Field operations weekly report, 2008 February 10-16

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 10-16, 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)
CHATTOOGA COUNTY Cpl. Shawn Elmore appeared in the Superior Court of Chattooga County in the case of a fatal boating incident that occurred June 2007. In this case a 5 year old child drowned and the operator of the vessel has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vessel in the 1st degree, cruelty to children (5 counts), operating a vessel without US Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices, operating an overloaded vessel, allowing a child under the age of 10 years old to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a personal floatation device (5 counts), and reckless operation of a vessel. The case was continued until the next court week.
FLOYD COUNTY RFC Ben Cunningham and Cpl. Shawn Elmore presented a radio program on the Governor's Litter Abatement Act for WRGA 1470 AM in Rome.
Over the last week, RFC Ben Cunningham, Ranger Roger McConkey, and Cpl. Shawn Elmore have patrolled the Coosa River due to high boating and fishing activity. During these boating safety patrols, several citations for operating a vessel without personal floatation devices and fishing without licenses were issued.
On Sunday February 10th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Ranger Roger McConkey assisted a stranded boater on the Coosa River. The boater was having motor problems and the rangers were able to tow the disabled vessel to the Hwy 100 Bridge where the occupants' vehicle was located.
GORDON COUNTY Cpl. Shawn Elmore recently obtained court dispositions from the Gordon County Probate Court. The twenty dispositions resulted in $6895.00 in fines. Most of these citations were issued during the 2007-2008 deer season.
MURRAY COUNTY On February 11th Sgt. John VanLandingham, Cpl. James Keener and Cpl. Casey Jones served a search warrant at a residence in Murray County. The search warrant was the result of an ongoing investigation. The rangers discovered and confiscated one mounted hawk and four mounted owls from the residence. There were also six mounted ducks in the house the suspect stated he bought from a taxidermist in Ellijay several years ago. In his outbuildings the officers located and took into evidence twenty-three steel traps and a spool of wire that looked similar to the wire used as a tripwire to a "booby trap" located on February 2nd. Arrest warrants were obtained on the suspect for failure to affix stamped metal tags to traps, failure to inspect traps within 24 hours, possession of bird parts (for the hawk and four owls) and reckless conduct (for the booby trap located on February 2nd).

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FRANKLIN COUNTY On February 16, Cpl. Craig Fulghum, RFC Shane Sartor, and RFC Chris Moore assisted the N.W.T.F with a JAKES Day event in Franklin County. Approximately 220 youth participated. The daily activities included skeet shooting and fishing. Each shooter was allowed to shoot five rounds. There were booths from the Stephens County Anti-drug campaign and bird dog training exhibits. This is a yearly event and has grown each year.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY Several days after September 12, 2007 Cpl. Brian Hobbins received information that a potential Pope and Young buck had been killed over bait. Cpl. Hobbins initiated an investigation attempting to locate the location and person involved. Through a search of the states license database Cpl. Hobbins found that the person involved had not purchased his deer harvest record until after he had killed the deer. The search of the two-acre tract of property where the deer was killed revealed corn scattered around the tree the person had climbed. Samples of the corn taken from the scene showed that the corn had been present prior to the date of kill.
Cpl. Hobbins then initiated a search of local taxidermist with hopes of locating the buck. While Cpl. Hobbins searched the area taxidermist it was learned that the individual would be bringing the rack to the Thomson WRD Office to be scored. Once the rack was brought to the Thomson Office Cpl. Hobbins secured arrest warrants. These warrants were for hunting big game over bait, hunting without a license and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
On February 12, 2008 the person arrested entered in a plea agreement and pleaded no contest to hunting big game over bait and was fined $705.00. The rack became property of the state and will be used for educational purposes. The requirement for a Pope and Young entry is 125; the official score of this rack was 123.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HENRY COUNTY On 02/10/2008 RFC Godbee, while on patrol in the area of the Upper Towaliga Reservoir in South West Henry County, discovered three men fishing without permission on the Reservoir. All three men were charged with fishing without permission.

