Field operations weekly report, February 12-18, 2012

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 12-18, 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 Saturday, Cpl. Eric Brown attended the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Cpl. Brown represented the State of Georgia, Wildlife Resource Division, as the National Wild Turkey Federation Officer of the Year for his efforts with enforcement, education, and conservation of Georgia's wild turkeys. Cpl. Brown is assigned to Carroll and Douglas Counties.
COBB COUNTY On Saturday, Cpl. Byron Young and Cpl. Lee Burns held a hull identification inspection site in Cobb County. People who were registering their boats and needed additional inspection information showed up at Jim Miller Park and met with the Rangers. Cpl. Young and Cpl. Burns assisted nine boaters with registrations and gave them safety requirements and talked with them about boating safety laws. Boaters can locate the next scheduled boating inspection site through DNR's website at goboatgeorgia.com and the tab to "boating". Inspection sites are listed by the month.
FULTON COUNTY On Friday, Cpl. Byron Young responded to the Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta to assist the Critical Incident Response Team with a hunting incident. The hunting incident occurred in Heard County and is still under investigation by DNR Law Enforcement.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GREENE COUNTY On February 28th, Cpl. Derrell Worth was contacted by Greene County Sheriff's office asking for assistance in the recovery of a small plane. The plane was reported going down near the edge of Lake Oconee, possibly in some large hay pastures. RFC Josh Copeland, RFC Richard Tanner, and RFC Ricky Boles responded to the call and immediately starting searching for the downed plane. RFC Copeland discovered the plane in a pasture unscathed with no pilot in the area. FAA was contacted and attempts to contact the owner of the plane were made. The next day, Cpl. Derrrell Worth and RFC Ricky Boles tracked down and made contact with the owner and pilot of the downed aircraft. Apparently, he was flying toward Morgan County airport when his plane ran out of fuel, even though his gauges read otherwise. He made an emergency landing in the pasture, landing the plane with a dead stick. He had contacted no one of his emergency landing. Pilot contact information turned over to the FAA.

BURKE COUNTY On February 17th, RFC's Grant Matherly and Jeff Billips responded to a complaint of hunting out of season and hunting without permission. The initial complainant stated he observed two hunters with dogs in possession of a white-tailed deer. The Rangers utilized their internet access from the vehicle to locate the various properties and landowners involved. The rangers located two hunters on a neighboring property. The hunters had been hunting with beagles and were in possession of two rabbits. The hunters denied shooting a deer and hunting off property. No deer was located nor was there any evidence of a deer being shot. All property owners were advised of the situation and the incident remains open.
On February 18th, RFC Billips instructed a 10 hour hunter education class at Corinth Christian Church. This was the third annual hunter education class held at the Corinth Christian Church. RFC Billips presented the material using the Laser Shot video programs and the students enjoyed home-cooked meals prepared by Mrs. Callison, Mrs. Finch and Mrs. Perry.
WILKES COUNTY On Friday and Saturday, RFC Mark Patterson and Sgt. Brian Carter assisted the Wilkes Co. Coyote Hunt Club with a predator hunt. There were several Raccoon, Fox and Bobcat taken during the hunts.
ELBERT COUNTY On Friday February 17th, Cpl. Wilkins checked two subjects that had been fishing on Vaughter WMA. On the back of their truck he noticed several county road signs. These subjects were turned over to Elbert S.O. for possession of county property.
RICHMOND COUNTY On February 18th, Cpl. Ben Payne patrolled Richmond County checking fishing licenses and boat landings along the Savannah River. At around 3:30 PM he received a phone call from RFC Wilcox of a stranded boater below the Lock and Dam on the Savannah River. Cpl. Payne monitored the weather and saw that a weather front would be moving in to the area shortly. He picked up his boat at Engine Company 1 in Richmond County and proceeded to the Lock and Dam. Once at the ramp, he contacted the stranded boater and asked what was wrong with the boat. After finding out that the boater had run the trolling motor off the cranking battery, he knew it was an electrical issue. Cpl. Payne grabbed a set of jumper cables and launched his boat. When the stranded boat was located Cpl. Payne jumped the boat off and it began to run. He followed the boat back to the Lock and Dam ramp and secured both boats. It began to rain shortly after arriving back at the ramp.

