Field operations weekly report, 2012 December 2-8

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report December 2-8, 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)
CARROLL COUNTY On November 21st, Cpl. Wil Smith responded to Carroll County to a report of a hunting incident. Upon arrival, Cpl. Smith learned the hunter had been transported to Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Ga. Cpl. Smith investigated the scene and determined that the hunter fell approximately 12 feet from his tree stand. Cpl. Smith and RFC Chad Cox went to the hospital and interviewed the hunter. He explained that the stand lost its grip and he fell. He suffered a broken ankle and fractured femur. The hunter was not wearing a safety harness.
DOUGLAS COUNTY On November 25th, Cpl. Eric Brown was patrolling the Chattahoochee River area for hunting and fishing activity. Two subjects were located in a boat. The vessel had no registration and neither subject had a personal floatation device or a fishing license. Both subjects were cited for their violations.
On December 8th, Corporal Eric Brown and Sweetwater Creek Park Manager Brad Ballard were patrolling Douglas County around the park. Two subjects were located hunting deer. Both subjects were cited for hunting without a license and hunting without a big game license.
FULTON COUNTY On November 28th, RFC Chad Cox received a call about a hunting incident near Fairburn. He and Cpl. Wil Smith responded and investigated the incident. The rangers were told that the hunter had shot at a deer and the bullet passed through the deer striking a trespasser on a motorcycle. Cpl. Smith processed the scene and determined the evidence did not support the hunter's statements. While allowing the hunter to relieve himself, RFC Cox caught him attempting to hide marijuana in his underwear. After finding the marijuana and confronting him with the evidence, the hunter confessed to his actions. The victim was trespassing while riding a motorcycle and the hunter had yelled at him. After an exchange of words and obscene finger gestures, the hunter deliberately shot at the victim. The bullet passed through the motorcycle's muffler and struck the victim in the left leg. The case was turned over to Fulton County Police Department for charges of aggravated assault.
On December 7th, Sgt. Ricky Dempsey and RFC Chad Cox checked a complaint of someone hunting near a house in north Fulton with a firearm. The rangers located a hunting blind in the area and it was baited with corn. The rangers returned to check the blind in the evening and located a subject hunting with a crossbow. The subject was charged with hunting big game over bait.

HARALSON COUNTY On November 27th, Cpl. Wil Smith was working a night hunting detail in Haralson County. He saw a vehicle slowly driving down the road and a spot light come on. Cpl. Smith performed a vehicle stop and found the subjects had a spot light and sawed-off shotgun loaded with a slug. A check of one of the subjects revealed he was a convicted felon. Both subjects were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting from a public road. The convicted felon was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an illegal weapon.
On November 28th, Cpl. Eric Brown was checking deer coolers in Haralson County. Two coolers were cited for operating without a wildlife storage permit and all others were given verbal guidance on minor issues.
PAULDING COUNTY On December 8th, RFC Chad Cox and Tech. Daniel Gray checked baited deer stands in the southern portion of the county. They were able to locate two subjects hunting over bait. Each subject received a citation for hunting big game over bait. One was warned for hunting without fluorescent orange.
POLK COUNTY On November 22nd, Cpl. Wil Smith responded to a residence in Cedartown, GA. A screech owl had become lodged in the grill of a vehicle the night before and the driver discovered it was still alive the following day. Cpl. Smith was able to recover the owl. After minor rehabilitation, the owl was returned to the wild.
On November 26th, RFC Chad Cox received information that a suspect had shot a hawk on Goodyear Street in Rockmart, Ga. He did not know the suspect's name or address. RFC Cox notified Cpl. Smith and Cpl. Smith responded to the park on Goodyear St. He found the deceased juvenile red-tailed hawk and determined that it had been shot with a shotgun. Cpl. Smith believed the suspect would return to claim the bird. He set up surveillance and watched for the suspect. After 8 hours of surveillance, the suspect returned with two other people. They looked at and handled the hawk. Cpl. Smith approached the suspects and questioned them. The shooter admitted to shooting the hawk because a neighbor was afraid it would get his small dog.Cpl. Smith charged the suspect with taking a protected species. The suspect was also charged by Rockmart police officials for discharging a firearm in the city limits. The hawk was confiscated and will be used for educational purposes.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DEKALB COUNTY On December 2nd, Cpl. Eric Sanders was patrolling property owned by Dekalb County. Cpl. Sanders encounter two subjects hunting deer on the property. Both subjects were issued citations for hunting without permission.

