Field operations weekly report, January 8-14, 2012

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report January 8-14, 2012
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 January 14th Ranger Zack Hardy, RFC Bart Hendrix, Cpl. Chip Cox and Cpl. Lee Burns worked a hog decoy detail on the Pine Log WMA. Rangers Hardy and Hendrix were positioned in the woods watching the decoy with Cpl. Cox and Cpl. Burns positioned nearby in their vehicles. Rangers Hardy and Hendrix observed a pick-up truck pass by the decoy then abruptly stop and back up. The driver then got out of the vehicle with a .30-06 and while standing in the road, shot at the decoy. Rangers Hardy and Hendrix immediately notified Cpl. Cox and Burns, identified themselves to the hunter, and had him put down his rifle. The passenger in the vehicle was also asked to exit. The hunter said his brother, the passenger, saw the hog. The shooter said he saw the hog lie down and decided to shoot. The shooter was issued a citation for hunting from a WMA road and a written warning for hunting from a vehicle.
FANNIN COUNTY On January 12th, RFC Cody Jones completed an investigation and filed charges on one juvenile for shooting a 4 pt. buck from Stanley Creek road. The suspect was charged with hunting from a public road and hunting from a motor vehicle.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FORSYTH COUNTY On January 2nd, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Adam Dills were patrolling Lake Lanier on Buford Dam. The rangers observed a small jon boat tied up to one of the "Boat Keep Out Buoys" at the dam. The rangers were able to call the boat over to the shore. Once at the shore the rangers checked the safety equipment in the boat and the fishing licenses of the two occupants. The rangers found that one of the PFD's was unserviceable. A written warning was issued for operating a vessel with an unserviceable PFD and verbal guidance was given for tying up to the buoy.
Later that evening Cpl. Freddie Hays and RFC Mitchell Crump interviewed a subject on an investigation that Cpl. Hays had been working. Sgt. Brown and RFC Dills were called to assist with the investigation in securing the evidence. The subject had killed three bucks (a six pointer, nine pointer and a eleven pointer.) Two of the bucks had been killed on property the subject didn't have permission to hunt on. The other buck was killed where the subject did have permission. All three bucks were seized. The subject also had killed a bear during archery season on Dawson Forest WMA. The subject didn't sign-in to hunt during the archery season on Dawson Forest WMA. After he killed the bear and was having it tagged by a DNR biologist at a local deer cooler the subject was told to go and sign the bear kill in on the kill sheet at Dawson Forest WMA. The subject failed to do so.

The subject was issued citations and warnings in Forsyth County for hunting without permission, possession of illegally taken wildlife and taking over the limit of bucks. In Dawson County the subject was issued citations and warnings for failure to sign-in on a big game hunt, failure to sign-out kill of big game and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
DEKALB COUNTY On January 11th, Cpl. Eric Sanders answered a trapping complaint. Cpl. Sanders met with the trapper and issued him a citation for failure to tag traps.
FULTON COUNTY On January 13th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Eric Isom manned the DNR Booth at the Atlanta Boat Show. On January 14th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and Cpl. Jason Roberson manned the DNR Booth at the Atlanta Boat Show. On both days the rangers answered questions and utilized the Laser Shot.
GWINNETT COUNTY On January 9th, Cpl. Freddie Hays, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins, RFC Mitchell Crump and RFC Adam Dills participated in a training exercise on the Chattahoochee River. Also, participating in the exercise were the Gwinnett County Fire Department (lead agency), Gwinnett County Police Department Aviation Unit and the Corp of Engineer. The training was to better prepare the agencies that respond to rescues on the Chattahoochee River.
On January 10th, Cpl. Eric Sanders assisted the Gwinnett County Police Department and the Gwinnett County Fire Department with searching for a missing person. The person wasn't located and the search was called off.
On January 10th, Cpl. Sanders was called by the Gwinnett County Police Department about hunting without permission complaint on county property. The subject ran and hid his firearm. Cpl. Sanders was able to locate the firearm that was hid. This subject was wanted on outstanding warrants taken out by Cpl. Sanders in Rockdale County for deer hunting violations. The subject was arrested on the warrants by Gwinnett County P.D. and Cpl. Sanders issued citations for hunting without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife (three rabbits.)
LUMPKIN COUNTY On January 14th, Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Freddie Hays and RFC Mitchell Crump assisted the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office with their annual Squirrel Hunt. The rangers utilized the Region II Shooting Trailer for the event.
MADISON COUNTY On January 14, RFC Shane Sartor and Sgt. Stan Elrod checked an area where several roost shoots for waterfowl had been heard. The rangers were able to narrow down the location. Two subjects were caught and charged for hunting waterfowl after legal hours.

HART COUNTY On January 14, RFC Josh Chambers checked a swamp with duck blinds that were there without permission. He cited three subjects for hunting without permission.
JACKSON COUNTY On January 14th, RFC Eric Isom located three duck hunters in the area of Hwy 11. RFC Isom found whole corn in the swamp that the hunters were hunting. The landowner did not have honorary landowners hunting license nor a federal duck stamp. The other two hunters did not have any type of hunting licenses. One of the hunters was also using an unplugged shotgun. The duck hunters received citations and warnings for hunting waterfowl over bait, hunting without a federal duck stamp, hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license, hunting without a hunting license, hunting with an unplugged shot gun, and possession of illegally taken wildlife. Two wood ducks were confiscated as evidence.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On Sunday January 8th, Cpl. Greg Colson found one subject hunting rabbits who did not have a license.
On Saturday January 14th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins was checking an ATV complaint on Heardmont WMA when he found a subject riding a four wheeler off road.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On January 13th, RFC Robert Timmerman closed a two week long investigation dealing with a incident on the Savannah River near Martinez. Three warrants were obtained from Columbia County Magistrates Office for a subject who absconded from RFC Timmerman in a vessel. The subject is still at large as of this report.
On January 14th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins apprehended two subjects in Keg Creek near Appling for hunting waterfowl from a moving vessel.
LINCOLN COUNTY On January 15th, Cpl. Ryan Swain conducted a concentrated waterfowl patrol of the Little River on Clarks Hill Lake. No waterfowl violations were detected. Several warnings were given for boating violations.
NEWTON COUNTY On January 14th, RFC Niki Spencer and RFC Larry Mills issued two citations for hunting without permission at Lake Varner. They checked several duck hunters in Newton County as well.

GREENE COUNTY On January 14th, Sgt. John Harwell checked several duck hunters on the Oconee River. He cited two individuals that were hunting without a WMA license and he cited one individual for operating his vessel with insufficient life jackets.
BURKE COUNTY On January 14th, The Burke County Sheriff's Office contacted RFC Jeff Billips in reference to a complaint from hunters. The hunters had discovered a truck on their property that did not belong there. RFC Billips followed a trail that led from the truck to a nearby creek and discovered two men illegally digging for Native American Artifacts. Both men were issued citations.
WASHINGTON COUNTY Corporal Micheal Crawley helped 2 citizens with boat registration in Washington County. Corporal Crawley also worked roost shooting activity on the Little Ohoopee River. Corporal Crawley responded to a deer dogging without permission complaint in Harrison that was un-founded.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HEARD COUNTY On January 8th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver and Ranger Russell Epps met with 2 individuals at the Heard County Sheriff's Office to interview them in regards to a night hunting complaint. According to the Heard County Sheriff the two individuals used the headlights of their truck to shoot a deer from his yard shortly after midnight on January 6th. The subjects were apprehended by the Sheriff as they attempted to load the deer into the truck. When interviewed, both men confirmed the story and said that they were aware that it was the Sheriff's house. They stated that they just wanted some deer meat and shot the doe with a .22 Magnum Rifle. Both men made written statements and were each charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
HOUSTON COUNTY On January 11th Cpl. John Harkins checked seven duck hunters hunting on Flat Creek PFA; two of the hunters did not have a current WMA license. He issued citations to both hunters for the infraction.
PULASKI COUNTY On January 1st RFC Tim Butler checked two duck hunters leaving a pond where he had previous complaints from the land owner regarding persons hunting without permission. It was determined the hunters did not have permission to hunt the pond. Additionally, the hunters were in possession of nine wood ducks - the limit on wood ducks is three per hunter. Both hunters were cited for possession of over the daily bag limit of ducks and warned for hunting without permission.

