Field operations weekly report, 2008 March 30-April 5

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report March 30- April 5, 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)
FLOYD COUNTY On April 5th, RFC Ben Cunningham, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, and W/L Tech Daniel Booke attended the Women In The Outdoors (WITO) of the NWTF at the Floyd County Sportsman Association. RFC Cunningham and Cpl. Shawn Elmore presented the Laser Shot, while W/L Tech Daniel Booke showed the women the proper way to back trailers. WITO introduces women to many outdoor activities and promotes their involvement in hunting and fishing.
GILMER COUNTY On April 4th, RFC Eddie Tompkins, RFC Ben Cunningham, Sgt. John VanLandingham, Sgt. Brian Keener, US Army Corp. of Engineers, Gilmer County Sheriff's Office, Gilmer County EMS, and Murray County Rescue Team responded to a call of a missing fisherman on Carters Lake. After arriving at the vessel RFC Tompkins, RFC Cunningham, and a representative from the US Army Corp. of Engineers began a search of the area for the missing fisherman in the patrol vessel. They located the missing fisherman's body submerged approximately 100 yards from the vessel. The Murray County Rescue and dive team recovered the body. An autopsy will be completed on the body by the Gilmer County Coroner's Office.
PICKENS COUNTY On April 3rd, RFC Eddie Tompkins, RFC Bart Hendrix, Cpl. Dave Phillips, Wildlife Tech Mike Cline, and Wildlife Tech Mitch Yeargin attended a Wild Game Supper for the Pickens County Christians Outdoorsman in Jasper. The laser shot system and fishing simulator were both enjoyed by the almost 200 persons in attendance.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On April 2nd, RFC Eddie Tompkins was patrolling Mill Creek for fishing activity. RFC Tompkins approached a male subject that was acting very nervous and smelled of marijuana. The male subject stated that he was just collecting mushrooms and was not bothering anyone. Upon investigation RFC Tompkins located a glass-smoking pipe in the subjects pocket and 2 small plastic bags of marijuana in the subject's vehicle. The subject was placed under arrest and charged with VGCSA, possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
On April 5th, RFC Eddie Tompkins was patrolling the Prater's Mill area on Cohulla Creek for fishing activity. RFC Tompkins approached a male subject sitting in a truck in the back of a field that was private property. As the subject exited his vehicle RFC Tompkins could smell marijuana. Upon investigation RFC Tompkins located a metal container that contained marijuana and an aluminum can that was being used to smoke the marijuana. The subject was placed under arrest and charged with VGCSA, possession of marijuana less than one ounce.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY On April 5, at approximately 11:00pm, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and RFC Eric Isom responded to Lake Lanier to assist Hall County Sheriff's Office. Hall County had received a 911 call stating that a man was attempting to stab a female on a house boat. Cpl. Loudermilk and Ranger Isom responded by boat to pick up the Hall County Deputies. Once the deputies were on board the Rangers and Deputies searched the lake for several hours attempting to locate the vessel. The vessel was eventually located about two miles from its destination. Once the vessel was located the officers boarded the boat, and began questioning the passengers about the 911 call. One female on board stated that she had been threatened but didn't wish to press charges. Another female was arrested for outstanding warrants. The operator of the houseboat stated that he had rented the boat and was unable to drive the boat due to its size. He also stated that he didn't know where he was, and he wanted someone to drive the boat to the dock. Cpl. Loudermilk drove the boat back and docked it safely.
HART COUNTY On March 28, RFC Josh Chambers received a tip about turkey bait on the Hart/Elbert county line. RFC Chambers was able to locate the bait, which was in Elbert County. RFC Chambers and Cpl. Julian Wilkins caught two subjects on April 5 hunting over bait. Another subject was charged for hunting over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife for killing a turkey over the bait earlier in the week.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY RFC Robert Timmerman responded to an anonymous tip about an illegal dumpsite in Harlem Georgia. Assisting Timmerman were an EPD officer and a code enforcement officer from Columbia County. At the scene of the tip, Timmerman located approximately 15 truckloads of material dumped upon the property. After several hours of investigation and interviews, Timmerman obtained felony arrest warrants for the person responsible for the illegal dump. While at the scene three dump trucks came to dump more materials.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
TROUP COUNTY On April 3, Cpl. Brent Railey gave a training session to the Yellow Jacket District of the Boy Scouts of America's adult den leaders in Franklin, GA. The title of the training was "Wildlife Safety While Camping". About 30 people attended the training.

