Field operations weekly report, 2010 September 12-18

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report September 12-18, 2010
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 15th, Sgt. Mike Barr foot patrolled an area off Wilderness Camp Road. DNR Rangers had received many complaints of people illegally hunting deer in this area the past few years. Sgt. Barr located a large area behind some houses that had been heavily baited with corn. He approached a ladder stand next to a feeder and mineral block, but no one was in the stand. Sgt. Barr looked ahead and saw a hunter in another tree. As he walked towards that stand, Sgt. Barr located another hunter in a climbing stand. Sgt. Barr also located another flavored mineral block 18 steps from the second hunter. Sgt. Barr discussed the bait with the hunters and encouraged them to plant a food plot for hunting which would be legal. Both hunters received citations for hunting big game over bait and said they would clean up the area and plant a food plot.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On September 11th, Cpl Shawn Elmore participated in the Chattooga County Public Safety Day.
FLOYD COUNTY On September 11th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and W/T Daniel Booke responded to Berry College WMA in regards to a missing hunter who had medical issues. The subject was located in fine condition. He had been unable to reach his hunting partner to tell him he was going to town for a few minutes.
GORDON COUNTY On September 10th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore received information from a Georgia State Trooper who had located corn off of Jim Tom Rd while searching for a person who had fled the scene of a vehicle accident. On Sept. 11th, Cpl. Elmore entered the property on Jim Tom Rd located the baited area. Cpl. Elmore located a vehicle parked at another one of the hunting club gates and after a brief search Cpl. Elmore located two Jasper men hunting over corn. Both men were charged with hunting big game over bait.
On September10th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Wildlife Biologist David Gregory gave two presentations about firearms safety and aging deer to the Gordon Central Agriculture classes.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DELKALB COUNTY On September 14th, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an Online Hunter Education Class in Tucker at the Dekalb County Park and Recreation Department. During this class a total of 29 students were certified in Hunter Education.
On September 18th, Cpl. Eric Sanders checked an area baited for deer. Cpl. Sanders found this site earlier in the week on a complaint. One subject was cited for hunting big game over bait.
GWINNETT COUNTY On September 16th, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an Online Hunter Education Class at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. During this class a total of 25 students were certified in Hunter Education.
On September 18th, Cpl. Eric Sanders checked an area baited for deer. Cpl. Sanders found this site earlier in the week on a complaint. One subject was cited for hunting big game over bait.
HALL COUNTY On September 12th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Mark Stephens responded to Gainesville Marina in reference to a boating accident. The rangers received a call of a boat going in circles off of River Forks Park in Lake Lanier with no one in the boat. The boat ran aground and was no longer a threat to the public. A subject had tried to jump into the boat and stop it. This subject missed the boat and after falling into the water was struck by the circling boat. This subject was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center.
JACKSON COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Eric Isom was patrolling Jackson County. RFC Isom found a skunk that was in a trap. The skunk appeared to be in the trap for a few days. RFC Isom found the landowner and confronted him with this issue of the trap. The landowner said that he trapped raccoons because they got into his fish food. When asked what he did with them once they were caught. He said that he killed them. RFC Isom advised him to put the fish food in metal containers. Also, that it was a violation of game laws to trap raccoons in Northeast Georgia and that he could not kill the animals. The subject then claimed that they had rabies and that is why he was killing them. RFC Isom asked if he had tested any of the animals and why the trap was set 300 yard in the woods behind residence if he was concerned about rabies. RFC Isom asked him how long had the skunk been in the trap. The landowner said a few days and he was going to let it die. The landowner was issued warnings and citations for failure to affix tag to traps and trapping out of season. The skunk was released and the trap was confiscated.

UNION COUNTY On September 13th, Sgt Steve Seitz tagged a bear that was killed in Union County. While Sgt. Seitz was tagging the bear, he became suspicious about some of the hunters' remarks about the area where he killed the bear. Later that day, Sgt. Seitz walked the general area where the hunter said he killed the bear and located an area baited with corn and some type of liquid. Sgt. Seitz contacted RFC Kevin Dyer to assist with the investigation. The officers contacted the hunter and met him in Blue Ridge, GA where he confessed to killing the bear over the bait. The man was issued citations for hunting bears over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. The bear was later confiscated from a taxidermy shop in Ellijay, GA.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On September 19th RFC Anne Alexander and Wildlife Technician Frank Manning were checking Dicks Creek for fishing activity. RFC Alexander arrested a male subject from Florida for Non-Resident fishing without a license, possession of illegally taken fish, and for making false statements to an officer. The subject was also warned for non-resident fishing without a trout license and fishing without permission. One trout was confiscated. The subject gave RFC Alexander a false name and signed state documents. Evidently the subject was wanted in Florida and presently living in Georgia without possessing any identification.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On Friday September 17th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins and Cpl. Greg Colson were checking baited stands in Elbert County and found one subject hunting over bait. The subject was charged with hunting big game over bait.
CLARKE COUNTY On Saturday September 18, Rfc. Nick Jenkins was checking hunting without permission complaints when he found two subjects hunting without permission and hunting over bait. Numerous violations were documented including hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait, and hunting without a license.
WILKES COUNTY On Saturday September 18th, Sgt. Brian Carter was working dove hunting when he found a field that was baited with wheat. There were 16 subjects hunting the field. Numerous violations were documented including hunting over bait and hunting without a license.
HANCOCK COUNTY On Saturday September 18th, Rfc. Brian Adams located a baited dove field while checking hunters. Three subjects were charged with hunting over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife.