On December 6th, RFC Brandon Pierce conducted an On-Line Hunter Safety Course at the Tucker Parks and Recreation Center. A total of thirty students participated in the class and all were certified in Hunter Education.
FORSYTH COUNTY On December 4th, RFC Brandon Pierce patrolled boat ramps along Lake Lanier for boating safety and fishing activity. As a result, two boats and three fishing licenses were inspected. No violations were documented but verbal guidance was given on several occasions to be in compliance with the laws and regulations of the state.
On December 8th, RFC Brandon Pierce and RFC Barry Britt patrolled a closed campground on Lake Lanier for duck hunting activity. A total of nine hunting licenses were checked and one individual was successful in harvesting a mallard and a goose. One violation consisting of hunting with an unplugged shotgun was documented. Verbal guidance was given for failure to sign the Federal Duck Stamp.
NEWTON COUNTY On December 2nd, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted a Hunter Development Program for the First Baptist Church of Conyers Youth Counsel. Cpl. Sanders instructed all of the shooters in Hunter Safety and Safe Gun handling rules while shooting skeet at the South River Gun Club.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On December 4th, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an On-Line Hunter Education Class at Johnson Park. A total of twenty-two students were certified in Hunter Education.
HALL COUNTY On December 8th, Cpl. Jason Roberson and Sgt. Mike Burgamy checked a hunting club that was baited for deer. Cpl. Roberson located a total of twelve hunters illegally hunting on the property and on adjacent Corps of Engineers property. Violations that were documented were hunting big game over bait, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting without a license, hunting without big game license, and hunting without permission. A total of thirty six violations were documented and approximately twenty five violations were warned verbally.
JACKSON COUNTY On December 8th, RFC Eric Isom located a vehicle near Maysville. RFC Isom suspected the subject was hunting deer illegally and spotted a blind nearby in a pasture. RFC Isom assumed that the subject was in the blind, but after inspecting it, he discovered it was empty. RFC Isom walked back to his vehicle and deployed his K9, Colt to track the subject. Colt located the subject sitting in a ladder stand without florescent orange. The subject had whole corn in a gallon bucket approximately 25 yards to the left of his stand. He also had whole corn spread on the ground approximately 70 yards in front of his stand. The subject told RFC Isom this is the first time he had checked on the property in fourteen years. He also stated that he did not know that he could not hunt within 200