WILKINSON COUNTY On January 14th, RFC Allen Mills and Cpl. Bubba Stanford were patrolling hunting clubs off of Hwy. 112 when they observed two subjects standing outside of a cabin with rifles. The officers approached the subjects and began talking to them. The subjects both smelled strongly of marijuana. The officers located marijuana on both subjects. The marijuana was seized and the subjects were given citations for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On January 8th, RFC Jon Penuel and Cpl. Greg Wade patrolled areas along the Flint River in Albany that are commonly used for fishing and boating activity. The patrol resulted in the apprehension of two subjects with outstanding warrants, as well as seven subjects being charged with fishing without a license and one subject being charged with violation of the Georgia controlled substance act.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On January 10th, Cpl. Stiles taught the Hunting and Firearms Safety section of the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety (CHAMPS) program to 158 5th grade students at Southwest Laurens Co. Elementary School. The CHAMPS program is taught and mentored by the Laurens County Sheriff's office county wide through the school system.
On January 14th, Cpl. Stiles and RFC Jamie O'Brien responded to a lost persons report on the Riverbend WMA in Laurens County. Three 18 year old males planning to camp in a remote location of the WMA became disoriented and were reported lost by one of the lost individual's parents. Two of the youths were located by deputies with the Laurens County Sheriff's office. The third subject abandoned the other two subjects when law enforcement was contacted and fled the area to avoid arrest on outstanding warrants. Charges are pending upon further investigation.
DODGE COUNTY On January the 14th, Sgt. David Reckley, Cpl. Dan Stiles and Cpl. Johnny Ashe worked a complaint of illegal hunting off Antioch Church road. Officers conducted surveillance on the hunting club and found 8 subjects in various areas of the club. The officers had watched the subjects enter the woods without wearing any fluorescent orange and after locating the hunters, citations were issued for non-resident hunting without licenses, hunting deer without fluorescent orange and one subject was charged for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
APPLING COUNTY On January 15th, RFC Altman answered a call about an injured hawk in the county. After arriving at the scene, RFC Altman rescued the hawk and took it back home. The hawk is

recovering at the home of RFC Altman until Tuesday, when it will be taken to a rehabilitator in Laurens County.
CLINCH COUNTY On January 8th, RFC Jason Shipes received a complaint from a landowner in the Cogdell area. The complainant stated that on several occasions within the past week dog-deer hunters have run hounds through his property. He further stated that the adjoining property being hunted was not permitted for deer hunting with dogs. RFC Shipes responded to the area and located several individuals hunting deer with dogs. Upon speaking with the hunters it was determined that the property was not permitted for deer dogging and that each of the hunters were aware of this fact. RFC Shipes issued citations for hunting deer with dogs on unpermitted property.
On January 14th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree and Cpl. Gary Simmons responded to a hunting incident near Lake Verne involving a thirteen year-old hunter. The juvenile was hunting deer with dogs when the incident occurred. The victim was standing on a dog box in the bed of a pickup truck with the rifle's muzzle resting on his left boot when the rifle discharged. After exiting his foot and boot the bullet travelled through the metal dog box and struck a dog that was in the dog box before exiting the truck bed into the ground. Both the juvenile and the dog underwent surgeries and are expected to recover.
CHARLTON COUNTY On January 14th, Cpl. Gary Simmons was working a complaint of hunting deer with dogs on un-permitted property near the Winnokur community. Cpl. Simmons observed several subjects hunting deer with dogs on the un-permitted property. Citations were issued for hunting without a license and hunting deer with dogs on un-permitted property.
ECHOLS COUNTY On January 8th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree observed three hunters participating in a dog-deer hunt along GA 187 near Mayday. All three hunters were parked on the state highway right-of-way and each had their deer guns in hand as dogs chased the deer towards the highway. Violations of hunting big game from a public road were documented. One of the hunters did not have a Georgia hunting license and was cited for the violation.
TOOMBS COUNTY On January 13th, Cpl. Jon Barnard was on patrol for waterfowl violations along the Altamaha River when he observed a boat being operated without lights during the hours of darkness and the operator failed to bring the boat to idle speed at the US 1 bridge. Cpl. Barnard inspected the boat and hunting licenses of the occupants. The operator of the boat was issued a citation for operating a vessel at night without lights and a warning for the 100' foot rule.
On January 14th, Cpl. Jon Barnard was on patrol for waterfowl violations when he inspected one boat and two hunters at Cobb's Creek Dead River. One of the hunters hunting license had expired and he received a warning for hunting without a license.