SPALDING COUNTY On February 10, 2008 Corporal Wanda Roberts and Sergeant Russ Ramsey assisted two stranded boaters during a 15 to 30 mph wind advisory while patrolling the Spalding County Reservoir for compliance with fishing, boating and creel limit laws. The reservoir was white capping due to the wind and two subjects were towed back to the safety of the boat ramp they launched from after their motor had stalled.
LAMAR COUNTY On Monday, February 11, 2008, RFC Keith Page received a complaint from a landowner in Lamar County that someone had dumped 11 bags of trash on the side of Harmony Hill Ranch Road near his residence. RFC Page investigated the complaint and found a name on several items in the bag of trash. RFC Page located the subject who lived in Monroe County and issued a citation for unlawful dumping.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
LEE COUNTY A joint investigation conducted by Rangers of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife, and agents with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has led to warrants being issued for three Florida residents. Twelve warrants were issued after a lengthy investigation revealed that the individuals, while hunting as guests on a local plantation, had taken several whitetail deer illegally. The three face charges on several counts of license violations and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
GRADY COUNTY On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, Sgt. Rick Sellars and RFC Mike Binion were notified of a hunting incident which had occurred earlier in the day in south Grady County. The incident involved a member of a quail hunting party, whom inadvertently placed himself in the line of fire of another hunter and was hit in the upper torso and head. A Florida Fish and Wildlife officer assisting with the incident was responsible for obtaining interviews and statements at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. This incident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed as of this time.
MITCHELL COUNTY On Thursday, February 14, 2008, Region V Firearms Instructors and members of the Counter Terrorism Task Force received extensive tactical training and qualification with long guns and pistols. This training was held in Mitchell County at the Autry C.I. firing range.
COLQUITT COUNTY On Saturday February 11, 2008 Corporal Jason Shipes presented a Laser Shot program for 400 students and parents at Williams Middle School in Moultrie.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TELFAIR COUNTY RFC Barry Britt, RFC Rodney Horne, RFC Jamey O'Brien, and Cpl. Johnny Ashe recovered a drowning victim from the Ocmulgee River after a 2-week search operation. The drowning was reported on February the 2nd, 2008. The vehicle of the victim was recovered from the waters on February 3rd, 2008.
TATTNALL COUNTY On February 18, 2008 Cpl. Dave Sims and RFC Debbie Brannen conducted a follow-up inspection of a Taxidermist and Bait and Tackle business from the previous year. The Taxidermist side of the business was found to have an expired Federal Taxidermist Permit as well as numerous State Record Keeping and Tagging Requirement violations and the Bait and Tackle side of the business had an expired Retail Fish Dealers License. The business operator/owner was cited for four State of Georgia violations and one Federal violation.
IRWIN COUNTY On Saturday February 16, Sgt. David Reckley gave a gun safety presentation to the Christian Sportsmen's Fellowship. The children present then had the opportunity to shoot skeet.
TOOMBS COUNTY On Thursday 02/14/2008 Cpl. Jon Barnard and RFC Clint Jarriel patrolled the Altamaha River by boat for compliance with boating safety and creel limit laws. Two boats and 3 fishing license were checked with a citation being issued for insufficient PFD's and a warning for operating a vessel above idle speed within 100 feet of object/shore.
On Friday 02/15/2008 Cpl. Jon Barnard patrolled the Altamaha River by boat for compliance with boating safety and commercial shad fishing laws. Two boats were checked along with one commercial shad license. Cpl Barnard issued two warnings for boating safety violations.
On Saturday 02/16/2008 Cpl. Jon Barnard and RFC Danielle Partin patrolled the Altamaha River and Cobb Creek Dead River for compliance with boating safety and fishing laws. Approximately 7 boats and 11 fishing licenses were checked. Two cases were issued, one for littering and one for operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's, with warnings being issued for failure to display registration numbers and fishing without a license.

ATKINSON COUNTY On February 15, 2008 RFC Tim Hutto received a call from the State Operations Center stating that Lowndes County S.O. was requesting his assistance at Grand Bay WMA in reference to missing canoeist. Upon arrival, RFC Hutto located the missing persons exiting a canoe trail safely.
On February 16, 2008 RFC Tim Hutto patrolled the Satilla River in Atkinson County for boating and fishing violations. Several fishermen were checked and one was issued a written warning for fishing without a license.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
WAYNE COUNTY Sgt. D. V. Grantham and Cpl. Billy Reed received an In-Progress complaint on an illegal deer kill in the Odum area of Wayne County. Upon investigating the incident it was determined that the deer had been ran over by a vehicle. No action was taken.
CAMDEN COUNTY On 02-15-08, RFC Craig Smith, RFC Mark Carson, and Cpl. Ron Harris were conducting an offshore patrol from Brunswick south to the Florida line. While on patrol they received a complaint of a shrimp boat trawling in closed waters. When they approached the vessel they noticed that it was trawling for Whelk, which is also closed in state waters. RFC Craig Smith and RFC Mark Carson boarded the trawler and inspected the gear, licenses and catch. After this inspection the Rangers issued both subjects citations for trawling with power drawn nets in closed waters, warnings for crabbing with illegal gear, and the Captain of the vessel was arrested for interference with a rangers duties.
CHATHAM COUNTY On 2-16-08 Sgt Tim Vincent, Cpl. Bill Bryson and Ranger Buster Cooper were conducting Joint Enforcement Agreement checks on vessels coming back from fishing offshore at Wassaw Sound. During these intercepts, they checked one vessel coming back from the "L" Buoy with 73 black sea bass of which 39 were undersized. Five citations were issued for over the limit (13 over) and the (39) undersized black sea bass. The 39 black sea bass were confiscated and donated to The Bethesda Boys Home.