yards of bait. The subject received a citation and warning for hunting big game over bait and hunting big game without wearing fluorescent orange.
STEPHENS COUNTY On December 3rd, Cpl. Bill Bunch received a tip from South Carolina DNR about some night hunting activity that was occurring on the state lines. Cpl. Bill Bunch and RFC Josh Chambers worked a detail on December 7th using the deer decoy in one of the areas inside Georgia. At about midnight, a truck came by the area where the rangers were working. The truck shined the decoy and left. About 2 a.m., the truck returned. It shined the decoy with headlights and turned off the lights. Shortly, a spotlight shined on the deer and one shot was fired. The truck was stopped and two subjects were arrested for hunting deer at night. Both subjects were charged with hunting from a vehicle, hunting from a public road, and hunting deer at night.
MADISON COUNTY On December 2nd, RFC Shane Sartor and RFC Tim Vickery checked an area that had been baited for deer. Four hunters were checked and two were found to be hunting over bait. Ten citations were issued between the four men for hunting over bait, hunting without a license, and hunting without a big game license.
On December 8th, RFC Shane Sartor had his 7th Youth Dove hunt. He had 69 kids register for the hunt, which was held on a private farm in Comer. All participants were fed lunch, given a t-shirt and pocketknife. Other prizes were given away later in the day. A crossbow, two rifles and one shotgun was given away as well as two lifetime licenses.
RABUN COUNTY On Tuesday the 4th, Cpl. Derek Dillard responded to a call of someone hunting deer without permission in the area of Winngate Subdivision off Ledford Road in Dillard. Cpl. Dillard observed the subject walking out of the woods carrying a high powered rifle and not wearing any orange. Cpl. Dillard encountered the subject and asked him where his orange vest was and he said that he forgot it at home. Then he asked the subject did he have written permission to be hunting there, and he said no. Cpl. Dillard issued the subject a citation for hunting deer without orange and a warning for hunting without written permission.
HABERSHAM COUNTY On December 5th, RFC Chad Chambers received a call from a concerned citizen about a deer possibly being shot from Alto-Mud Creek Highway. The complainant gave RFC Chambers a tag number. RFC Chambers located the suspect at his residence still cleaning the deer in question. Upon questioning the individual, he claimed that he had not shot the deer from the road but it was determined that he had killed three bucks and one doe for the season. All of the deer were killed on private land. All three of the bucks were small with less than four points on one side. The individual also did not possess a harvest record for the deer he had killed. RFC Chambers charged the suspect with taking over the limit on antlered bucks and failure to record deer harvest. He was also charged

with taking over the bag limit for the undersized bucks and was given additional warnings for failure to record deer harvest. The three bucks were seized as evidence.
UNION COUNTY On December 4th, RFC Kevin Dyer and Sgt. Steve Seitz taught a Hunter Education Course at the Union County Civic Center certifying 13 people.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
WILKES COUNTY On December 2, SGT Brian Carter and CPL Mark Patterson conducted a patrol of the Clarks Hill WMA. During the patrol, the Rangers located a vehicle parked on the shoulder of a public road with items in view that indicated the occupant was hunting deer. This WMA was not open for deer hunting at the time. Contact was made with the occupants of the vehicle and the offense of hunting on a closed WMA was documented. On December 3, CPL Mark Patterson taught a hunter education class in Washington. A total of 16 students were certified.
ELBERT COUNTY On December 3, CPL Mark Patterson responded to a complaint of hunting without permission. A brief investigation of the complaint area revealed clear evidence that a deer had been shot on the property and dragged to a neighboring tract of land. The complainant is still under investigation.
On December 4, CPL Julian Wilkins and CPL Mark Patterson conducted a patrol of the Richard B. Russell State Park during a managed deer hunt.
OCONEE COUNTY On Friday December 07, RFC Tim Butler caught one subject hunting deer over corn. The subject was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and warned for hunting deer without fluorescent orange. On Saturday December 08, RFC Tim Butler checked a property where he had located several baited stands. RFC Butler issued one subject a citation for hunting big game over bait and two other subjects were issued warnings for hunting without a license.
WALTON COUNTY On December 3, RFC Niki Spencer certified 25 students in Hunter Education.
NEWTON COUNTY On December 6, Sgt. John Harwell, RFC Niki Spencer, RFC Freddie Hays, RFC Richard Tanner, and Troopers from the Georgia State Patrol assisted the Newton County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshalls Service with searching for two men wanted in connection to child molestation and child pornography.

