Field operations weekly report, 2009 January 4-10

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report January 4-10, 2009
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)
FANNIN COUNTY On January 6th, Ranger Cody Jones received a complaint about an illegal burn. When arriving on scene Ranger Jones observed that a small house was almost completely consumed by the fire. After interviewing the subject responsible, it was clear that the subject set fire to the previously damaged, unlivable house. After investigating the burning debris, it was obvious that the subject failed to remove the vinyl, wiring, shingles, and other materials from the building before starting the fire. The subject was issued a citation for illegal burning.
GILMER COUNTY On January 5th, Sgt. John VanLandingham received a complaint of three subjects hunting on private property without permission. Sgt. VanLandingham had been watching this area due to illegal hunting and several thefts that had occurred on the property. Sgt. VanLandingham, Cpl. James Keener, Ranger Cody Jones, Wildlife Technician Ronny Holcomb, and deputies with the Gilmer County Sheriff's Office responded to the area. A vehicle was located on the adjacent property, and contained fresh blood and deer hair. Three suspects were located walking in an adjoining subdivision, but did not have any firearms with them. The three suspects were questioned, while a search for the firearms was conducted. Two .22 caliber rifles and five dead squirrels were located hidden in the woods. One of the subjects was issued citations for hunting without permission, hunting without a license, and possession of illegally taken wildlife, and released. A juvenile was released to his parents and not charged. The third suspect was on probation for armed robbery, and was arrested and charged with hunting without permission, hunting without a license, possession of illegally taken wildlife, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. That afternoon DNR officers conducted a search of the third suspect's residence where they located and seized another firearm, a spike, three point and seven point deer racks, and located parts of at least six doe deer, including one that had just been killed. Additional warrants were taken on this suspect for hunting deer out of season, hunting without a big game license, and nine counts of possession of deer without a big game license.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On January 4th, Cpl. Casey Jones and RFC Eddie Tompkins were checking duck hunters near Praters Mill. The Rangers checked 5 men hunting a pond that was baited with corn. Two of the hunters were non-residents with no hunting license, Georgia waterfowl license, or federal migratory bird stamp. One hunter did not have a plug in his shotgun and another hunter had failed to sign his federal duck stamp. The hunters had harvested 18 ducks and 5 geese on the baited pond. All the waterfowl were seized as evidence. All five hunters were issued citations for hunting over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. The two non-resident hunters were cited for hunting without federal migratory bird stamp. While completing the investigation two more hunters were located on the same property hunting a different pond. One of these hunters was found to have no