LANIER COUNTY On January 14th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey located an after hours duck shoot near Lakeland. Cpl. Daughtrey and RFC Keith McDonald had checked a morning duck shoot in the same swamp earlier that day. Cpl. Daughtrey called RFC McDonald and Cpl. Morty Wood who were nearby and advised them of the illegal shoot. Cpl. Daughtrey walked into a wooded area near the swamp and located two ATV's. Cpl. Wood and RFC McDonald soon arrived in the area. Five subjects were apprehended as they went to leave the area. All five subjects were charged with: hunting without permission, hunting waterfowl after hours, possession of illegally taken wildlife and numerous license violations. The ducks were confiscated and given to a local church.
On the evening of January 16th, RFC Keith McDonald was patrolling for evening waterfowl activity when he heard gunshots in Lanier County. After locating a vehicle parked in a hunting club, the officer proceeded to the pond on foot. While walking to the pond, a vehicle approached the officer. RFC McDonald motioned for the driver to stop. Four individuals and twelve wood ducks were in the vehicle. Citations were issued for hunting waterfowl after hours and warnings were written for possession of illegally taken wildlife. The wood ducks were also confiscated.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)

CHATHAM COUNTY

On January 8, Ranger Kiel Toney and

Sgt. Cindy Miller were checking boats

at the Lazaretto Creek boat ramp. A boat

came in with three individuals in it. One

of the individuals backed the boat trailer

in the water. When the two individuals

in the boat saw the Rangers they took

off in the boat around a corner and were

gone for about 30 minutes. When the

boat came back with the two individuals

Sgt. Miller was able to get the operator

of the boat to admit that he dropped a

cooler of fish off in the marsh. Sgt. Miller rode with the individual back to where the

cooler was hid in the marsh. The boat operator retrieved the cooler, which contained 13

black sea bass and 3 big red drum. The boat operator was cited for failure to allow

inspection and possession of illegal size fish.

On January 13, RFC Chris Moore and Sgt. Cindy Miller were checking boats at the Houlihanns boat ramp in Pt. Wentworth. The Rangers checked a boat that came in after dark. The two individuals in the boat had been hog hunting. The operator of the boat was

charged with operating a vessel during hours of darkness without lights. The passenger of the vessel was cited for hunting hogs without fluorescent orange.
GLYNN COUNTY
On January 14th, Sgt Chris Hodge, RFC Craig Smith, and RFC David Brady were working a deer dogging complaint off Pennick Road. While checking hunters, a subject was found to be hunting without any type of license. Upon checking the subjects' criminal history, Officers determined that the man was a convicted felon. He was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm by a convicted felon, and several license violations.
On January 8th, RFC Craig Smith and RFC John Evans discovered a stranded vessel while on patrol in the Brunswick River. The vessel was occupied by an elderly male and female who were having motor trouble. Rangers towed the vessel back to the boat ramp.
On January 8th, RFC Craig Smith and RFC John Evans completed a JEA Patrol for subjects feeding Dolphins around the Marinas on Jekyll Island and St. Andrews Beach. There were not any violations detected.
BRANTLEY COUNTY
On January 11, Cpl. Billy Reed was working a night deer hunting complaint on Dixon Road. At 8:40 pm, He observed the occupant of a small red truck shine a spotlight into a pasture. After stopping and searching the truck, he located a 12 volt spot light and a loaded 30/30 rifle. Determining the suspect to be a juvenile, Cpl. Reed followed him to his residence and met with his parents. The juvenile was turned over to his parents.
CAMDEN COUNTY
On January 8th, RFC Craig Smith and RFC John Evans completed a night time patrol for subjects keeping over the limit of shrimp. Two subjects were cited for operating vessels with improper lights.