Field operations weekly report, 2008 September 14-20

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report September 14-20, 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 September 14th, RFC Byron Young was patrolling an area on Dry Creek Road in Bartow County where he had previously located bait. He found a hunter in a tree stand directly over the baited area. He questioned the hunter who admitted he had baited the area but had not checked the feeder in two weeks. RFC Young showed the hunter that the feeder still contained corn and was drawing wildlife to the area. The hunter was cited for hunting big game over bait.
On September 6th, Sgt. Mike Barr, RFC Brooks Varnell, and his K-9 were checking dove hunters off Ridge Cross Road in Bartow Co. There were approximately 50 hunters on a pay dove shoot. Sgt. Barr went to the closest hay bale to check a young man shooting doves. While looking for his license, the hunter allowed his loaded shotgun barrel to point directly at Sgt. Barr's chest. Sgt. Barr quickly moved and asked the hunter if he remembered, "muzzle control" from hunter safety. Sgt. Barr asked to see the 23-year-old hunter's education card. The hunter stated he had lost it, but had taken the course at Red Top Mountain State Park. Sgt. Barr checked his hunting license and HIP license, noted it had been purchased at Wal-Mart, and spoke to him about the necessity of firearm safety while hunting. The following week, Sgt. Barr discovered the young man had never completed the hunter education course and opened an investigation into the hunter's activities and how he obtained his hunting license without a hunter education card. On Sunday September 14th, RFC Byron Young and Sgt. Barr met the hunter at the State Patrol Post in Cartersville. The hunter admitted that he had given false information to Sgt. Barr and obtained the license improperly. He was cited for hunting without hunter education and obstruction by giving false information. His hunting license was seized as evidence.
CATOOSA COUNTY On September 15th, Ranger McConkey was on patrol in Catoosa County. While checking a piece of property for subjects hunting without permission, the ranger found a truck parked next to the road. The vehicle had several hunting items still in the cab of the truck. The landowner was contacted and the subject did have permission but was found to be hunting without his primitive weapons license. The subject was given a warning for not having the license.
On September 15th, Ranger McConkey was in the Keith Community of Catoosa County when he heard a Whitfield County unit in a vehicle chase on his radio. The subject was coming into Catoosa County just a couple of miles from the ranger's location. While in route to the chase, the ranger contacted the Whitfield unit for the information on the vehicle. The single unit was unable to keep up with the truck and trailer due to diesel fuel

coming from the trailer making the road very slick. The subject had been stealing fuel from vehicles in Whitfield County. When the ranger arrived, the subjects had stopped in the road and ran into the woods. Several local and state agencies tried locating the two subjects.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On September 21st, Cpl. Tommy Gentry and RFC Ben Cunningham responded to an illegal burn complaint in Chattooga County. According to the Chief of the Fire Department, they had responded to this residence at least three different times on the same kind of call. The suspect was burning an assortment of plastic and an old kerosene heater. The suspect stated she has intentions of burning more stuff that was in her yard. Cpl. Gentry issued her a citation for violating Georgia's Waste Control Law by illegal burning.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On September 14th, RFC Bart Hendrix received a call from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office about a boater that was operating a boat too close to children swimming in the Little River portion of Allatoona Lake. The subject had come into the boat ramp at Little River, where deputies questioned him. They suspected that the subject was under the influence of alcohol while operating a vessel, so RFC Hendrix checked the subject out using standard field sobriety exercises and found that he was indeed under the influence of alcohol. The subject was arrested and charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol. The case is pending in the Cherokee County State Court.
FANNIN COUNTY On September 18th, Cpl James Keener and Ranger Cody Jones cited one deer hunter for hunting big game over bait.
FLOYD COUNTY On September 16th and 18th, RFC Ben Cunningham and Ranger Brad Hamby taught a Hunter Education Class at Coosa Valley Tech in Rome. Twenty students were certified.
On September 17th, RFC Ben Cunningham conducted an Information & Education program to Georgia Power at Plant Hammond on hunting safety.