During the week Cpl. Railey patrolled Troup and Heard County for turkey hunters and answered several complaints. On April 5, Cpl. Railey patrolled Troup and Heard Counties and checked several boats and fishing licenses but did not issue any citations.
JASPER COUNTY On March 5, while thunderstorms were passing through the Jackson Lake area, RFC Billy Bryant responded to two stranded boaters on Jackson Lake, towing one of them several miles back to his vehicle.
JONES COUNTY On April 6, RFC Chad Welch and Sgt. Bo Kelly received a complaint of turkey hunting without permission near Haddock. Upon investigating the complaint, the two rangers were able to locate where a turkey had been shot and other evidence of the crime. Further investigation led the rangers to the son of an adjacent landowner to the complainant's property. The son and another person admitted to shooting the turkey out of the complainant's pasture. Both men were charged with hunting without permission and the shooter was charged with possession of illegally taken wildlife.
On March 8, RFC Chad Welch was patrolling an area in Jones County for turkey bait, when he came upon a vehicle parked in the woods near a private pond. RFC Welch located four adults who were intoxicated and fishing on the pond without permission. A call to the landowner confirmed that these persons did not have permission to fish on the pond. All four persons were charged with fishing without permission.
On March 6, Cpl Lynn Stanford, RFC Chad Welch and Sgt. Bo Kelly were patrolling the Ocmulgee River in Jones County, checking fishing license and creel limits. Four citations were issued to subjects for fishing without license.
MONROE COUNTY On March 31, RFC Wil Smith and CPL Tony Wynne patrolled the popular fishing areas around Lake Juliette and along the Ocmulgee River for activity and charged one person with fishing without license.
On the afternoon of April 2, at approximately 4:30 p.m., while searching for turkey bait, Corporal Tony Wynne discovered a trap line. CPL Wynne surveilled the area until darkness set in to ensure the traps were checked in a timely manner and to check the trapper. By dark the trapper had not come so the next morning RFC Keith Page and CPL Wynne continued the watch on the trap line arriving at 0630 hours, well before daylight. At approximately 0815 hours the trapper showed up and Page and Wynne followed unseen as the subject checked several of his traps. Page and Wynne eventually revealed their presence to the trapper. The trapper said he was trapping coyotes and produced a current trapping license, he showed where and how his traps were marked, and he was in possession of a choke stick and a .22 caliber firearm. He said he was trying to eliminate the coyotes from his hunting area. He also said he was new at trying to trap and had watched a video on how to do it. Page and Wynne left after giving the subject some tips on improving his sets and where he might call to get help with his coyote problem.

PULASKI COUNTY On March 30, RFC Tim Butler checked an area in which he had previously located turkey bait. While doing so, Butler heard a turkey call in the vicinity of a corn feeder and a food plot baited with wheat. Butler then located two individuals hunting from a blind located behind the baited food plot; further investigation revealed wheat had been spread out around the blind. Both subjects were issued citations for hunting big game over bait.
HENRY COUNTY On April 5, RFC Godbee participated in an education program at The Anchor Community Church Men's Night in Henry County. RFC Godbee answered questions about wildlife, boating safety and handed out information on how to become a Conservation Ranger.
PIKE COUNTY On April 2, RFC Godbee and RFC Sweat received a complaint from the Pike Co. Sheriff's Office that someone was hunting turkey from a vehicle in the Gresham Rd. area. Upon arrival to the area RFC Godbee and RFC Sweat questioned the suspect who had been stopped by a Pike Co. Sheriff's deputy prior to their arrival. After the suspect was questioned, it was discovered that he had seen some turkeys in a field next to the road. He drove through the field toward the turkeys, stopped and jumped out with his shotgun and shot at the turkeys wounding one. He then chased after the turkeys with his vehicle by driving through the field at a high rate of speed. The violator was charged with hunting from a vehicle.
HENRY COUNTY On April 3, 2008 Sergeant Russ Ramsey and RFC Godbee concluded a joint investigation with the USFW and Wyoming DNR regarding an illegally taken mule deer being held at a taxidermist in Stockbridge. After a thorough investigation of the complaint, a course of action was taken to initiate an investigation involving a federal violation of the Lacey Act. The two capes and antlers were seized and shipped back to Wyoming for further processing of state charges.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
BROOKS COUNTY On March 30, RFC Jon Penuel and Sgt. David Ruddell were patrolling along the Withlacoochee River when they encountered a subject fishing from a small boat. During the inspection, the subject said his two friends had left to retrieve the truck and boat trailer located up river. When the other two fishermen returned, after a brief investigation, it was determined that all three subjects had been drinking alcohol and there was marijuana present on the scene. The investigation resulted in one subject being charged with operating a vessel without Coast Guard Approved PFD's (life jackets) and a warning for operating a vessel without registration. Another subject was charged with violation of Georgia controlled substance act (misdemeanor) and DUI/Drugs.

