Field operations weekly report, April 5-11 2009

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report April 5-11, 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 April 9th, Ranger Cody Jones responded to an in progress complaint on the delayed harvest section of the Toccoa River. Upon arrival Ranger Jones observed a fisherman using lures with treble hooks. After interviewing the subject, Ranger Jones recovered 4 trout that were in the subject's vehicle. The subject was issued a citation for possession of fish on a delayed harvest stream and a warning for unlawful equipment on a delayed harvest stream. Later that day, Ranger Jones observed a 16 year old female and a 19 year old male fishing with worms on the delayed harvest section of the Toccoa River. Ranger Jones recovered 2 trout from their cooler and issued a citation to the 19 year old for unlawful bait on an artificial lure stream and possession of fish on a delayed harvest stream. Verbal guidance was given to the 16 year old.
On April 9th, Ranger Cody Jones was patrolling the Lakewood boat ramp on Blue Ridge Lake where he observed several violations. 2 citations were issued for operating a vessel with improper lights, 1 citation was issued for fishing without a license. 2 warnings were issued for operating a vessel without a type IV PFD, and failure to obey regulatory markers.
GILMER COUNTY On April 11th, Cpl. James Keener, Ranger Cody Jones, and Game Management Technician Joe Hill conducted an undercover detail on Rich Mountain WMA in Gilmer County for illegal turkey hunting. Two subjects were issued citations for hunting big game from a public road and hunting from a motor vehicle.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
NEWTON-MORGAN COUNTY On Easter Sunday, April 12th, RFC Ricky Boles was investigating a possible hunting without permission complaint on Tri-County Property. The complainant was an off duty conservation ranger who observed a truck parked on the county property. Upon arrival RFC Ricky Boles noticed turkey-hunting equipment inside the vehicle. RFC Boles tracked the individual by following boot tracks. After a short distance RFC Boles observed a male subject lying on the ground. Upon approaching the male RFC Boles realized the subject had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He also observed a shotgun lying within arms length of the person. County investigators were called to the scene along with local police officers. The male subject was pronounced dead at the scene due to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

COLUMBIA COUNTY On April 6th, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, and Cpl. Ryan Swain conducted annual qualifications training for retired Law Enforcement associates at Columbia County Firearms Complex in Appling. This training is mandatory for retired associates who opt to carry their weapons in other states.
ELBERT COUNTY On April 5th, at approximately 6:00 p.m. Corporal Julian Wilkins responded to a missing boater call on Lake Russell. A truck and trailer was reported sitting on the ramp with the keys in the ignition and doors unlocked. Several other boaters reported seeing the truck and trailer sitting on the ramp that morning at 6:30 a.m. Corporal Wilkins noticed a vessel across the lake matching the trailer on the truck. He asked another boater to ride over and ask the operator if this could be his truck. Both vessels returned and the operator said that it was his truck and he must have forgot and left it parked there. The owner said that he had hurried to a tournament meeting and forgot the truck. The owner also weighed in at 3:00 p.m. at the same ramp and did not notice his truck sitting on the ramp.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
PUTNAM COUNTY On the morning of April 5th, Sergeant Bo Kelly located a vehicle parked on Alexander Road at property that Corporal Bubba Stanford had determined to be baited with wheat and whole corn approximately a week prior. Cpl. Stanford and Sgt. Kelly located the hunter and a warning was issued for hunting big game over bait.
JASPER COUNTY During the evening of April 5th, RFC Billy Bryant was contacted by the Jasper County Sheriff's Office in reference to a 911 call of a turkey being shot from the road. Bryant arrived in the area and located the complainant first. He asked him to tell him what he saw and learned that he didn't see anything happen but he heard the vehicle go down the road and heard the shot and had been seeing turkeys beside the road in the area. Bryant then located the suspect and asked him what happened. The suspect told the Ranger that as he was riding down the road he saw the turkeys, drove past them and stalked up on them within range and shot a gobbler. RFC Bryant deployed his K-9 Drake into the area where the man said he walked through while stalking the turkeys. Drake quickly found a spent shot shell freshly fired. Bryant marked the area, and then sent Drake out to locate the spot where the turkey was standing to locate blood and feathers. After lining up the shot, as the suspect said it happened, Bryant was skeptical. Next RFC Bryant walked the edge of the dirt road to look for tire sign. Fresh tire tracks were located adjacent to where the turkey was shot. Bryant again deployed K-9 Drake into the area, this time Drake located a freshly fired wad from a shot shell. With the new evidence Bryant lined the shot up from the turkey, to the wad, to the dirt road and found sign in the brush indicating the suspect fired through it from the road. After confronting the suspect with the findings, he confessed that he had in fact shot the turkey from the road and thrown the shot shell into