On September 20th, RFC Ben Cunningham and Fisheries Tech Patrick Goble checked baited stands and issued one citation for hunting big game over bait.
FULTON COUNTY On September 14th, Sgt. Mike Barr, RFC Brooks Varnell, and his K-9 "Rock" were patrolling the Cobb/Fulton Co. line. At 9:30 AM they located a truck with a tag from Spalding County pulled off the side of Highway 166 near the intersection of Fulton Industrial Boulevard in Fulton Co. Sgt. Barr could see two men in camouflage walking into the woods. While walking past the parked truck, Sgt. Barr noticed a kernel of corn in the bed of the truck. The rangers made contact with a father and his 20-year-old son

and checked their licenses. The son stated he had taken a 4-point buck and had pulled it toward the road to load it. RFC Varnell noticed the license had not been recorded with the kill and the young hunter appeared very nervous. Sgt. Barr asked whose property they were hunting and the father pointed to a house down the road and said the owner had given them permission. Sgt. Barr was familiar with the house and knew the owner only owned one acre of land. Sgt. Barr and RFC Varnell asked the two to take them to the area the deer had been shot. The younger hunter took them to a tree with 4 bright eyes on it and stated he was in this tree with an API stand and pointed out deer blood where he had taken the deer. The father took RFC Varnell into the woods to his stand location, which was approximately 100 yards away. Sgt. Barr looked around and discovered whole kernel corn, cracked corn, and green apples within feet of the tree. Both hunters were cited for hunting big game over bait and given a warning for hunting w/o permission. The younger hunter was also cited for possession of illegally taken wildlife and warned for failure to record his deer harvest. The rangers confiscated the illegally taken 4-point buck.
GILMER COUNTY On September 20th, while responding to a complaint on the Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Sgt. John VanLandingham encountered two subjects fishing in Clear Creek. Both fishermen had expired license. Two citations were issued for fishing without a license and two warnings were issued for fishing without a trout license.
GORDON COUNTY On September 6th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Ranger Brad Hamby patrolled Gordon County for dove fields. The two officers checked 5 fields issuing several warnings and arrested a Resaca man and a Rome man for hunting under the influence of alcohol.
On September 13th, Cpl Shawn Elmore and Ranger Brad Hamby entered a hunting club that in previous years had been baited. The rangers located a vehicle and decided to locate the hunter. The Ringgold man was found hunting over a salt/mineral block. He was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait.
Also on September 13th, after patrolling for deer hunters Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Ranger Brad Hamby attended the Hero's Day at the Calhoun Prime Outlet Mall. The rangers answered questions and talked about the career of a conservation ranger.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DAWSON COUNTY On September 20th, Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Jason Roberson and Ranger Pamela Garrison conducted a shooting event for Camp Kudzu. Camp Kudzu is a camp for teenagers with Type II diabetes. Ranger Garrison presented a gun safety talk at Bald Ridge Marina before the campers shot. The campers then went to Etowah Valley Shooting Clays where there were five shooting stations set up for them. They rotated to each station to get an opportunity shoot the clay birds at different angles.
On September 15th, Cpl. Jason Roberson received a call of a possible illegal deer killed on Dawson Forest WMA. The deer was supposedly dumped after being seen by the complainant. Cpl. Roberson couldn't locate the deer that evening. The next day Sgt. Johnny Johnson assisted in looking for the deer without any success. The case is still under investigation with charges pending for other various violations.
DEKALB COUNTY On September 14th, Cpl. Eric Sanders was notified by Dekalb County P. D. requesting his assistance to check a large wooded area looking for the car of a kidnapped victim with two children. The kidnapper turned them loose and the victims returned home. The kidnapper was later apprehended in Rockdale County.
On September 15th, Cpl. Eric Sanders received a complaint of shots fired next to a business. Upon investigating the shots being fired Cpl. Sanders found a brand new tractor hidden in the back of a field. He observed two subjects running from the tractor. A check revealed that the tractor was stolen and the case was turned over to Dekalb County P. D.
