Field operations weekly report, January 29-February 4, 2012

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report January 29-February 4, 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)
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GREENE COUNTY On February 4th, Sgt. John Harwell received a complaint of possible fishing without permission in Union Point. After walking in approximately 1.5 miles he saw three males fishing in the pond. While approaching the individuals, the men took off running in the opposite direction. Charges are pending.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On February 3rd, Cpl. Brian Hobbins apprehended two subjects for digging Indian Artifacts without permission and interference with the duties of a Conservation Ranger (the subjects tried to flee from the Ranger).
CLARKE COUNTY On Saturday February 4th, Cpl. Greg Colson presented an informational program for Plum Creek Timber Company hunting lease holders. Cpl. Colson provided information on handling hunting without permission, trespassing, theft, and vandalism complaints on their lease.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY On January 28th RFC Josh Copelan responded to a boating incident on Lake Sinclair near Little River Park. A vessel had capsized and the five occupants were rescued from the water by another boater and taken to safety. The incident is still under investigation.
PUTNAM COUNTY On February 4th RFC Allen Mills and Sgt. Bo Kelly along with agents from the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement conducted a license check and wildlife checkpoint on the Oconee National Forest. Several traffic citations were issued and one subject was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Later that evening RFC Mills and Sgt. Kelly checked boaters at the Twin Bridges boat ramp. Several warnings were issued for various boating violations.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
SEMINOLE COUNTY On January 29th, Cpl. Mike Binion responded to a call from a Donalsonville Police Department officer whom had arrested a subject for possession of a firearm by a felon. The suspect also possessed the head of an 8 point buck, which he claimed to have killed in Alabama. Cpl. Binion interviewed the suspect and another witness, and discovered the deer had been killed in Harris County Georgia. Cpl. Binion cited the suspect for possession of illegally taken wildlife. Warrants were obtained the following day in Harris County for hunting out of season.
Illegally Harvested WT Deer
BROOKS COUNTY While checking a duck shoot on January 29th, RFC Jon Penuel observed a subject discard several ducks into the bushes and attempt to slip away into the woods. The subject was located a short time later and charged with hunting without a license, hunting without a federal duck stamp and taking over the daily bag limit. A second subject that was hunting the pond was also charged with taking over the daily bag limit. THOMAS COUTNY On February 4th, Cpl. Greg Wade and Ranger Chris Carlisle were patrolling along the Ochlocknee River for fishing and boating activity when they encountered a vehicle without a license plate on a county dirt road. The rangers stopped the suspicious vehicle and noticed the driver's unusual behavior and nervousness. The rangers then discovered the subject was actively "cooking" methamphetamine inside the vehicle. The subject was arrested and turned over to the Thomas County Narcotics Unit for further investigation.

(Mobile "meth lab" seized from vehicle in Thomas County)
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On February 2nd, Cpl. Dan Stiles patrolled the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area. Five anglers and one vessel were checked on the property; which resulted in one warning being issued for operating a vessel without PFD's.
On February 3rd, Cpl. Dan Stiles received a call from the Laurens 911 reporting a lost hunter on Beaverdam WMA. Cpl. Stiles, RFC Horne and GM Tech. Bobby Sanders responded to the scene. Before arrival of DNR personnel, the victim was able to locate the sound of Laurens Co. S/O vehicles and walked to a road near their location. The victim was interviewed and explained that he had killed a feral hog, went to his vehicle to get his game cart. After retrieving his hog, he attempted to walk out in another direction and became disoriented while attempting to find an easier route back to his vehicle. Cpl. Stiles, RFC Horne, and Tech. Sanders assisted the victim with attempting to locate his game and cart, but were unable to locate them.
TATTNALL COUNTY On February 5th, RFC Clint Jarriel patrolled Big Hammock WMA with RFC Debbie Brannen in an effort to check the hunting and fishing activity. The officers checked an individual that had a four-wheeler parked on the main road. After further investigation the individual was charged with-allowing under age child to hunt unsupervised, illegal use of ATV on a WMA, and hunting w/ illegal ammo/weapon. Subject was cited and released.
ECHOLS COUNTY On January 30th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree discovered two freshly-killed deer carcasses dumped along GA94 east of Tarver. Both appeared to have been shot through the shoulders. On February 3rd, Sgt. Dupree observed a large amount of deer blood and hair on the pavement of Will Rewis Road near Tarver. Based on the probability that this evidence was related to night deer hunting activity, Sgt. Dupree chose a concealed location in the area on the night of February 3rd. Just after midnight, a vehicle approached

the officer's location and began shining a bright spotlight along the highway right-of-way and into the nearby woods. After stopping the vehicle, Sgt. Dupree secured three individuals that stated they were hunting deer. They were using a .410 shotgun with 000buckshot and a 3 million candle-power Q-Beam spotlight. Charges for hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road and hunting from a vehicle were documented. The individuals denied knowledge of the deer carcasses and the blood in the highway. The investigation continues for the party(s) responsible for this activity.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY Around 6:30p.m, on February 2nd Cpl. Barry Britt and Jeff Davis County Fire Dept. personnel responded to a search and rescue case on the Ocmulgee River. A man testdriving a jet ski experienced mechanical problems and could not get the jet ski started. He notified Jeff Davis 911 with his cell phone as he was floating down the river on his jet ski in the dark. Jeff Davis Fire Dept. personnel and Cpl. Britt found the man in good condition and towed him back to the nearest landing.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On February 5th, RFC Brandon Pierce was on regular patrol when a trash pile was discovered. Numerous pieces of evidence was collected and used in the investigation. The subject(s) were interviewed and determined to be in violation. A total of one violation was documented. The violation consisted of unlawful dumping of egregious litter. Later that day Officer Pierce patrolled river landings along the Savannah River for boating safety and fishing activity. A total of five boats and twelve fishing licenses were inspected. A total of two violations were documented consisting of operating vessel without registration and operating a vessel without lights during hours of darkness.
APPLING COUNTY RFC Chase Altman conducted a routine patrol of Big Hammock WMA on February 5th. During this patrol RFC Altman encountered three non-resident hunters hunting squirrels. One hunter had slugs in his shotgun; another had buckshot in his shotgun, along with a .22 caliber rifle. After checking their license requirements, RFC Altman issued two citations for hunting with illegal ammo on a WMA. Several other hunters and users of the gun range were checked and found to be in compliance with the law.
EVANS COUNTY On February 4th, RFC Debbie Brannen and RFC Clint Jarriel checked numerous vessels and fishing licenses on the Evans County Public Fishing area. A violation for fishing on a PFA without a WMA license was documented. Verbal guidance was issued for fishing without licenses
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CHATHAM COUNTY On February 1, RFC Buster Cooper and Cpl. Bill Bryson patrolled the near shore reefs along Georgia's and South Carolina's coast outside of three miles. The Rangers checked

several boats. One boat had an individual who had five Black Sea Bass. The Rangers cited the individual federally for keeping a protected species.
REGION VII On February 4, all of the Rangers in Region VII participated in the 24th Annual Weekend for Wildlife. The Rangers operated boats for the different excursions that were scheduled for the weekend. There were boat trips to Ossabaw Island, Cumberland Island, and the Altamaha River and Miller Lake. This event raises money for the Non Game Section of the Wildlife Resources Division. The event is held at the Cloister on Sea Island each year.
CAMDEN COUNTY On February 2, RFC David Brady, Cpl. Wil Smith, and Sgt. Chris Hodge responded to a call concerning a subject that was burning a mobile home. When the officers arrived on scene, Camden County Fire and Rescue had extinguished most of the material and officers identified the persons responsible for starting the fire. While speaking with the subjects, officers learned that one of them was wanted on felony charges in Glynn County. Officers placed the subject under arrest and he was later transported to the Glynn County Detention Center. Officers continue to investigate the fire and charges are pending on both of the subjects.