the woods after getting scared when he heard the complainant yelling at him. The suspect was charged with hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
HARRIS COUNTY On April 11th, RFC Mitch Oliver checked several fishermen on Goat Rock, a lake in Harris County. RFC Oliver wrote various citations and warnings for no fishing license, no PFD's being worn in a hazardous area, no PFD's onboard, and no registration. Later, RFC Oliver and RFC Jeremy Bolen patrolled the north end of Lake Harding by boat and checked several fishermen. The officers issued citations for fishing w/o a license.
TROUP COUNTY On April 9th, Cpl. Brent Railey patrolled Troup and Heard County for turkey bait. He checked one commercial license (retail fish dealer) in Hogansville and issued a verbal warning for the bait dealer not having a retail fish dealer license. He checked Young's Mill near LaGrange for fishing activity and issued one citation for fishing w/o license and 3 verbal warnings for the same.
On April 10th, Cpl. Railey checked a baited area on the east side of Troup County and caught one hunter hunting turkeys over bait. He issued the hunter a citation for that offense and a warning for hunting without a license on person.
On April 11th, Cpl. Railey checked a baited area on the east side of Troup County with Cpl. Jim Bradfield. They issued two written warnings for hunting big game over bait. That afternoon they patrolled West Point Lake and checked several boats. They issued a citation for fishing w/o a license, a warning for improper display of registration and a warning for possession of undersized largemouth bass.
WILKINSON COUNTY On the afternoon of April 7th, RFC Chad Welch received a call in reference to three people stranded in the flooded Oconee River somewhere north of Balls Ferry. The stranded people were floating the river when their vessel capsized and they had to swim to a nearby flooded island for safety. RFC Welch and Sergeant Bo Kelly traveled down the river searching for the victims while Sergeant Ezra Wyche stood by at the boat ramp. DNR aviation was also utilized in locating the victims, which were found approximately 3 miles north of Balls Ferry. Sgt. Kelly and RFC Welch located the victims and returned them to safety.
BALDWIN COUNTY On the afternoon of April 11th, RFC Chad Welch checked fisherman behind the Sinclair Dam at the tailrace. RFC Welch located two men fishing who did not have fishing license or ID's. RFC Welch arrested the fisherman and they were transported to the Baldwin County Jail to post a cash bond.

HENRY COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Kevin Godbee and Sgt. Russell Ramsey worked a boating incident on Blalock Reservoir in Henry Co. Two individuals were fishing from a small vessel when it began to take on water in the rear of the vessel. The passenger moved to the back of the vessel to help bail water which then upset the balance of the vessel. The vessel then capsized throwing the passenger and operator into the water where they remained for approximately two hours. The two victims were eventually rescued by two construction workers who were at a home under construction in the area. Both victims were treated by the Henry Co. Fire Dept. and released at the scene of the incident. There were no violations noted at the time of the incident.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
ECHOLS COUNTY On, April 5th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree and RFC Jason Shipes responded to a request from Echols' Sheriff Randy Courson to assist with retrieving two elderly females from their residences near the rain-swollen Alapaha River. Both residents were safely re-located from their flooded homes. The two rangers also assisted several residents with retrieving personal property from their flood-damaged homes.
On Thursday, April 9th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree, Cpl. Damon Winters and RFC Jason Shipes assisted officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Georgia Emergency Management (GEMA) with surveying flood damage along the Alapaha River. Cpl. Winters and RFC Shipes safely maneuvered their boats and passengers through swift currents and debris-ridden waters to assist in obtaining the damage assessment.
On April 10th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree and RFC Shipes assisted FEMA with additional flood damage assessments along the Alapaha River. U.S. Congressman Jack Kingston was safely boated into the worst flooded areas to see the damage first hand. The historical flooding of the Alapaha River has damaged about fifteen homes.
PIERCE COUNTY On April 5th, Cpl. Damon Winters and RFC Brad Cox were requested to assist citizens along the Satilla River by Pierce County EMA director Ken Justice. Cpl. Winters and RFC Cox used their boats to transport over 1500 sandbags to help citizens in the flooded areas reinforce walls protecting their homes. Cpl. Winters and RFC Cox also transported family members with what essential possessions they could carry out of the flooded areas. Unfortunately, around twenty homes were damaged due to the flooding of the Big Satilla, Little Satilla, and the Alapaha rivers in Pierce County.