On September 18th, RFC Mark Stephens presented and Information and Education program to the employees of the Georgia Power Company in Lithonia. This program was part of the monthly training required by Georgia Power.
FORSYTH COUNTY On September 20th, Ranger Pamela Garrison checked a baited deer stand that Sgt. Lee Brown and she found earlier in the week. One subject was charged for hunting big game over bait and warned for not having a primitive weapons license or a big game license.
GWINNETT COUNTY On September 19th, RFC Mark Stephens conducted and Online Hunter Education Course at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. There were 20 students certified during this course. RFC Stephens also, stayed well after the class was over to answer question from the participants of the class and others in the store.

LUMPKIN COUNTY On September 16th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling for baited deer stands when they saw a bag of trash in the middle of Little Mountain Road at the intersection of Hwy 52. Upon further inspection, names and other evidence was collected. After inquiring about the trash at the address found it was determined that the trash pickup service had discarded this bag. The case is still under investigation.
On September 16th and 18th RFC Mitchell Crump conducted a Hunter Education Class at the Lumpkin County Park and Recreation Department. There were a total of 24 students certified.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
JEFFERSON COUNTY On September 17th, RFC Matherly held a Hunter Education class for 6 students, of which all 6 were certified and received their hunter education cards. On September 20, RFC Matherly checked three dove fields with 38 hunters total. No violations were found.
LAKE OCONEE-PUTNAM COUNTY On September 21st, RFC Richard Tanner and Ranger Ricky Boles investigated a boating incident involving two PWCs. One of the PWCs was sitting still at the time of the accident. The second PWC struck the rear of the first PWC and traveled over the top of it. The second PWC was operated by a thirteen-year-old female who violated the 100 ft. law, causeing the accident. The operator of the first PWC sustained numerous scratches, bruises, and cuts. All were minor injuries.
BURKE COUNTY On September 15th, RFC Jeff Billips received a complaint of a white-tailed deer being held in a mobile home bathroom. On September 18th, RFC Billips, WL Tech. Mike Wilcox and Burke County Deputy Sgt. Greg Stroud investigated the complaint and removed a doe from the mobile home bathroom. A citation was issued for holding/possessing game animal without permit.
On September 19th, RFC Billips assisted RFC Grant Matherly on a night hunting detail in Jefferson County.
On September 20th, RFC Billips cited an individual for hunting big game over bait, nonresident hunting without license and nonresident hunting without big game license. RFC Billips also arrested an individual for littering, driving while suspended, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and carrying a concealed weapon. RFC Billips checked dove hunters in Burke County and Jefferson County with RFC Grant Matherly.

COLUMBIA COUNTY On September 20th, Cpl. Ryan Swain and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin checked several baited deer stands that had been located the previous week. They made contact with one subject who was charged for hunting big game over bait.
WARREN COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Brian Adams and Cpl. Brian Hobbins were checking deer and dove hunters in Warren County. While on routine patrol they observed a suspicious vehicle with a single occupant pulled into a vacant lot in front of a hunting camp that had been burglarized several times over the previous few months. The officers stopped to check on the subject. After a short investigation, the subject was arrested for driving on a suspended license and operating a vehicle with invalid registration. The subject was transported to the jail and the vehicle was towed.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
COLQUITT COUNTY On September 20th, while checking a dove shoot, Cpl. Jason Shipes observed that the field was heavily baited with sunflower seeds and cracked corn. He issued citations for hunting over bait, hunting with unplugged shotguns and posted the field as being baited.