LINCOLN COUNTY On February 17th, Cpl. Ryan Swain performed a Wildlife I and E program for the Lincoln County High School.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HEARD COUNTY On February 17th, Sgt. Jim Bradfield responded to a hunting accident in which a rabbit hunter had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen. Sgt. Bradfield assisted EMS personnel in transporting the victim and EMS personnel out of the hunting property to an awaiting ambulance at the public road. Cpl. Mitch Oliver and RFC Kevin Joyce responded to the scene as well to conduct the hunting accident investigation. Preliminary reports indicate the hunter had shot a rabbit during the hunt and then attempted to use the butt stock of the shotgun to dispatch the rabbit, causing the firearm to discharge. The hunter was taken by LifeFlight to a hospital in Atlanta for treatment.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On February 18th, RFC Tony Cox responded to a 911 call concerning a male subject whom had become lost on Silver Lake wildlife management area. The subject, whom was walking his dog, became disoriented when it got dark and was unable to locate his vehicle. RFC Cox responded to the area, located the subject and escorted him back to his truck. TURNER COUNTY On February 14th, at approximately 12:05 a.m., Cpl. Al Greer received a call from Turner County 911 in reference to a vehicle stop a deputy had made for illegal night hunting. Cpl. Greer arrived at the scene, and after interviewing the subjects involved, located a .22-250 rifle, spotlight and an electronic call in the vehicle. Cpl. Greer and Ranger Chad

Hulsey then located a bobcat the suspects had shot at another location earlier in the night. The subjects were cited for hunting from a public road, hunting without permission, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting with an improper light (spotlight). They were also issued warnings for hunting small game with illegal firearm and hunting with unlawful device (electronic call).
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
DODGE COUNTY On February 12th, Cpl. Johnny Ashe, Cpl. Dan Stiles, Cpl. James McLaughlin and RFC Allen Mills all responded to a report of illegal burning of waste. Upon arrival the local volunteer fire team had extinguished the fire but witnesses had seen the two men responsible, unload and light the fire. After interviewing the witnesses and locating the suspect's wife at home the subject was contacted on his cell phone. The suspect admitted to the unlawful activity and stated he would call once he returned home. After conducting surveillance in the area for the suspect returning home, he was discovered in a different vehicle than he described attempting to elude officers. He was arrested not only for the unlawful burning offense, but for driving on suspended and revoked license and violation of the Georgia open container law. The suspect was transported to the Dodge County Jail and is working to get the area cleaned with all debris removed to a certified waste landfill.
EVANS COUNTY On February 15th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked commercial quail breeders in Evans. Verbal guidance was given to quail breeders for propagating quail without a commercial license. A copy of the law and a copy of an application were given to each individual. They were advised on how to obtain the proper licenses.
TATTNALL COUNTY On February 14th, RFC Debbie Brannen received an in progress complaint of hunting at night and without permission. Upon further investigation 2 juvenile males were located hunting rabbits at night. The juveniles were turned over to their guardian for the night and given verbal guidance on the laws rules and regulations regarding hunting rabbits. They were also given a copy of the Hunter Safety CD and advised on how to obtain their Hunter Safety certification.
TOOMBS COUNTY On February 18, Sgt. Keith Byers, Cpl. Jon Barnard, Cpl. Barry Britt and RFC Clint Jarriel held an onsite HIN inspection at the Toombs County Courthouse parking lot. The rangers assisted five boat owners with registrations during the inspections.
CLINCH COUNTY On February 18th, RFC Shipes checked on a complaint just outside of the city limits of Homerville on GA 38. The complaint was in reference to a possible injured deer next to the roadway. RFC Shipes found that the deer had been struck by a vehicle and was deceased. As RFC Shipes was returning to Homerville he observed a vehicle traveling at

a high rate of speed. The vehicle was traveling the wrong way on a one way street. RFC Shipes had to quickly change lanes to avoid a head on collision with the oncoming vehicle. RFC Shipes turned around and activated his emergency lights and siren in an effort to make a uniform traffic stop on the vehicle as well as alert other vehicles traveling towards the subject. The vehicle traveled approximately one mile before pulling to the side of the roadway. While speaking to the driver of the vehicle RFC Shipes could smell a strong odor coming from the vehicle. RFC Shipes asked the driver where he was going and he replied "Valdosta". While speaking with the driver RFC Shipes noticed that he seemed to be disoriented and confused at times. When asked if he had been drinking the driver replied "no" that he does not drink. RFC Shipes made contact with the subject's wife by phone and learned that he was a diabetic. She stated that he left early that morning for Jasper Florida to visit his son. RFC Shipes immediately contacted 911 and asked for EMS to respond to his location. Upon arrival EMS determined that the driver's blood sugar was four times over the normal level. The driver was transported to the hospital for treatment and later released to family members.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)