APPLING COUNTY On April 4th, while on boating safety patrol at Lake Mayers, Ranger Chase Altman issued a warning for operating a PWC above idle speed within 100 feet of the boat ramp. The person was also given a booklet that explained the boating laws in Georgia.
BEN HILL COUNTY On April 11th, while patrolling for turkey hunting, Cpl. John Stokes found two people who were hunting with unplugged shotguns and issued warnings to both.
BULLOCH COUNTY On Saturday April 5th, Cpl. Eddie Akins checked areas along the Bulloch and Bryan County lines for turkey hunting activity. His efforts resulted in two hunters being checked and no violations were detected.
LOWNDES COUNTY On April 11th, Corporals Greg Moody and Morty Wood conducted a patrol for turkey hunting. Four hunters were checked and all were found to be in compliance.
On April 11th, Ranger Keith McDonald patrolled for turkey hunting violations. He checked two hunters and issued one warning for hunting without a license on person.
BERRIEN COUNTY On the evening of April 11th, Corporals Greg Moody and Morty Wood patrolled Paradise PFA. Several violations of persons fishing w/o WMA license on a PFA were discovered. A patrol of the area after sunset resulted in one individual being cited for fishing on PFA after sunset.
CANDLER COUNTY RFC Jamey O'Brien patrolled and checked areas for illegal turkey hunting activity as well as monitor a local private pond for fishing without permission activity. Area creeks/rivers were patrolled for fishing and creel limit violations; no violations were detected.
EMANUEL COUNTY RFC Jamey O'Brien patrolled Ohoopee Dunes Natural Area for turkey enforcement, littering and illegal dumping as well as illegal ATV/4wheel drive activity on state properties; two turkey hunters were checked hunting on state property. RFC O'Brien also patrolled Harmon Park and local creeks/rivers for creel & license violations; no violations were detected.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY On April 3rd, Ranger Brandon Pierce checked several fishermen on the local creeks off of the Savannah River. This check resulted in two violations of fishing without a license.
On April 12th, Ranger Brandon Pierce checked landings on the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers. Several boats and fishermen were checked and one violation of insufficient PFD's (life jacket) was documented.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On April 11th, Ranger Randy Tinley and Cpl. Cindy Miller patrolled North Bryan checking turkey hunters. The rangers checked several turkey hunters and cited one individual for hunting turkeys over bait. They also conducted boating safety checks at Kings Ferry Boat Ramp and cited an individual for not having enough life jackets and not having his boat registered.
LIBERT COUNTY On April 10th, Cpl. Jay Morgan and Cpl. Cindy Miller patrolled the saltwater and cited one individual for fishing without a license. Also, the two rangers pulled crab traps to check for compliance of the gear. Two trap lines had illegal gear because they had blocked escaped rings and peeler traps baited with fish instead of male crabs. Two commercial crabbers were cited for commercial fishing with illegal gear.
On April 11th, Sgt. James Shelton and Cpl. Jay Morgan conducted a boating safety patrol in the Medway River, Tivoli River, Belfast River, Jerico River, and Isle of Wight areas checking 10 boats. Two were cited for expired registrations and one cited for operating above idle speed within 100 feet of a bridge.
GLYNN COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Mark Carson and Ranger Rebekah Fuller patrolled Jekyll Island for nighttime fishing activity. The rangers checked fishing license at the pier. When leaving the pier, the rangers noticed a vehicle shining a wooded area. The rangers waited and observed the vehicle shine several areas for deer. The vehicle was stopped and issued a written warning for blinding wildlife with lights.
CAMDEN COUNTY On April 7th, Sgt. Bob Lynn and Cpl. Chris Hodge assisted three residence of the 3R Fish Camp area by checking flooded houses for damage and criminal activity. Cpl. Chris Hodge used DNR vessel to transport Okefenokee EMC personnel to power poles to cut off power to houses located in the flooded area. Cpl. Chris Hodge checked with Camden EMA director, Mark Crews, to offer any further assistance that the Department could offer.

On April 8th, Sgt. Bob Lynn patrolled the flooded area of the Satilla River and checked with residence to see if anyone needed assistance. Cpl. Chris Hodge met with Camden EMA director to patrol flooded area around 3R and Bullhead Bluff by boat.
On April 11th, Cpl. Jesse Cook patrolled the flooded areas of 3R Fish Camp and Bullhead Bluff on the Satilla River checking flooded houses for criminal activity and providing assistance as requested by Camden EMA and Camden County Sheriff's Office.
On Monday April 6th, Cpl. Chris Hodge responded to Cumberland Island with the Camden County Sheriff's Marine Patrol to assist with removing a burn victim from the island. Because of severe weather in the area, high winds and rough sea conditions, Cpl. Hodge and Sgt. Chris Sears from the County Marine Patrol were asked to assist with removal of the victim. The subject had been burned after a camp stove exploded and burned a portion of one leg.