WORTH COUNTY On September 16th, Cpl. Robbie Griner was patrolling for dove hunting activity in Worth County when he encountered two people shooting dove under a power line. Upon checking the area Cpl. Griner noticed that the area under the power line had been plowed, and cracked corn and sunflower seeds had been scattered on field. The two hunters were charged for hunting dove over bait.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On September 20th, at 2:00 am, the Georgia State Patrol was conducting a road check, when an individual abandoned his vehicle and jumped into the Kinchafoonee Creek to avoid the checkpoint. Troopers on the scene reported seeing the man swimming approximately 500 yards downstream when they lost sight of him. DNR officers RFC Ben Roberts and Sgt. Danny Bishop responded to the scene with a boat, where they, along with two troopers searched for the person by water. Albany Fire Department also dispatched their shallow water rescue boat to the scene to assist. When the GSP helicopter arrived, the pilot used an infrared imaging device and located a heat signal on a small island, near where the swimmer was last seen in the water. The officers then utilized the Albany Fire Department's mobile hand-held thermal imaging device to search the island. By using the mobile imaging device in coordination with the helicopter, the officers were able to locate the person hiding submerged in the shallow water. He was taken into custody and transported to the Dougherty County Jail where he faces multiple charges including obstruction of an officer.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BEN HILL COUNTY On September 19th, while on patrol, Cpl. John A. Stokes issued one citation for littering to a subject who threw two coke bottles out of his window while driving down the road.
COFFEE COUNTY On September 21st, while on patrol, Cpl. John A. Stokes issued 8 citations for taking over the limit and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
BULLOCH COUNTY On the nights of September 16th-19th, Cpl. Eddie Akins and Ranger Brandon Pierce worked a complaint of night hunting in lower Bulloch County. On the night of September 19th Sgt. William Vickers also assisted in working the complaint. Shortly before 9:00pm on the night of Sept. 19th two individuals were stopped and charged for blinding/harassing wildlife with lights. No other activity was noted during the detail.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On September 20th, Sgt. William Vickers and Ranger Brandon Pierce patrolled for deer and dove hunting activity. The officers made contact with two bow hunters. One of the hunters had an expired license and was issued a warning for hunting without a license.
EVANS COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked several dove shoots. Numerous hunters were checked. Two warnings were written for hunting with unplugged guns.
CLINCH COUNTY On September 18th, RFC Brad Cox conducted a presentation about DNR Law Enforcement to the Lions Club in Homerville at their monthly luncheon. Later that evening he conducted a two-hour Hunter Education review and test at the Clinch County 4-H/EMA Building.
On the morning of September 20th, RFC Cox and Sgt. Patrick Dupree checked previously located baited deer stands along the Okefenokee Swamp Perimeter in Clinch County. Three citations and one warning were issued to two individuals for the baiting violations.
WARE COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Cox checked a baited deer stand on US 1 South near the Dixon WMA boundary. Two citations and one warning were issued for the violations.
TATTNALL COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Clint Jarriel and Sgt. Donny Peebles patrolled for dove hunting activity on William H. Cowart Road in Tattnall County. They checked 4 hunters and issued one citation for hunting with an unplugged shotgun.

LOWNDES COUNTY On September 9th, Cpl. Greg Moody and Ranger Keith McDonald located baited sites near deer stands. On September 13th, the opening day of archery deer season, Cpl. Moody returned to this area and issued citations to two hunters for hunting big game over bait.
COOK COUNTY On September 20th, Cpl. Greg Moody and Ranger Keith McDonald checked several dove shoots in Cook Co. with no violations detected. That evening, one archery hunter was cited for hunting big game over bait.
ATKINSON COUNTY On September 16th, RFC Tim Hutto responded to an unlawful burning complaint from the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Pearson Police Department. The individual was burning furniture and other household items out of a rental trailer. A citation for unlawful burning of waste was issued and the person was instructed to extinguish the fire.
LANIER COUNTY On September 19th, Sgt. David Nugent and RFC Tim Hutto patrolled for and located baited archery stands. On the morning of September 20th, the officers returned and found a hunter in one of the stands. He was issued two citations, two warnings, and the baiting laws were explained.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
MCINTOSH COUNTY On September 10th, Cpl. Ron Harris and Sgt. John Harwell assisted the US Army Criminal Investigative Division with a follow up investigation into a fraud case. The investigation is ongoing and no further details are available at this time.
GLYNN COUNTY On September 16th, Cpl. Ron Harris attended a Glynn County Airport Disaster drill meeting. This was an initial planning meeting to decide when, where, and how to conduct the drill. Federal law mandates this type of drill to be conducted every three years.