hunting license, Georgia waterfowl license, or federal migratory bird stamp. The other hunter did not have Georgia waterfowl license or a federal migratory bird stamp. Both these hunter were issued citations for hunting without federal migratory bird stamp. In total the Rangers issued 14 citations and 11 warnings.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
LUMPKIN COUNTY On January 6th, Sgt. Lee Brown, Sgt. Johnny Johnson and RFC Mitchell Crump attended a public meeting in Dahlonega regarding the next two-year hunting cycle for hunting regulations. There were over sixty people in attendance for the meeting.
On January 4th, RFC Kevin Dyer was riding with US Forest Service officer Jason Arrowood as they were patrolling USFS road 97. The officers located a vehicle backed into a pull off. The officers stopped and located 2 male subjects who said they were squirrel hunting with dogs. While checking their hunting licenses, RFC Dyer noticed the men were extremely nervous. Further investigation into the 2 men's activities found them to be in possession of firearms, methamphetamine, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. The subjects were placed under arrest and the officers called for Lumpkin County deputies to transport the suspects to jail. The wait time for the transport deputy was going to be too long, so the officers called Mitch Henderson with the Drug Task Force who came out and they turned the cases over to him to prosecute.
WHITE COUNTY On January 9th, at around 10:30 p.m. RFC Mitchell Crump received a call to assist the White County Sheriff's Office and Fire Departments with a complaint of illegal wire being burned. The landowner was found to be burning construction material debris. The landowner was cited for the illegal burning.
JACKSON COUNTY On January 7th, RFC Eric Isom was checking a property off Bill Wright Rd. RFC Isom found two subjects hunting rabbits. One of the subjects did not posses a Georgia hunting license and was issued a citation for hunting rabbits without a license.
On January 10th, RFC Eric Isom and Cpl. Tim Vickery checked three duck hunters off Hwy. 11. One subject was hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license, with an unplugged shotgun, and hunting without signing the federal waterfowl license. The other subject was hunting without signing the federal waterfowl license. Both subjects were written citations and warnings for the various offenses.
MADISON COUNTY On January 7th, RFC Shane Sartor arrested one subject after obtaining warrants for hunting without permission, hunting without a license and hunting without big game license. The arrest was a result of a complaint he received during the last week of deer season. The subject posted a $2,500 bond from the Madison County jail.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY Cpl. Ryan Swain apprehended two subjects fishing without permission on CSX property by Riverside Park in Evans. Another subject was cited for boating without any PFD's
GLASCOCK COUNTY RFC Brian Adams along with Glascock Sheriff's Office and Rescue Personnel extracted a Family from a collapsed Mobile Home inside the city limits of Gibson. The home was destroyed due to high winds, which caused a large tree to fall on the house.
LINCOLN COUNTY Cpl. Ryan Swain apprehended 5 subjects who were hunting waterfowl over bait in a pond near Double Branches. A total of 16 violations were detected ranging from illegal ammo to lack of proper licenses. 19 waterfowl of various species were seized.
JEFFERSON COUNTY: On January 9th, RFC Matherly investigated a night hunting complaint in South Jefferson County on Hwy 17. Later that evening, RFC Matherly set up a surveillance detail in the area. At approximately 9:15 pm a gray GMC Canyon pulled up to the field and shined a light out across it. After the subject shined the light he drove down the road and turned around and began to shine the field again, while illuminating several feral pigs. At that time RFC Matherly had pulled up behind and the vehicle watching to see if he was going to try and shoot one of the animals in the field. The vehicle began to drive away, so RFC Matherly followed the vehicle to observe it to see if it shined any more fields, but it entered a hunting camp and turned off its engine. RFC Matherly returned to his surveillance location to see if the vehicle would return with a gun to try and shoot one of the pigs. At approximately 10 pm the vehicle returned to the field and shined the light on the field again looking for the pigs. At that point RFC Matherly stopped the vehicle. There were two occupants in the vehicle, one 18-year-old male and a 12-year-old juvenile. In the vehicle there was a loaded Remington model 700 7mm magnum rifle, and a large flashlight lying on the front seat. The juvenile was released to his father and the 18 year old was transported to the Jefferson County Jail. The subject was charged with hunting from a public road, and hunting from a motor vehicle, and warned with hunting without permission.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On January 10th, RFC Phillip Nelson responded to a landowner's complaint in reference to a group of squirrel hunters hunting without permission. RFC Nelson found 5 subjects on the complainant's property. Each subject was charged with hunting without permission.

WILKES COUNTY On January 10th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins and RFC Nick Jenkins responded to a hunting without permission complaint in Wilkes County. After meeting with the complainant, Cpl. Wilkins and RFC Jenkins found 2 subjects hunting hogs on the complainant's property. Both subjects were charged with hunting without permission.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
TROUP COUNTY On January 4th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield and Cpl. Brent Railey checked a group of four duck hunters on a swamp along Mud Creek in Troup County. These hunters had killed four wood ducks. One of these hunters had not signed his federal duck stamp but the stamp was permanently stuck to his hunting license. A verbal warning was given for this violation. While talking to the hunters one of them mentioned that another person had been hunting the same swamp that morning and indicated the direction the other hunter was. They believed that this other hunter could have been on their part of this swamp. Cpl. Bradfield checked this other area on foot but did not locate the other hunter.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On Sunday evening January 4th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield and RFC Mitch Oliver worked a complaint on Standing Boy WMA in Muscogee County. A deer hunter on the property reported that other deer hunters were accessing the WMA to hunt by using ATV's and they were also operating them on the roads on the property. After checking the area and checking several hunters, no ATV's were located. RFC Oliver spoke to the complainant and discovered that the ATV's had left the area shortly after he had called about them.
On January 10th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield interviewed a subject in reference to a raccoon hunting and trapping complaint. A complainant had previously notified DNR officers that the subject had been trapping raccoons and relocating them to another property in order to train hunting dogs and to increase the raccoon population on his property. During the interview the subject admitted that he had trapped raccoons in a live trap and used them to train his dogs but had only relocated one raccoon to another property while doing this. The subject also admitted to using a rolling cage to train dogs with. There was a rolling cage in plain sight in the back of this subject's truck the day of the interview. This case is open pending further investigation.

