. The caller stated someone had just shot a deer from the roadway. The caller confronted subjects and got the vehicles tag number. A bolo was put out for the vehicle and sheriff's deputies located the vehicle about five miles from the scene. Ranger Boles arrived and interviewed the occupants of the vehicle. There were two occupants in the vehicle, a father and son. The subjects confessed to shooting at a deer with a 12-gauge shotgun. Both subjects were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night and hunting from a public road. They were warned for hunting from a vehicle.
BURKE COUNTY October 18th, Cpl. Ben Payne and RFC Billips worked baited deer stands in Burke County. They wrote 4 citations for hunting over bait, 2 citations for hunting without permission, 4 citations for hunting deer without fluorescent orange, 1 citation for holding a game animal without permit, and numerous verbal guidances. Later in the afternoon they worked a deer decoy in east Burke County with the Game Management Section. That night they worked a night hunting complaint.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Mitch Oliver checked two corn feeders on a piece of property he had located a few days prior. There was not a deer stand near the two feeders that was in good condition, so the officer assumed the hunter would be on the ground or in a climber. RFC Oliver reached the first feeder and noticed a piece of camouflage netting tied between two trees. The officer informed the subject inside the blind to stand up, but was surprised when three subjects came from behind the small piece of material. Only one subject was carrying a firearm, but none of the three were wearing fluorescent orange. The hunter with the firearm was issued citations for hunting big game over bait and hunting deer w/o wearing fluorescent orange. He was given a written warning for hunting w/o a license. One of the other men accompanying the hunter was issued a citation for accompanying a deer hunter w/o wearing fluorescent orange while the other was issued a warning due to his age.
On October 25th, RFC Mitch Oliver observed a small car parked beside the road and stopped to see if the car was broke down or if it might belong to a hunter. The officer noticed several shoe prints around the trunk of the vehicle and one set that went into the woods. RFC Oliver called Harris County 911 to run the tag on the vehicle. The tag didn't come back to the car and had suspended registration. With this information, RFC Oliver decided to see if he could locate the hunter and also called for a deputy to be en route to possibly handle the traffic offenses. After some tracking, RFC Oliver located the hunter, who was not wearing any fluorescent orange. The officer asked the hunter as he climbed down his ladder if there was anything around his stand that would be considered bait. He said that there was not. RFC Oliver walked approximately 20 yards from the stand and was looking at a small cleared area in the leaves. There was some sort of pellet or food

scattered in the leaves. RFC Oliver asked the hunter about this and his response was that he thought that it was O.K. as long as it was not corn. He was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and a written warning for the fluorescent orange since he had it but did not have it on.
On October 26th, RFC Mitch Oliver checked a hunting club that had several baited deer stands on it. RFC Oliver was able to locate three hunters on the property, two adults and a child. Both stands were still within the required ten days of bait being completely removed when the officer found them, but it was apparent after talking with the two, that another club member had put the corn out. The corn was gone for the most part except for a few cornels and the two men were issued warnings for hunting big game over bait.
TALBOT COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Jeremy Bolen was patrolling for hunting violations when he located a vehicle parked on the side of the road with corn in the back of the truck. RFC Bolen used K-9 Griz to track the subject from the truck into the woods. Griz located the hunter in a box stand and the hunter was not wearing his orange vest. RFC Bolen looked around the deer stand and discovered that the stand was baited. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and a written warning for hunting deer w/o orange.
TROUP COUNTY On October 25th, Cpl. Brent Railey patrolled Troup and Heard counties for hunting activity. He checked 8 hunting licenses and 3 fishing licenses and issued 3 warnings for fishing without a license.
On October 19th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield was patrolling in the Hogansville Georgia area. The Ranger checked a hunting camp on Hwy 54 about 4:00 pm and found a hunter just leaving to go into the woods to hunt. This non-resident hunter explained that he had killed his largest deer ever on the property the previous weekend. Cpl. Bradfield checked the hunter's license and discovered that he did not have the required hunting license but only had a non-resident big game license. The buck that the hunter had killed had been recorded properly on the harvest record. Cpl. Bradfield issued the hunter a written warning for non-resident hunting without a license and advised him to get the hunting license before coming back to the property to hunt.