On December 6, while searching for the wanted individuals, RFC Hays and RFC Tanner encountered two individuals fishing on the South River at the Newton / Henry County line. Further inspection showed that neither individual possessed a current fishing license. Both individuals were cited for the offense.
On December 8, RFC Hays was checking for waterfowl hunters and located a vehicle parked at the Alcovy River. RFC Hays noticed some litter on the ground that matched items located in the subjects vehicle. While checking the waterfowl hunters one hunter admitted to throwing the trash out that morning and littering on a previous occasion during the first duck season. The subject was issued a citation for littering.
GREENE COUNTY On Thursday, December 6, RFC Richard Tanner responded to a call in reference to a boating incident involving a personal watercraft. The operator stated that he had left his house at approximately 8:00 PM, over 2.5 hours after sunset, to ride his personal watercraft on the open water. While operating, he struck a nearby seawall and was ejected from the vessel. While talking with the operator, RFC Tanner noticed the smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator's person. RFC Tanner administered field sobriety and subsequently placed the operator under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence. The operator agreed to perform the state administered chemical test of his breath, to which he registered a BAC of 0.104 grams. The operator was charged for operating a vessel under the influence, operating a personal watercraft during hours of darkness, and operating a personal watercraft over idle speed within 100' of shoreline.
Between December 2 and 8, Cpl. Derrell Worth cited one subject for hunting without license, one subject for possession of illegal size fish, two subjects for hunting deer (with rifle) on closed WMA, and one subject hunting without fluorescent orange.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On December 7th RFC Bobby Timmerman responded to a complaint of illegal hunting off of Hardy McManus Rd. Timmerman located a male juvenile who had killed a Red-Tailed Hawk. The subject was warned and turned over to his parents.
On December 8th Cpl. Ryan Swain and RFC Bobby Timmerman responded to hunting without permission complaint off Mullikin Rd. They located six subjects that were hunting a slough off of the Savannah River. The subjects did not have permission to hunt the property. The subjects were cited for hunting without permission as well as various license violations.
GLASCOCK COUNTY On December 2nd RFC Brian Adams checked an area where he had previously located several baited deer stands. Adams located two subjects who were hunting the baited areas. Both subjects were cited for hunting over bait and hunting without orange.

WASHINGTON COUNTY Corporal Micheal Crawley worked several hunting without permission complaints in the Davisboro area during this past weekend.
JEFFERSON COUNTY On December 05, RFC Grant Matherly was working an ongoing night hunting complaint in Jefferson County. At approximately 9:45 PM RFC Matherly noticed an extended cab Chevrolet pickup coming down the road. When it approached one of the wheat fields the vehicle slowed down and shined the field with a hand held spot light. RFC Matherly followed the subject for a short distance then stopped the vehicle. The subject was found to have a loaded .308 rifle in the front seat, with a round chambered, and a 3,000,000 candle power spot light. The subject was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
BURKE COUNTY RFC Jeff Billips investigated a report of two dead alligators found at dumpsters on Winter Road. Both alligators were freshly killed with their tails cut off and the larger one had its head removed. The case remains open.
RFC Billips checked and patrolled several hunting without permission and deer dogging without permit complaints in Burke County. No violators were located.
RFC Billips and Sgt. Matt Garthright conducted night hunting surveillance in Burke County. No violators were contacted.
RFC Billips conducted hunter education at Di-Lane Plantation WMA.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
LAMAR COUNTY On December 2nd RFC Keith Page entered a piece of property where he had previously located multiple baited deer stands. Page located a man sitting in a baited deer stand who was not wearing an orange vest. Immediately after making contact with the hunter RFC Page detected the odor of marijuana. After a brief interview, the man admitted to having a small amount of marijuana and a pipe that he had left in his deer stand. RFC Page temporarily handcuffed the man and climbed into the stand to retrieve the marijuana and the pipe. RFC Page charged the man with hunting big game over bait and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. The man also received a warning for not wearing an orange vest while deer hunting.
MONROE COUNTY On December 1st, Cpl. Tony Wynne checked an area where an elevated box stand was visible from the road and where he had previously seen signs of hunting activity. Wynne walked into the area and found a camera overlooking an empty trough feeder that was approximately 50 yards from the box stand. A more thorough check of the area revealed corn spread over a large area, some of it piled up. He also found a mineral brick and

minerals from a bag poured out along a trail. The next morning, Wynne went back to the area and found a subject hunting from the box stand. The subject was not wearing his orange vest as an outer garment. Wynne asked if there was bait in front of the stand and the hunter replied there wasn't. Wynne asked the hunter to get his rifle and to come on down from the stand. Once the hunter was down and Wynne had checked to make sure the rifle was unloaded, Wynne asked the hunter to go with him to check the area. When Wynne pointed out the corn, the poured out minerals, and the mineral brick, the hunter said he didn't know about the corn but had put the minerals out. Wynne pointed out that it all constituted bait and charged the hunter with hunting big game over bait and warned him for not properly wearing his orange vest.
On December 3rd, Cpl. Tony Wynne patrolled through a hunting club near his residence. He found several deer stands baited with corn and a variety of other baits. On December 8th, Wynne met with Sgt. Tim Kendrick and the officers checked the area to see if anyone was hunting the baited stands. They found three hunters on different areas of the property; all were hunting over bait and were cited for the infraction.
TROUP COUNTY Sgt. Jim Bradfield and Ranger Russell Epps responded to a complaint about a turkey that was killed on Monday December 3rd. After conducting a brief investigation and locating a picture of the suspect with the dead turkey on Facebook, a search warrant was obtained for the suspect's property. On December 7th the two Rangers interviewed the suspect at his residence. Although the subject was not initially truthful about the incident, he later decided it was in his best interest to tell the truth. The suspect admitted to shooting a turkey with a rifle while he was deer hunting and then taking the turkey on Friday morning to a taxidermist shop to be mounted. The turkey was located at a taxidermist shop in Alabama later the same day and was seized. Charges for hunting out of season and possession of illegally taken wildlife are pending.
On the morning of December 8th Ranger Russell Epps was patrolling the area of Glovers Pond on West Point WMA for duck hunting activity. Fifteen hunters were checked for licenses, plugged shotgun, and proper ammunition. Three citations and three warnings were given for various violations such as unplugged shotgun, not having a hunting license, not having a state waterfowl license; and failure to have a WMA license.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
CRISP COUNTY While working a night deer hunting complaint on December 8th, Cpl. Al Greer observed two subjects participating in the illegal activity. The subject's vehicle was stopped and the driver was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle. The passenger, who was a juvenile, was released.
TIFT COUNTY On the evening of December 9th, Cpl. Greg Wade received a complaint of an "in progress" roost shoot on the opposite end of the county he was working. Wade contacted

Cpl. Al Greer, who was closer to the complaint area. Greer located the shoot and apprehended the suspect as he was exiting the pond. In addition to hunting ducks after hours, it was also discovered that the individual did not have permission to be hunting the property. The subject was charged with hunting waterfowl after hours and hunting without permission.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
WILCOX COUNTY On December 8th, Cpl. John A Stokes and Sgt. David Reckley patrolled northern Wilcox County for dove and duck hunting activity. One dove shoot was located with one violation documented for hunting without license.
APPLING COUNTY On November 28th, RFC Altman presented hunting safety programs to Altamaha Elementary School students during the CHAMPS Program. Students learned important hunting safety tips as well as how to handle guns responsibly.
On the night of November 29th, RFC Altman assisted the Appling County and Wayne County Sheriff's Offices with apprehending a murder suspect in the county.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On the morning of November 8th, RFC Altman, Cpl. McLaughlin, and Sgt. Barnard responded to a hunting accident off Liberty Church Road. One hunter suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound to his arm and knee when he dropped his shotgun walking through the woods.
EVANS COUNTY On December 2nd, RFC Debbie Brannen worked a special detail on the Evans County Public Fishing Area. Suspicious vehicle and ATV tracks had been observed on the PFA. This detail produced one violation for driving on a closed WMA/trespassing.
CLINCH COUNTY On December 4th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree was travelling on GA 187 near the Cason Road when he observed a dog-deer hunter standing on the edge of the highway holding his shotgun. The hunter was issued a written warning for hunting big game from a public road.
WARE COUNTY On December 2nd, Cpl. Jason Shipes and Rgr. Sam Williams were working in an area where numerous complaints related to night hunting had been received. At approximately 2:30 a.m., a truck approached the field where the two officers were and a light began to shine out the driver's window. The vehicle continued shinning the field as it approached the officers. After the vehicle passed by Cpl. Shipes, a traffic stop was performed. A brief field interview was conducted by the officers. Found in the vehicle

were a loaded .22 caliber rifle and a hand held light. Cpl. Shipes located a clear plastic bag that contained suspected marijuana on the ground under the passenger's side door. Both subjects were placed under arrest and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle and VGCSA less than an ounce.
COOK COUNTY On December 4th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey received a call from the Cook County Sheriff stating that someone had fired a high powered rifle in the field behind his residence the previous night at around 8:30 P.M. After the shot was heard a black Ford F150 truck drove out of the field and turned toward Ed Lindsey Road. Sheriff Daughtrey recognized the black F150 as one that is frequently parked at a residence on Ed Lindsey Road. Cpl. Tommy Daughrey located the truck at a residence on Ed Lindsey Road. The bed of the truck contained fresh blood and was covered in deer hair. A knife was also in the bed of the truck with fresh drops of blood still on it. Further investigation resulted in two individuals being cited for hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle and possession of illegally taken wildlife. Other charges are pending.
On December 8th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey was travelling north on Interstate 75 when he noticed a Fed Ex truck parked in the emergency lane at the Cecil exit ramp. As Cpl. Daughtrey began to pass the truck, he observed the driver throw several pieces of trash onto the roadway. When the truck pulled away from the parked area, Cpl. Daughtrey conducted a traffic stop on the truck. The driver admitted to throwing a cup and a pizza box onto the highway. The driver was cited for littering.
COFFEE COUNTY On December 3rd, RFC Joe Hilton was notified by a landowner, someone was night hunting on his property. RFC Hilton responded to the complaint and found a deer lying just off the edge of the field, which was shot. The landowner stated the suspect was driving a red Toyota truck and when he confronted the suspect in the field he drove though his fence to try to get away. RFC Hilton traced the suspects tire tracks around the field. While tracing the tire tracks RFC Hilton found drag marks and blood leading to the truck tracks that weren't related to the deer found earlier. RFC Hilton found a cell phone and an orange vest while following the suspects tire tracks and identified the suspect. RFC Hilton then went to the suspect's residence and made contact with him. The suspect admitted to hunting deer at night and to shooting the deer. The suspect was charged with hunting without permission, hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, hunting big game from a public road and possession of illegally taken wildlife. While interviewing the suspect he admitted to harvesting three bucks earlier in the year while hunting. The suspect was also charged with taking over the bag limit of deer. This investigation resulted in the confiscation of five bucks which were harvested illegally.

On the 6th, RFC Joe Hilton and SGT. Jeff Rhodes with Georgia State Patrol Aviation were dispatched to a missing juvenile in Leesburg, Ga. Sgt. Rhodes and RFC Hilton arrived on scene and began to scan a nearby wooded area. RFC Hilton scanned the wooded area for approximately twenty minutes and located a glimpse of a target at the base of a tree. After several passes trying to identify the target, RFC Hilton decided it was possibly the juvenile. SGT. Rhodes notified the ground units and led them to the target. The ground units radioed RFC Hilton and SGT. Rhodes and notified them they made contact with the target and it was this missing juvenile and he was ok.
BERRIEN COUNTY On December 5th, Cpl. Morty Wood was working a night deer hunting complaint in North Berrien County. Cpl. Wood observed a truck shine 3 fields and a clear cut using its headlights. Cpl. Wood stopped the truck occupied by three white males. All three were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle. The driver of the truck was turned over to the Georgia State Patrol and charged with DUI.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRANTLEY COUNTY On December 7, RFC David Brady was working an area in Brantley County off High Bluff Rock Road for night deer hunting activity. At approximately 9:30pm, RFC Brady observed a vehicle turn off High Bluff Rock Road and travel down another county road then proceed to come in a back entrance of the field he was working. RFC Brady could see a light sweeping the adjoining fields and the woods as the vehicle traveled toward him. Shortly thereafter, contact was made with the vehicle and passengers. A shotgun was found in the passenger's side of the vehicle, and a handheld spotlight and buckshot were found hidden in the back seat. The driver and passenger were cited for Hunting Deer at Night and Hunting from a vehicle.
CAMDEN COUNTY On December 2nd, RFC Craig Smith conducted an investigation in reference to a subject involved in several hunting violations. RFC Smith cited the subject for hunting out of season, hunting with illegal weapon, failure to record deer harvest, and taking over the limit of antlered deer. BRYAN COUNTY On Dec. 2nd, Cpl. Phillip Scott and Ranger Jason Miller patrolled the Ft. McAllister State Park. Three fishermen were cited at the fishing pier for fishing without a license and another person was cited for consumption of alcohol at a day-use area. On Dec. 8th, Cpl. Scott and Ranger Miller responded to an overdue boater call at Ft. McAllister State Park at the Redbird Creek boat ramp. After a brief search of the area,

the boaters were found safe. The boaters had run out of gas and were towed to Kilkenny Marina in order to get some gas by another fisherman.
LIBERTY COUNTY On Dec. 4th, Cpl. Jay Morgan received a call from the manager of the Dorchester Quail Preserve regarding a man that had been seen hunting on Preserve property and hunting on the Trade Port East Industrial Park on Sunbury Rd. Cpl. Morgan met with the manager who gave him descriptions of the suspect and his truck, and identified the suspect as a forestry surveyor. The suspect was seen riding around the area late in the afternoon on several occasions when shots had been heard in the area and before daylight on one occasion. Cpl. Morgan patrolled the area and found signs of where the suspect had been riding an ATV. At approximately 5:44 p.m. that afternoon, the Preserve manager contacted Cpl. Morgan and said that he had just heard four shots. Cpl. Morgan contacted Ranger Trey Taylor to assist and both officers proceeded to the area to stake out the timber roads in that area for about an hour after dark. Cpl. Morgan then patrolled one of the roads in the area of the shots and found fresh tire tracks, but no suspects.
On Dec. 8th, Cpl. Morgan patrolled the Tradeport East Industrial Park in reference to the complaint he had received earlier in the week. He found the suspect's truck parked at the edge of a clear-cut and fresh footprints leading down a firebreak leading into another clear-cut. There were kernels of corn in the bed of the truck. Ranger Jason Miller arrived to assist and the officers staked out the truck for the suspect's return. At 0914 hours, the suspect was found returning to his truck with a rifle and no fluorescent orange clothing. The suspect admitted to hunting on the property without permission and admitted to placing bait on the property without permission. He showed the officers where had been sitting and corn was found approximately 70 yards away. He was cited for hunting without permission, for hunting over bait, and hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange.
LONG COUNTY On Dec. 6th, RFC Jack Thain was hunting on private land on his off-duty day when he found two adults and a juvenile hunting on the property without permission. He contacted Ranger Trey Taylor who arrived to provide assistance. The two adults were cited for hunting without permission and hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange. The juvenile was warned for not wearing fluorescent orange.
OFFSHORE/FEDERAL WATERS On Dec. 5th, Ranger Trey Taylor and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled offshore of Ossabaw Island out to the CAT Reef checking for possible Right Whales that may have been passing thorough offshore waters.
CHATHAM COUNTY On November 30th Corporal Chris Moore issued a citation to a Savannah resident for possession of undersized spotted sea trout.

On November 30th Corporal Chris Moore checked licenses and limits of people gathering oysters in the public shellfish harvesting area. One person was warned for a license violation.
On November 30th Ranger Kate Hargrove and Corporal Chris Moore responded to a call about an injured bald eagle in Savannah. The officers safely captured the bird and it was delivered to a wildlife rehabilitator.
On December 1st Corporal Chris Moore assisted the US Fish and Wildlife Service with a youth waterfowl hunt on the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
On December 3rd Corporal Chris Moore and Ranger First Class Buster Cooper apprehended a poacher in the Quacco Road area of Chatham County. The suspect was arrested for hunting under the influence, hunting deer without orange, hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license. The suspect was hunting without permission and did not have a deer harvest record.