On January 10th, RFC Bolen received a phone call from the State Operations Center in regards to a hunting without permission complaint. Officer Bolen contacted the complainant about the incident. A landowner heard a shot while out on his property earlier in the afternoon and saw a hunter coming off his property. The landowner told the subject to lay down his gun and come over to the truck. The landowner then called the TIP hotline. When Sgt. Hackley and RFC Bolen arrived at the scene to talk to the subject he claimed that he was not hunting but was simply helping his friend look for a deer that he shot down the road. The subject was walking around with a deer rifle, wearing camouflage, and wearing an orange vest. The hunter was issued citations for hunting without permission, hunting without a big game license, and hunting without license.
HARRIS COUNTY On January 8th, Sgt. Randy Hackley, RFC Jeremy Bolen, RFC Mitch Oliver, and Tech Mike Crumbley were checking for raccoon hunters on Blanton Creek WMA when RFC Bolen and Tech Crumbley heard dogs barking out on an island in the river. Officer Bolen and Crumbley observed two boats on the river without any lights on pulling up to the bank and letting out dogs. The two officers informed Sgt. Hackley and RFC Oliver, who were in a boat, of the incident. Sgt. Hackley and RFC Oliver stopped the subject's boat and checked the hunter's license and discovered that all 5 subjects were non-residents and did not possess any license. All 5 hunters received citations for non-resident hunting without a WMA license. The hunters also received written warnings for non-resident hunting without license. The two hunters operating the boats also received citations for operating a vessel without lights during hours of darkness and a written warning for operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's.
BLECKLEY COUNTY On the afternoon of January 9th, Cpl. Robert Stillwell received a complaint from the sheriff's office about subjects shooting waterfowl from a public road. Cpl. Stillwell notified RFC Tim Butler and gave him a description of the subjects' vehicle. Purley by luck, Butler was riding behind the suspects' vehicle when Stillwell notified him of the complaint. Butler stopped the vehicle and observed a freshly killed wood duck in the front of the vehicle. Upon Stillwell's arrival, both subjects admitted to shooting at ducks from the roadway. After seeing the birds in a wet weather pond, they had stopped and shot, departed and returned, then shot several more times. Both subjects were issued citations for hunting from a public road and hunting from a vehicle. Warnings were issued for possession of illegally taken wildlife and hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license.
TAYLOR COUNTY On January 4th, RFC Josh Swain and Cpl. Susan Morris checked two waterfowl hunters as they exited a duck pond. Both subjects were found to be hunting with unplugged shotguns and one of the individuals was found to be hunting with lead shot ammunition. Three citations were issued two for the offense of hunting with unplugged guns and one for hunting waterfowl with illegal ammunition.

On the night of January 5th, RFC Josh Swain responded to an in-progress night hunting complaint. Upon his arrival in the area of complaint, the officer observed a truck in a field and watched as a spotlight was shined from the vehicle. Swain stopped the vehicle and found three subjects in possession of two loaded rifles. It was subsequently determined the subjects were hunting hogs. All three subjects were issued citations for the offense of hunting hogs from a motor vehicle at night with lights.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
SEMINOLE COUNTY On January 4th, while checking duck hunters on Lake Seminole, RFC Jeff Phillips discovered they had taken out of season Canvasback ducks. RFC Phillips charged each with hunting out of season and confiscated the ducks.
On January 9th, RFC Jeff Phillips checked another group of duck hunters who were in possession of illegally killed Canvasback ducks. Citations were issued to each hunter and the ducks confiscated.
MACON COUNTY On January 5th, Cpl. John Harkins investigated a complaint of illegal dumping and found a large pile of shingles with other debris. During the investigation three men were identified who had been paid to haul the trash away from a construction site. Felony warrants were taken out on the three men for commercial dumping.
CALHOUN COUNTY On January 10th, Sgt. Danny Bishop and Cpl. Scott Carroll checked a dove field and found it to be baited. Five hunters were charged with hunting over bait and the doves were confiscated.
LEE COUNTY On January 9th, Cpl. Robbie Griner, RFC Ben Roberts, and Ranger Randy James checked a dove field and found it to be baited. The three hunters were charged for hunting dove over bait.
COLQUITT COUNTY On January 10th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked several hunters hunting doves in a cotton field, which was found to be baited. Three citations were issued for hunting doves over bait.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
ATKINSON COUNTY On January 7th, while on patrol, RFC Tim Hutto observed an individual throw a beer can from the window of a truck. He initiated a traffic stop and issued a citation for littering and a warning for violation of the open container law.