BAKER COUNTY On March 5, RFC Randy Davis caught a subject hunting turkey over bait. The subject was also given a written warning for hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
On March 6, RFC Randy Davis received a phone call at home from a subject who stated he was lost on the Chickasawhatchee WMA. The subject stated that his vehicle was parked near a handicapped area on F road. Upon arriving in the area, RFC Davis used his siren and horn to help the lost subject find his way out of the woods.
MILLER COUNTY On April 1, RFC Jeff Phillips answered a complaint in reference to a subject that was in possession of an alligator in. During his investigation, he learned that several subjects had been fishing the night before and one male subject had shot and killed an alligator. The subject was charged with hunting alligators out of season and the alligator was confiscated.
SEMINOLE COUNTY On April 3, RFC Jeff Phillips responded to a landowner complaint in reference to someone shooting a deer the previous night. The landowner had found a dead doe in his field along with ATV tracks and 2 shotgun shells. RFC Phillips investigated the complaint and learned that 4 juveniles had been camping in the area and riding ATV's. He interviewed the juveniles with their parents and learned that two of them had obtained a shotgun from a relative's home and shot the doe. Charges will be pending against the two for hunting deer at night and hunting without permission.
RANDOLPH COUNTY On April 5, Cpl. B.J. Foster responded to a hunting without permission complaint. Foster discovered a subject in non-hunting attire and without a weapon on the property. The man was given a verbal warning for collecting artifacts without permission. While he was investigating the complaint Cpl. Foster noticed a vehicle parked on the adjacent property. He checked two hunters leaving the woods and issued them both written warnings for hunting with unplugged guns.
WORTH COUNTY On April 3, Cpl. Robbie Griner conducted a wildlife education program at Holley Elementary School in Worth County. During a six hour presentation Cpl. Griner taught 300 children and 20 adults about wildlife in Georgia.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On April 5, RFC Ben Roberts and Ranger Randy James entered property in Dougherty County to check an area that had been baited for turkeys. The officers encountered two individuals hunting in close proximity to the baited area. Both hunters were issued citations for hunting big game over bait.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BULLOCH COUNTY On April 2, Cpl. Dave Sims issued a citation to a turkey hunter for hunting over bait on property located in southeast Bulloch County. Cpl. Sims found the baited site just before the opening weekend of turkey season and this was the seventh time the site was checked for hunting activity. According to the hunter it was the first time the site was hunted.
BERRIEN COUNTY On April 6, RFC Tim Hutto and Cpl.Greg Moody patrolled Paradise PFA. While checking creel limits and licenses at one of the docks, RFC Hutto detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from an individual fishing there. The individual's cooler contained several empty beer cans and a half-empty bottle of liquor. After questioning, the officers learned that another person had also been drinking. Both subjects were charged with illegal consumption of alcohol on a PFA. Other violations were also detected on other areas of the PFA, including fishing without a license, fishing without a WMA license on a PFA, operation of a vessel without lifejackets, and operation of a vessel with insufficient lifejackets.
ATKINSON COUNTY On April 4, RFC Tim Hutto checked boating and fishing activity on the Little Satilla River. While checking creel limits and licenses at one of the boat ramps, a concerned sportsman advised Hutto that a boat had just left the landing heading up the river without any navigation lights on. The sportsman also advised Hutto that he didn't see any fishing poles in the boat, just coolers and dip nets and he thought they might be shocking fish. When Hutto encountered the boat at approximately 10:30 p.m., he observed no navigation lights being used on the boat. Upon inspecting the boat, Hutto verified that no fish shocking activity was taking place and that they did have fishing gear on the boat. The operator of the boat was charged with operating without lights during hours of darkness.
BEN HILL COUNTY On April 6, Cpl John Allen Stokes was patrolling for turkey hunters when he found a hunter on a hunting club that was baited with corn. The hunter admitted to knowing the corn was there but he wasn't the one who put it out. They discussed the condition of the corn and that is must be totally gone for 10 days before the area could be hunted. The subject was issued a warning for hunting over bait.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On April 08, Cpl. Cindy Miller taught a Boating Education Class to ten students at the Wetlands Center in Richmond Hill. The students were given Boating Education Handbook as well as a Boating Safety book that contained the rules and regulations for the state of Georgia.

GLYNN COUNTY On April 5, Cpl. Jesse Cook received a distress call from a vessel that was broken down at Pelican spit and was taking on water due to extremely rough seas. Cpl Cook made contact with the boat's captain who told Cpl. Cook that he was insulin dependent and had lost his insulin when his cooler was washed overboard. There also were reports from the National Weather Service of severe thunderstorms forecast within the next several hours. Cpl. Cook, along with the United States Coast Guard, responded to the scene and located the vessel and both occupants. The thunderstorm that was forecast for the area struck while underway and the occupants of the vessel were given shelter on the Coast Guard boat. The vessel was towed to Hampton Marina due to low water conditions at the boat landing where the individuals had launched. Cpl Cook contacted Glynn County Police and arranged transportation for the vessel occupants back to their vehicle.