WILKES COUNTY On Saturday September 18th, Rfc. Leroy Ficklin located a baited dove field while checking hunters. Four subjects were charged with hunting over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
BLECKLEY COUNTY On September 18th, RFC Tim Butler located a large dove shoot on a sunflower field. An area of the field was determined to have been baited and the shoot was stopped.
On the afternoon of September 18th, RFC Tim Butler responded to complaint on the Bleckley /Dodge County line regarding a subject who had pointed a pistol at three dove hunters. The hunters claimed the man came onto the field complaining about them hunting to close to his property. They asserted the man pulled a pistol and ordered them to place their shotguns on the ground. RFC Butler and two deputies went to the suspect's residence and arrested the offender.
HARRIS COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Jeremy Bolen assisted the Harris County Sheriff's Office with information on a subject who had felony warrants. RFC Bolen was on the way to meet with deputies when he received a call that the wanted person had been seen at his house. Deputies watched the house and observed two people who had felony warrants for possession of methamphetamine. After Bolen's arrival officers searched the house and one of the subjects was easily located. The second subject was found hiding in the air conditioner ductwork.
HEARD COUNTY On September 14th, Cpl Jim Bradfield and intern Blake Middelton conducted a foot patrol on the State Park property on Hwy 34 in Franklin. Several deer stands and a wildlife feeder had been located on the property and were either taken down or removed from the property and stored for evidence.
On September 18th, Cpl Jim Bradfield checked a tract of property in the southern part of the county. The owner of the property had previously located bait scattered on their property as well as a deer stand on the property line. No one was hunting the stand that morning.
On the morning of September 18th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield located three subjects hunting doves in a pasture where bird seed had been scattered under a power line. One warning was issued for hunting over bait; two of the hunters were juveniles and only one dove had been taken.

MONROE COUNTY On September 15th, Region IV Rangers attended Health and Awareness training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Rangers will attend two additional sessions of this class to complete the training, which is required for intermediate peace officer certification.
PUTNAM COUNTY On the morning of September 18th, Cpl. Bubba Stanford located a bow hunter hunting near an area baited with corn and salt. The hunter was cited for hunting big game over bait.
TALBOT COUNTY On September 12th, RFC Jeremy Bolen and intern Blake Middleton were patrolling for deer hunters. The two checked a baited deer stand that had previously been located. No one was hunting this stand but while walking out of the woods RFC Bolen located the hunter in a climbing stand. The hunter stated that he noticed that the bait was still around the ladder stand so he decided to move away from the area. RFC Bolen walked the distance from the climbing stand to the baited area. It was approximately 125-130 yards from the baited site. The hunter was issued a written warning for hunting big game over bait.
TROUP COUNTY On September 17th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield checked a dove field that had been baited with wheat and millet. Bradfield located the property owner and advised him the field was baited. The owner admitted that he had put the seed out to attract doves.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On August 29th, RFC Isaac Strickland cited three persons for fishing without permission at the old Bryan Fishermen's Co-op dock that is now privately owned. One person was additionally cited for fishing without a license.
CHATHAM COUNTY On September 4th, Cpl Bill Bryson and RFC Randy Tinley boarded shrimp boats in Wassaw Sound. One individual was cited for commercial fishing without a license.

On the night of September 4th, Cpl Bryson and RFC Tinley responded to a Search and Rescue for a vessel in distress 4 miles offshore Tybee Island. On September 4th, Cpl. Cindy Miller patrolled the Bradley River area. Two individuals were cited for possession of undersized fish. Cpl. Miller confiscated 8 undersized spottail bass.
GLYNN COUNTY On September 5th, RFC Carson and Sgt. Harwell were on patrol in the Altamaha River when they observed a boat coming up river without lights on during the hours of darkness. The operator of the vessel was Boating Under the Influence. He was cited for operating his vessel without lights and BUI. On September 6th, Sgt Harwell was on patrol at the Altamaha Park. He cited one individual for operating his vessel with insufficient life jackets.