LOWNDES COUNTY On January 9th, Cpl. Greg Moody and Ranger Keith McDonald received a complaint concerning a deer carcass discarded at an individual's mailbox. After an investigation, it was determined that a neighbor had processed a deer the day before and dumped the carcass there. During the interview the individual admitted that the deer had been killed illegally. A citation for littering and a written warning for possession of illegally taken wildlife were issued. Further charges are pending.

COOK

COUNTY

On January 10th, at approximately 11:00 p. m., Cpl. Greg Moody received a call from

Cook County 911 in reference to a boat that capsized in the Little River. Ranger Keith

McDonald received the same call from Lowndes County 911. A 14 year old and his

Uncle were somewhere on the bank of the river but could not give their location by cell

phone. The DNR officers used a key to a gate on private property and located the lost

boaters who were exhausted and cold. The Rangers transported both out to their family.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY Rangers continue to search the Oconee River for the body of a man believed to have fallen off his jet ski and succumbing to the cold water.

CLINCH COUNTY On January 4th, RFC Jason Shipes was contacted by the Clinch County Sheriff's Department for assistance in locating a subject that fled from deputies on a stolen ATV into a wooded area north of Argyle. RFC Shipes responded and assisted the deputies with locating and arresting the subject. The stolen ATV was recovered and returned to the owner.
On January 8th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree responded to an in-progress complaint of failure to keep deer dogs on permitted property and hunting without permission north of Fargo off US 441. Two deer-dog hunters were found in the area upon Sgt. Dupree's arrival. Several violations were documented including hunting deer without fluorescent orange, nonresident hunting without a big game license, hunting without a hunting license, hunting without a dog deer license, operating motor vehicle without deer-dog permit number displayed, entering property without written permission and failure to keep dogs on permitted property. The complainant was advised of the action taken by Sgt. Dupree.
On January 10th, RFC Jason Shipes was checking a complaint of deer dogs on unpermitted property in the area of Cason Road. While speaking with the complainant, RFC Shipes heard two shots from a high-powered rifle. RFC Shipes responded to the area of the shots and made contact with three subjects. Found in the county road was three spent .270 casings. After a brief investigation one of the subjects admitted to shooting at a deer from the public road. The subject was charged with hunting from a public road and issued a warning for hunting deer with dogs on un-permitted property.

On January 10th, RFC Jason Shipes responded to a complaint of hunting deer with dogs on un-permitted property on Hwy 441 at the Clinch/Atkinson line. RFC Shipes made contact with the hunter and the complainant. The subject was issued a warning for failure to keep deer dogs on permitted property.
WARE COUNTY On January 8th, RFC Brad Cox responded to a call from Ware County Deputies on Gooding Bay Road. The deputies had observed an individual hunting feral hogs from the county road. RFC Cox arrived on scene and talked with the deputies and person involved. Violations of hunting from a public road and hunting hogs without fluorescent orange were documented.
On January 9th, RFC Brad Cox and Wildlife Technician III Ken Martin worked a hog decoy in reference to a complaint of hunting from vehicles on Dixon Wildlife Management Area. The decoy was set up before daylight and at approximately 7:30 AM, a vehicle approached the decoy location. The driver of the vehicle spotted the decoy and stopped his truck. He then got out of his vehicle and shot at the decoy with a .22 magnum rifle while standing in the middle of the WMA road. The person was charged with hunting within 50 yards of a road.
ECHOLS COUNTY On January 7th, Sgt. Patrick was patrolling a deer-dogging complaint area on Sardis Road when he observed an individual hunting on the public right-of-way with a loaded highpowered rifle. He was charged with hunting big game from a public road. Another individual with the same hunting club was warned for operating motor vehicle without permit number displayed and hunting deer with unmarked dogs.
On January 10th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree and RFC Brad Cox were on dog-deer hunting patrol. The rangers were concentrating on two high complaint areas near Sardis Road and Register Road. Violations of hunting without permission, failure to keep hunting dogs on permitted property, entering/exiting properties without written permission, hunting with unmarked dogs, hunting deer with dogs without dog-deer license, non-resident hunting without license, non-resident hunting without big game license, and operating a motor vehicle without permit numbers displayed were documented. The rangers also checked four fishermen on the Alapaha River at Mayday Beach and documented one case of fishing without a license.
On January 10th, Sgt. Dupree and RFC Cox responded to a hunting incident southeast of Statenville off Hwy 94. The victim was a 17-year old who was shot through both thighs with a .35 caliber Marlin lever-action rifle. His 15-year old friend was loading the rifle. The 15 year old, who was not practicing safe muzzle control, chambered a round into the rifle and was attempting to let the hammer down. The rifle's hammer slipped from his thumb causing the chambered round to discharge. The victim was transported to South Georgia Medical Center with critical injuries to his upper legs.