HEARD COUNTY On October 24th, Cpl. Bradfield met with Cpl. Brent Railey in south Heard County to assist him with a complaint. Cpl. Bradfield remained in a specified area to observe if someone attempted to get across an open area on foot while Cpl. Railey circled around in his vehicle to check the area where he saw the hunter disappear into the woods. Cpl. Railey discovered that the person in the complaint area that he saw was one of the members of the hunting club that had initially called in the complaint.

JASPER COUNTY On October 11th, RFC Billy Bryant and K-9 Drake presented a K-9 demo in Keysville for the welcome back to Keysville Festival. Spectators observed K-9 Drake perform an article location/evidence recovery exercise where he located a piece of camo cloth, a cell phone, the finger of a leather glove, and a hidden rifle.
On October 15th, RFC Billy Bryant received a call from a concerned landowner in Jasper County who felt a deer had been taken off his property without permission the day before. The complainant knew a deer had been checked into a local cooler by a person he suspected of poaching on his property and wanted the situation looked into. RFC Bryant met the complainant who took him to a hardwood hollow off of Barnes Mountain Road in Jasper County. RFC Bryant put K-9 Drake into the area off lead to perform an open area search. K-9 Drake stopped after just a few seconds in the area over a pile of whole kernel yellow corn. RFC Bryant praised him and sent him out again. This time Drake went approximately 40 ft. and stopped again where he had located a patch of blood soaked leaves where the deer had apparently bled out. Samples were taken for evidence from both. RFC Bryant then went to the deer cooler to see the carcass and try to find an address for the subject from the coolers log. While at the cooler Bryant noticed the right back strap was nearly all gone as a result of the gunshot wound to the animal, which appeared strange for primitive weapons season. Bryant then proceeded to the suspect's residence. He arrived around 8:00 pm. After a brief conversation with the suspect, and being confronted with the evidence located by K-9 Drake, the suspect confessed and produced a .300 Magnum rifle that he used to poach the deer. He was charged with hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait, and hunting big game with illegal weapon. The eight-point rack was confiscated
On October 18th, RFC Billy Bryant was patrolling property in Jasper County off Jordan Road when they located a hunter in a stand a short distance away from a pipe feeder containing whole kernel yellow corn. The man was charged with hunting big game over bait.
On October 25th, RFC Bryant, a USFS Ranger, and a local Refuge Officer were working a deer decoy detail in Jasper County. At approximately 9:00 am a pickup truck came by and the driver exited the truck and shot the decoy with a .50 cal muzzleloader. When the smoke cleared the man was charged with hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
On October 26th, RFC Bryant and K-9 Drake responded to a call for assistance in Putnam County. A deer had been shot without permission from a property and the violator fled the scene when discovered by the landowner. The suspect was believed to be a convicted felon and had possessed a shotgun, which he used to poach the deer. By the time Bryant arrived, the man's truck had been located several miles from the place of incident. RFC Bryant put K-9 Drake on his track and after tracking a short distance K-9 Drake located a cell phone case the man had dropped on his way out. While tracking the suspect a Putnam County Deputy caught the suspect jumping a fence to walk down the road back to his vehicle. The track was then ended and RFC Bryant followed Cpl. Stanford to the

deputy's location and the suspect's vehicle. The suspect was found to be in possession of two firearms. Once Cpl Stanford confirmed the felony convictions, he placed him under arrest and the suspect was transported to the Putnam County Jail.
COWETA COUNTY On October 25th, at approximately 9:15 pm, Corporal Wanda Roberts was notified by SOC that hunters were lost on the Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Corporal Roberts and Ranger Adam Jacobs responded to the park as well as Coweta County Sheriff's Department and Coweta County Fire Department. The Sheriff's Department also had a helicopter coming to assist in the search. While en route, Corporal Roberts had contact with the lost hunter via cell phone. The hunters were tracking a wounded deer and got lost. Just as Corporal Roberts and Ranger Jacobs were arriving, the hunters found a road. The Coweta County Fire Department drove down Flat Rock Road and picked up the hunters. When the hunters arrived back at their vehicle, Ranger Jacobs and Corporal Roberts assisted them with finding their stands and one deer that they had left in the woods prior to searching for the wounded deer.
PEACH COUNTY On the evening of October 19th, Cpl. Susan Morris responded to a complaint regarding possible hunting without permission. Supplied with the suspect vehicle's tag number, Morris was able to contact the suspect at his residence. There she found a vehicle meeting the description provided by the complainant; in the back of the vehicle was a freshly killed deer. The subject admitted to being on the complainant's property but stated he only used it to access the property he was hunting. He was subsequently charged with failure to record deer harvest.
TWIGGS COUNTY On the afternoon of October 25th, Cpl. Robert Stillwell checked several deer stands he had previously documented as being baited. Two subjects were apprehended - one was cited for hunting over bait and released at the scene while the second subject, found to be in possession of a misdemeanor amount of marijuana, was placed into custody and transported to the local jail. He was charged with possession of marijuana, hunting big game over bait, and given a written warning for hunting without fluorescent orange.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On October 19th, Decatur County 911 contacted RFC Tony Cox in reference to a boat sinking on Lake Seminole. The caller could not give a specific area of the lake where the vessel could be located. RFC Cox searched the Lake for 3 hours without finding the vessel.

On October 19th, RFC Tony Cox and RFC Jeff Phillips conducted a patrol of Silver Lake WMA. They made contact with two adults and two juveniles that had been hunting deer on the closed WMA. The adults were charged with non-resident hunting without license and without big game license, hunting on a closed WMA, and hunting without a WMA license. They were given written warnings for transporting loaded firearms on a WMA and failure to record deer harvest. The juveniles were not charged in this incident.
On October 25th, Decatur County 911 contacted RFC Tony Cox in reference to two subjects that were missing on Lake Seminole. They had gone fishing the night before and had not returned as planned. RFC Cox initiated a boat patrol and found the subjects stranded due to a mechanical failure. He towed the vessel to the nearest landing and transported one subject to retrieve his truck and trailer.
EARLY COUNTY On October 25th, Sgt. Rick Sellars, Cpl. Terri Jones, and Cpl. Mike Binion patrolled baited deer stands throughout Early County. A total of 8 violations were detected and documented including 4 hunting big game over bait, 1 hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange, 2 non-resident hunting without license, and 1 failure to record deer harvest.
MACON COUNTY On October 18th, at about 6:30 AM, Corporal John Harkins was driving south on highway 49 near Marshallville, when he approached an accident that had just occurred. The two occupants were out of the vehicle, although one was unable to stand due to injuries. The driver told Corporal Harkins that the accident occurred as he was trying to avoid a deer. Corporal Harkins requested EMS and assistance from the sheriffs department and monitored the situation until their arrival.
SUMTER COUNTY On October 20th, Cpl. Tommy Lawrence was driving through Americus when he noticed an elderly man in a motorized wheelchair on the sidewalk. As the man approached a steep embankment his wheelchair tipped over throwing the man onto the edge of the busy street. Cpl. Lawrence immediately stopped and activated his emergency lights and after finding out the man was not injured, helped him back into his wheelchair. He then ensured that the man got up the steep hill safely.
DOOLY COUNTY On October 25th, while checking a baited deer stand RFC Clint Martin noticed that a deer had been shot the previous evening. After a short investigation, the shooter was issued a citation for hunting deer over bait and an illegally harvested 10-point buck that was taken the previous day. The buck was subsequently confiscated.

TIFT COUNTY On October 21st, while conducting operations to curtail illegal night deer hunting, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey apprehended an individual who was engaging in the illegal activity. In addition to being charged with hunting deer at night and hunting from a public road the individual was charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. The violator was arrested and transported to the Tift county jail for processing.
QUITMAN COUNTY On October 25th, Cpl B.J. Foster and Ranger Jack Stripling conducted an investigation that resulted in two hunters being charged with illegal possession of wildlife.
STEWART COUNTY On October 19th, while working a complaint of hunting without permission, Ranger Jack Stripling and Cpl. Steve Robinson apprehended two non-resident hunters. The violators were charged with hunting without a license, hunting without a big-game license and hunting without permission.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
PIERCE COUNTY On October 24th, Cpl. Damon Winters and RFC Brad Cox worked a night hunting complaint off W.C. Davis Road in Pierce County. At around 3:00 am they observed a vehicle approaching their position. The vehicle was traveling at a slow rate of speed along a peanut field. The vehicle came to a stop and one of the occupants shined a spotlight back and forth across the field. After stopping the vehicle two subjects were secured along with a high-powered rifle and spotlight. The subjects were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
On October 19th, Cpl. Damon Winters and RFC Brad Cox checked previously located baited deer stands in the Hurricane community. Two citations were issued for hunting big game over bait and one citation was issued for hunting with an illegal firearm.
WARE COUNTY On October 20th, RFC Brad Cox checked a hunter in possession of an eight-point buck on South King Rd. and issued him a written warning for failure to record deer harvest.
On October 20th, RFC Brad Cox and Cpl. Gary Simmons checked a hunting complaint on the boundary of King Tract WMA and adjacent private property. The hunter was located and issued a citation for littering and hunting big game without fluorescent orange clothing. Another hunter was checked at the sign-in kiosk on King Tract WMA. He was issued a citation for possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle on a WMA and for continuing to hunt after obtaining the season limit.

CLINCH COUNTY On October 25th, RFC Brad Cox and Cpl. Damon Winters checked a previously located deer stand in Edith. A twelve-year-old girl was hunting while her grandmother sat with her in a buddy stand. Verbal guidance was given to both of them for hunting big game over bait.
ECHOLS COUNTY On the afternoon of October 18th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree responded to the sounds of hounds running and several gunshots on a private tract south of Statenville. Sgt. Dupree located three individuals on the property hunting deer with dogs. One of the subjects had contacted Sgt. Dupree three weeks earlier about applying for a deer dogging permit for the property. He was given instructions on how to properly complete the application. It was determined that the permit was never applied for. The individuals had already harvested a six-point buck and a doe. All three were charged for hunting deer with dogs on un-permitted property. One individual was charged for hunting big game without a license. Warnings were issued for hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting without a license and hunting deer with dogs without a deer dog license. Instructions were again explained on how to obtain a deer-dogging permit for the property. The deer were not confiscated.
BULLOCH COUNTY On October 22nd Cpl. Dave Sims cited two hunters for hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange clothing and one hunter for hunting big game over bait.
October 25th, Cpl. Eddie Akins and Cpl. Shaymus McNeely responded to a complaint of deer dogs running on property. By the time the officers arrived the dogs were no longer in the area. Officers met with complainant and discussed working the complaint in the future.
On the evening of October 23rd, Sgt. William Vickers and Cpl. Dave Sims worked an area that a citizen had reported as having night deer hunting activity. After several hours of surveillance, no activity was detected. Officers will continue to work the area.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On October 20th, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely and Ranger Brandon Pierce responded to and investigated a report of night hunting on Old Dixie Highway, north of Springfield. The investigation resulted in two subjects being charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting big game from a public road.
On October 19th, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely and Cpl. Eddie Akins responded to two deer dogging complaints that resulted in one violation being documented. McNeely and Akins also checked a baited stand on the north end of Effingham that resulted in four violations being documented.

On October 25th, Cpl. Eddie Akins and Cpl. Shaymus McNeely dealt with two different incidences of failure to keep deer dogs on permitted property. One incident had no violations documented and the other incident resulted in one violation being documented.
EVANS COUNTY On October 20th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked several deer hunters. Two citations were issued for hunting deer without fluorescent orange. One citation was written for hunting without a big game license. One warning was issued for hunting deer without fluorescent orange and one warning for hunting deer without a license.
On October 21st, RFC Debbie Brannen checked an archery hunter. One citation was issued for hunting deer without fluorescent orange and a warning for hunting big game over bait.
JENKINS COUNTRY On October 25th, Cpl. Don Dasher worked a night hunting complaint in the northwest part of Jenkins County. At approximately 10:26 pm, a deer was shot across the road from where he was positioned. Three subjects were arrested. All three were charged for hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle. Two were charged with obstruction. One was charged with fleeing and attempting to elude.
TOOMBS COUNTY On October 19th, Cpl. Jon Barnard and RFC Clint Jarriel checked baited deer stands in the New Branch community and located two hunters hunting deer over bait. One hunter was charged with hunting big game over bait and one was charged with hunting big game over bait and hunting without a fluorescent orange vest.
On October 20th, Cpl. Jon Barnard and RFC Clint Jarriel checked a baited deer stand in the Rackettown community being hunted by a known convicted felon. The rangers watched the offender's house and saw someone leave the residence and go to the stand. The hunter was not the convicted felon but he was hunting deer with a 22 magnum rifle. The hunter was charged with hunting big game over bait, hunting deer without fluorescent orange and hunting with an illegal weapon.
On October 23rd, Cpl. Jon Barnard received a night hunting complaint in the area of the Vidalia Airport. After a talking with a witness and with the assistance of the Vidalia Police Dept. and the Toombs County Sheriff's Department three suspects were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle and hunting big game from a public road.

LOWNDES COUNTY On October 19th, Cpl. Morty Wood responded to a request for assistance from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office concerning a night deer-hunting incident. After the investigation, Cpl. Wood issued citations for hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, hunting big game from a public road, and possession of illegally taken wildlife to two individuals that had killed a button buck in a road side ditch.
BERRIEN COUNTY On the morning of October 19th, Cpl. Morty Wood and Sgt. David Nugent patrolled Berrien County for hunting activity. Four citations were issued for hunting big game over bait, hunting without a license, and failure to participate in H.I.P. (Harvest Information Program).
LANIER COUNTY On the evening of October 19th, Cpl. Morty Wood patrolled Lanier County for hunting activity. Four citations were issued for hunting big game over bait and hunting deer without fluorescent orange.
LOWNDES COUNTY On the evening of October 19th, Cpl. Morty Wood patrolled Lowndes County for hunting activity. Four citations were issued for hunting big game over bait, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting without a license, and hunting without a big game license.
BERRIEN COUNTY On October 22nd, Cpl. Morty Wood witnessed a truck shining three fields. The driver was issued a citation for blinding wildlife with lights.
LOWNDES COUNTY On October 25th, Cpl. Morty Wood and Ranger Keith McDonald patrolled Lowndes County for hunting activity. Six citations were issued for hunting big game over bait, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting without license on person, and accompanying a deer hunter without fluorescent orange.
ATKINSON COUNTY On October 20th, RFC Tim Hutto received a call from 911 stating that two subjects were seen hunting without permission and were possibly hunting from a county road. RFC Hutto made contact with the complainant and was able to get a tag number of the vehicle. He contacted the landowner, who stated that he had told the subjects earlier to stay off of his property. Later that night he located the suspects and obtained a confession. Both subjects were arrested and charged with hunting without permission, hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, and possession of illegally taken wildlife.

On October 25th-26th, RFC Tim Hutto checked several areas that were baited for deer. Three citations were issued for hunting big game over bait, and two warnings were issued for possession of illegally taken wildlife and hunting without a license.
COOK COUNTY On October 25th, Cpl. Greg Moody checked several baited deer stands and 3 hunters were issued citations for hunting big game over bait and 2 received warnings for hunting deer without fluorescent orange.
APPLING COUNTY On Oct 25th, Cpl. John A Stokes and Ranger Chase Altman checked baited stands. Ten violations were documented consisting of 3 hunting big game over bait, 3 hunting deer without fluorescent orange, and 4 non-residents hunting without license.
BEN HILL COUNTY On Oct 26th, Cpl. John A Stokes documented 11 violations consisting of hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, hunting from a vehicle, hunting without permission, and hunting deer over bait.
COFFEE COUNTY On Oct 26th, Cpl. John A stokes and Ranger Chase Altman patrolled Flat Tub WMA and documented two violations consisting of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and possession of buckshot on a WMA.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On October 20th, Ranger Randy Tinley and RFC Isaac Strickland patrolled the Richmond Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in South Bryan. The Rangers checked four hunters and cited two of them for hunting without a WMA License.
On October 25th, Ranger Randy Tinley, Sgt. James Shelton, and Cpl. Cindy Miller checked a baited stand in South Bryan. The subject in the stand was cited for hunting big game over bait, hunting without fluorescent orange vest, non-resident hunting without a big game license, and non-resident hunting without a license. Two other club members were checked. One was cited for hunting without a fluorescent orange vest, non-resident hunting without a big game license, and non-resident hunting without a license. The other was cited for hunting without a fluorescent orange vest.
On October 25th, Ranger Randy Tinley and Cpl. Cindy Miller received an in progress compliant from a landowner for fishing without permission. Ranger Tinley and Cpl. Miller responded to the area and witnessed two people fishing. The two subjects were cited for fishing without permission.

MCINTOSH COUNTY On October 18th, Cpl. Ron Harris and Ranger Rebekah Fuller were patrolling the Crescent Farms area due to numerous complaints of illegal hunting activity when they located two people hunting. The couple was cited for hunting w/o a license, hunting big game without a license, hunting without fluorescent orange, and given verbal guidance for hunting without permission.
On October 24th, Cpl. Ron Harris received a call of a group of people hunting deer with dogs on unpermitted property in the Crescent Farms area. Cpl. Harris along with Sgt. Harwell responded to the area where Cpl. Harris located the subjects. Four subjects were cited for hunting deer with dogs on unpermitted property and one was cited for hunting deer with dogs without a deer dog-hunting license.
On October 25th, Cpl. Ron Harris and Ranger Rebekah Fuller were patrolling the Crescent Farms area where they located one subject hunting w/o permission. Cpl. Harris issued verbal guidance to the hunter.
WAYNE COUNTY On October 19th, RFC Randy Aspinwall caught two subjects hunting big game over bait in the area of Holmesville Rd. The subjects were not wearing a fluorescent orange vest. The subjects were given citations for hunting big game over bait and not wearing fluorescent orange.
On October 22nd, Cpl. Bobby White received a call from 911 at approximately 1:30 am, stating that a Jesup Police officer had found a truck beside the road with no driver, and there was a freshly killed young doe deer in the back of the truck, a rifle and a spotlight was in the cab of the truck. Upon arrival, while Cpl. White was checking the truck the driver walked from the woods and said he had been looking for his dog. After interviewong the subject he admitted to killing the deer at night. One citation was issued for killing deer at night and a warning for possession of unlawful taking of wildlife.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On Oct 18th, Cpl. Billy Reed received a complaint on deer violations in the Findig area. He met with the informant, checked the area, and located several piles of shelled corn. On Oct 19th, at 5 am, he staked out the area. The hunters arrived at 6 am and erected their stands. After waiting about an hour, he confronted the hunters and cited them for hunting big game over bait and hunting without fluorescent orange clothing.