On September 18th, while checking fisherman along the Yellow Bluff Creek Bridge, Cpl. Ron Harris located a wanted subject. Cpl. Harris placed him under arrest and turned him over to the Glynn County Police Department who transported him to the detention center.
On September 18th, Cpl. Ron Harris received five calls in reference to marsh hen hunting around St. Simons Island. Cpl. Harris responded to the area and located two groups of hunters. After checking their licenses, guns and bag limit no violations where found.

On September 19th, RFC Craig Smith responded to check a complaint called in by a property owner in reference to someone hunting without permission. RFC Smith located the stand and also found bait in the area. He then left and returned later that day and found the subject hunting. The subject was cited for hunting big game over bait, hunting without permission, hunting without a license, big game license and primitive weapon license.
On September 20th, Captain Stephen Adams, Sgt. Bob Lynn, Sgt. Doug Lewis, Sgt. John Harwell, Cpl. Jimmy Finn, Cpl. Jesse Cook, Cpl. Ron Harris, RFC Mark Carson, RFC Craig Smith, Wildlife Technician John Evans and members of the Georgia State Patrol conducted two separate wildlife checkpoints on Paulk's Pasture WMA. Numerous violations were cited.
On September 20th, Captain Stephen Adams, Sgt. John Harwell, Sgt. Bob Lynn, Cpl. Ron Harris, Cpl. Jesse Cook, RFC Craig Smith, and RFC Mark Carson responded to a boating incident on the South Brunswick River at the Hwy 303 Bridge. The incident involved one vessel striking a bridge piling and ejecting 5 persons from the vessel into the river. There was one fatality and two serious injuries as a result of incident. The incident is still under investigation at this time.
On September 19th, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Cpl. Ron Harris received a call of an abandoned vessel in Turtle River near the Park Street boat ramp. After a brief investigation it was determined that the boat had drifted away from a bridge construction crew located a half mile east of the boat ramp.
On September 20th, Cpl. Jimmy Finn and Cpl. Ron Harris checked 33 duck hunters, 10 alligator hunters, 4 fisherman and 2 commercial shrimp trawlers in Champney River area. One person was warned for having a broken bow light.
On September 20th, Capt. Stephen Adams, Sgt. Harwell and Wildlife Tech IV Wayne Hubbard checked approximately 25 waterfowl hunters on Champney Island, which is part of the Altamaha WMA. One citation was issued for hunting without a Georgia Waterfowl License.
CAMDEN COUNTY On September 14th, RFC Craig Smith was on patrol checking boats fishing in the St. Mary's River around the southern tip of Cumberland Island. On one vessel two subjects were in possession of undersize black sea bass and sea trout. Both subjects were cited for possession of undersize fish. One of the subjects was arrested because he was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Camden County.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On September 20th, Cpl. Billy Reed assisted with a clean-up day on the Satilla River where volunteers from several groups assisted the Satilla River Keepers in picking up trash.

WAYNE COUNTY On September 14th, Cpl. Bobby White assisted three stranded boaters at Lake Bluff. He towed their boat approximately 5 miles back to Jaycee Landing.
On September 19th, Sgt. Bunny Grantham and RFC Randy Aspinwall responded to an airplane crash. The two occupants involved were located and sustained no injuries.
On September 20th, Sgt. Bunny Grantham, Cpl. Bobby White, and RFC Randy Aspinwall conducted a radio program in which they answered questions on the hunting regulations. They also attended the National Wild Turkey Federation Jake's Event where they operated the Laser Shot Shooting Simulator and the Fishing Simulator.
BRYAN COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Isaac Strickland and Ranger Randy Tinley worked with Game Management officers Jack Thain and Ed VanOtteren at the Richmond Hill WMA shooting range. The officers were enforcing the shooting range rules. Over twenty individuals were cited for violations that included; improper targets, leaving trash behind on the range, shooting after hours, and improper use of shotgun at range (not using a shotgun for the purpose of patterning).