PIERCE COUNTY On January 4th, Cpl. Damon Winters checked an in-progress complaint of possible illegal weapons use and possession. Upon arriving at the location, Cpl. Winters observed four people shooting from a public road into a creek. After checking the shooters, no illegal weapons were found and all four people were charged with discharging a firearm from a public road.
On January 8th, Cpl. Damon Winters checked an in-progress complaint of hunting near a residential area. Upon arriving at the location, Cpl. Winters checked four people hunting doves. The hunters had permission to hunt the field they were in and only one citation was issued for hunting with an unplugged gun.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On January 10th Sgt. William Vickers, Cpl. Eddie Akins, and Rgr. Brandon Pierce assisted a subject with the retrieval of anoverturned boat in the Ogeechee River. The boat had overturned the previous day and all the occupants were able to swim to safety.
On January 10th, Ranger Brandon Pierce checked local deer dogging clubs and one violation of interference of travel on a public road was documented. Also, Ranger Brandon Pierce responded to a call of several caught deer dogs on some private property. No violations were issued.
On January 11th, Ranger Brandon Pierce responded to a call of several ATV's riding and shooting on private property. No violations or subject(s) were contacted.
EVANS COUNTY On January 10th, RFC Debbie Brannen found the body of an apparent suicide victim behind a local church. The scene was secured and the Evans County Sheriff's Office and the G.B.I. were called to investigate.
On January 11th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked several people fishing on the Evans County Public Fishing Area. One citation was written for fishing without a WMA license and a warning for operating a vessel without registration.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
LIBERTY COUNTY On January 4th, Cpl. Cindy Miller patrolled hunting clubs in south Liberty County. Cpl. checked two hunters who did not have any orange with them. Cpl. Miller cited the two hunters for hunting without fluorescent orange.

BRYAN COUNTY On January 4th, RFC Isaac Strickland, Cpl. Jay Morgan and RFC Randy Tinley went offshore to Grey's Reef. On the way back in the officers spotted three Northern Right Whales. Cpl. Morgan notified the Coast Guard with the GPS location of the pod.
On January 5th, RFC Isaac Strickland met with individual about a dog being on unpermitted property. RFC Strickland returned the dog to the owner. The individual was cited for failure to keep dog on permitted property.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On January 8th, Cpl. Billy Reed was checking baited deer stands off highway 259 in the Atkinson area. He cited one deer hunter for hunting big game over bait and for hunting without fluorescent orange clothing.
WAYNE COUNTY On January 8th, RFC Randy Aspinwall was working a night hunting detail on the Old Hortense Road. A truck entered the clear-cut from the backside and the passenger started shining a light from the window. When the truck turned onto the county road, the driver turned his headlights off and started driving down the road. The two occupants were issued citations for hunting under the influence, hunting at night, and hunting from a vehicle. In addition to these, the driver was charged with driving under the influence and the passenger was charged with littering.
CAMDEN COUNTY In the early morning hours of January 4th, Craig Smith and Sgt. Bob Lynn, having just finished a prior night deer hunting investigation, moved back to the area that RFC Smith was sitting in earlier. After sitting for about 30 minutes they heard a shot from the same location as the earlier night incident. They headed to the location with Cpl. Hodge coming from the other side of the area. A single vehicle was sighted leaving the location where the shot was heard. Once the vehicle was stopped, the three subjects inside were interviewed and evidence was collected. The three subjects were cited for hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle.