Field operations weekly report, 2012 September 9-15

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report
September 9-15, 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 September 15th, Sgt. Mike Barr, Cpl. Chip Cox, Cpl. Lee Burns, and Ranger Zack Hardy held a boat inspection site at the Allatoona Corp of Engineer's office off Spur 20. At the end of the inspection, a truck came through pulling a personal water-craft (PWC). The rangers noticed that the PWC did not have a current registration. The driver stated he was going to launch the PWC on Allatoona Lake. The rangers offered to complete a boating inspection and updated the driver on the boating safety laws. While speaking to the driver, the rangers noticed that the ignition switch in the truck had been compromised and a screwdriver was used as a key. The driver was questioned and his ID checked. It was found that he had an outstanding warrant from the Cartersville PD. He was arrested and transported to jail by a Bartow County SO deputy. The brother of the driver was escorted home by DNR Cpl. Chip Cox. Shown is Cpl. Chip Cox speaking to the passenger in the vehicle.
CARROLL COUNTY On September 15th, Cpl. Eric Brown was patrolling Carroll County for deer hunting activity. While on patrol in the Villa Rica area several hunters were checked and one

hunter was cited for hunting big game over bait, hunting without a hunting license, and hunting without a big game license.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
MADISON COUNTY On September 13, RFC Shane Sartor and Sgt. Stan Elrod walked an area that was possibly baited for deer hunting. While walking the area, Sgt. Elrod noticed a black water line partially covered by leaves. He pulled the line and saw that it was stretching down towards a creek. He called RFC Sartor back to his location and they began to follow the line. It eventually led them to four marijuana plants approximately eight feet tall. The rangers notified the local drug agents and were told to pull the plants. While in the area, Sartor and Elrod found a pump and a small generator near the creek. All the items were turned over to the Madison County Sheriff's Office. HART COUNTY On September 15, RFC Josh Chambers patrolled Lake Hartwell. He checked several boats participating in a striper tournament. One citation was issued for fishing without a license.

FORSYTH COUNTY On September 11th, RFC Brandon Pierce conducted a Hunter Safety Education Course at the Coal Mountain Community Building. A total of twenty-one students participated and all were certified.
On September 11th, RFC Brandon Pierce started an investigation on a possible illegal hunting complaint in Dawson County. After three days of investigation and numerous subjects interviewed a deer was found to be shot illegally. On September 13th, RFC Pierce interviewed the subject which had taken the deer. It was determined after finding other evidence that the deer had been shot over bait. A total of two violations were documented including hunting big game over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. An eight point buck was confiscated in reference to the case.
On September 12th, RFC Brandon Pierce and Sgt. Lee Brown conducted a HIN (Hull Identification Number) inspection for boats having issues getting a registration. About a dozen boats were inspected and some given hull numbers to be in compliance with the laws and regulations of the state.
On September 15th, RFC Brandon Pierce ended a week long investigation of a complaint of possible illegal hunting. The subject was hunting on school property and the deer stand was baited with several types of illegal bait. Two violations were documented including hunting without permission and hunting big game over bait.
DAWSON COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Brandon Pierce and Sgt. Lee Brown investigated a complaint which started on September 11th, where RFC Pierce received a complaint of possible illegal hunting on private property and a deer carcass had been found partially skinned and dumped in a field. Several interviews took place and evidence was collected. It was determined that the evidence lead to one individual. The individual was contacted and interviewed by the officers on the 13th and, as a result, three violations were documented. The violations consisted of unlawful dumping of waste, driving without a license, and driving without insurance. The subject was left with some friends at a residence and told not to leave without a licensed driver.

On September 15th, Sgt. Lee Brown patrolled Dawson Forest WMA. During the patrols Sgt. Brown encountered subjects illegally camping, blocking gates and not possessing the GORP pass. Verbal guidance was given for these infractions.
GWINNETT From September 13th , Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Shane Sartor conducted an Information and Education Program at the Gwinnett County Fair. Numerous people enjoyed the Laser Shot and all hunting, fishing, and career related questions were answered.
On September 14th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and RFC Shane Sartor conducted an Information and Education Program at the Gwinnett County Fair.
On September 15th, RFC Brandon Pierce and RFC Shane Sartor conducted an Information and Education Program at the Gwinnett County Fair.
On September 15th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and RFC Chad Cox checked complaints that the two rangers had previously documented. The complaints were in Fulton and Gwinnett Counties.
RABUN COUNTY On September 13th, DNR Commissioner Mark Williams, Deputy Commissioner Homer Bryson, Major Stephen Adams, Sgt Steve Seitz, Cpl Derek Dillard and RFC Kevin Dyer along with Georgia State Parks personnel participated in long-line helicopter rescue training at Tallulah Gorge. The training was conducted with the assistance of the Department of Natural Resources Aviation Unit and will help officers better respond to emergency rescues in the mountainous environment that they work in. Also participating was Firefighters from the Tallulah Falls Fire Department. Read more about the training at http://georgiawildlife.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/dnr-to-the-rescue/.
On September 15th, Cpl. Derek Dillard and Cpl. Jesse Cook responded to the area of Darnell Creek Road in the Rabun Gap area, on Warwoman Wildlife Management Area. Officers assisted with the search and recovery of human remains believed to be that of an Atlanta man that went missing approximately one month ago. The body was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime lab for positive identification.
HALL COUNTY On September 15, 2012 Cpl. Jason Roberson patrolled Hall County for hunting violations. He located one person hunting deer over bait and one person hunting on lands of another without permission. Both were issued citations.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
OGLETHORPE COUNTY RFC Phillip Nelson stopped a vehicle for shining a light out of the window while he was working a night deer hunting complaint. The man did not have any weapons and had two

kids and two women in the vehicle. Due to the circumstances the subject was verbally warned for blinding wildlife with lights.
OCONEE COUNTY On the morning of September 15th Sgt. Brain Carter and RFC Tim Butler checked a dove shoot and found it to be baited with sunflower seeds. Three adults and one juvenile were hunting on the field. All three adults were issued citations for hunting over bait and warnings for possession of illegally taken wildlife. Eighteen dove were confiscated.
On the afternoon of September 15th RFC Tim Butler located a dove shoot with six adults and two juveniles. The field was baited with corn, wheat, grain sorghum, and sun flower seed. All of the adults were issued citations for hunting over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. Fifty dove were confiscated.
NEWTON COUNTY On September 15th, while patrolling the yellow river, RFC Fred Hays found one subject fishing w/o license and operating vessel w/o registration. Citations were issued for fishing w/o license and operating vessel without registration.
On September 15th, while patrolling the Alcovy River, RFC Fred Hays found one subject that was fishing w/o a license. A citation was issued for fishing w/o a license.
GREENE COUNTY On Sunday September 9th, Cpl. David was patrolling Redlands WMA when he found four subjects shooting on the dove field. Cpl. Allen pointed out to the four hunters that the dove field was only open on certain dates according to the hunting regulations. Citations were issued for hunting on a closed WMA (dove field).
On Saturday September 15th, RFC Richard Tanner and Cpl. David Allen patrolled Redlands WMA in the afternoon. The Rangers caught two groups from Burma using cast nets to take game fish. Citations were written for illegal netting of fish and possession of illegally taken fish. The confiscated fish were taken to a needy family in Hancock County.
MORGAN COUNTY / LAKE OCONEE On Thursday, September 13th, RFC Richard Tanner responded to a call about a vessel that had gotten stuck on a sand bar. RFC Tanner located the vessel and pulled the vessel off of the sand bar. After pulling the vessel off the sand bar, the operator noticed the vessel would not start. RFC Tanner towed the vessel to a nearby boat ramp and assisted the operator with loading the vessel back onto his trailer.
WALTON COUNTY On Sunday September 9th, RFC Ricky Boles checked a dove shoot in Walton County. The field was baited and one hunter was cited for hunting doves over bait.
COLUMBIA COUNTY

On September 9th, RFC Bobby Timmerman responded to Georgia Health Sciences University E.R. in reference to a boating incident. Officers' investigation found that due to a skier mishap a white female broke her left femur. No charges were filed in the incident.
On September 15th, RFC Bobby Timmerman conducted a 2 hour hunter safety class. There were 5 students that successfully completed the course.
TALIAFEERO COUNTY On September 15th, RFC Leroy Ficklin, while on patrol, checked 1 hunter that killed a deer. Officers' investigation found that the deer harvest was not recorded. The subject was written a warning for failure to record deer harvest. The hunter was allowed to keep the deer.
On September 15th, RFC Leroy Ficklin found 1 subject actively burning household trash. The subject was cited for an illegal burn.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HOUSTON COUNTY On September 12th Cpl. Robert Stillwell delivered a full-body bear mount to Houston County High School, also known as the HOCO Bears. The mount was of a black bear that was seized as the result of its being killed over bait in Twiggs County during last year's one-day, middle Georgia bear season. The mount, the preparation of which was paid for by funds from both violator and the school's booster club, was presented to the student body on September 14th at the school's homecoming pep rally.

JASPER COUNTY On September 11th, RFC Billy Bryant and K-9 Drake responded to a call from the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office in reference to a subject who left a suicide note and was believed to be on Charlie Elliott Wildlife Area. The Rangers responded and found the subject alive. After talking with the subject, RFC Bryant determined the subject did not have a WMA license. The subject was given verbal guidance on the license violation and released.
PUTNAM COUNTY On September 15th Cpl. Lynn Stanford and Sgt. Bo Kelly checked baited deer stands that had been located during the week. Two deer hunters were issued citations for hunting deer over bait. Later that morning, both officers checked three people hunting doves. The dove field was found to be baited with wheat and millet and all three hunters were issued citations for hunting dove over bait. Later that day, Stanford and Kelly patrolled BF Grant WMA during a sign in archery hunt. That evening, both officers conducted a wildlife checkpoint on the WMA. Two arrests were made for driving without a license and driving under the influence of alcohol. Both persons were transported to the Putnam County jail.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
SUMTER COUNTY On September 15th, Cpl. Bob Holley and RFC Randy James checked a dove field and determined that the field was baited. A citation was issued to the subject responsible for placing the bait on the field for unlawful enticement and another citation was written for hunting without license.
DOOLY COUNTY On September 15th, Cpl. Al Greer and Ranger Chad Hulsey located two hunters who were lost on Flint River WMA.
BROOKS COUNTY On the evening of September 8th, Cpl. Greg Wade and RFC Jon Penuel performed search and rescue efforts on the Withlacoochee River. Four subjects that had been boating on the river that day had failed to return and were reported missing. With assistance from the Lowndes County Rescue and the Brooks County Sheriff's Office, the subjects were located and returned safely to their vehicle.
TIFT COUNTY On September 10th, Cpl. Greg Wade was patrolling for dove hunting activity when he located several hunters shooting dove on a sunflower field. As the Ranger was approaching the field, he observed a hunter quickly gather his belongings and exit the field. The officer intercepted the hunter and discovered he was in possession of twice the

limit of dove. The subject was cited for taking over the daily limit and the doves were confiscated.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
DODGE COUNTY On September 11th, RFC Allen Mills received an active complaint in reference to illegal hunting. On September 9th, near sunset, two males shot a deer from a vehicle off of Hamilton cemetery road, but could not locate the deer. The shooter returned to the area on September the 11th with four of his friends to look for the deer. They found the deer still alive on posted property, dragged the deer back to the dirt road and shot the deer in the roadway. A hunter nearby heard the shot and yelled at the five males. They all jumped into the vehicle leaving the deer behind as well as a .270 cartridge case. The hunter was able to write down the tag number of the vehicle. RFC Mills ran the tag and discovered a local address. From that one contact, RFC Mills was able to piece together all the individuals involved. Six individuals were charged in the incident totaling twentythree violations. The charges included hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting big game from a public road, hunting without written permission, and possession of illegally taken wildlife.

EVANS COUNTY On September 15th, RFC Debbie Brannen received a complaint from a landowner in reference to some household garbage and wildlife thrown out beside the road. Further investigation revealed the name and address of a local resident. Upon talking to the subjects, it was determined the wildlife had been thrown out when they cleaned out their freezer. One violation was documented for littering and the subjects picked up the trash.
BERRIEN COUNTY On September 15th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked a dove shoot in west Berrien County. The corn field being hunted was found to be baited with wheat. The owner of the field was cited for unlawful enticement of game. Several other subjects hunting were warned for hunting over a baited field.
On September 15th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked a subject fishing at Paradise PFA. The subject had no fishing license or WMA license. The subject was cited for fishing without a license and warned for not having a WMA license.
JENKINS COUNTY On the morning of September 15th, Cpl. McNeely, Sgt. Dasher, and Cpl. Wilcox worked a complaint on a dove field in Jenkins County. The complaint was people shooting over the limit of doves. No activity was found at the field. Cpl. Wilcox and Sgt. Dasher, checked two different fields in Jenkins county that morning. Several people were given guidance about participation in H.I.P program for migratory birds. Cpl. Wilcox and Sgt. Dasher checked Big Dukes Pond Natural Area and two archery hunters were checked. No violations were found.
On the evening of September 15th, Cpl. Wilcox checked the field with the complaint. Several hunters were checked and no violations were found. Cpl. Wilcox worked Jenkins for hunting and fishing activity. One fishing license was checked. Cpl. Wilcox assisted the Georgia State Patrol with a road check on Saturday night.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
WAYNE COUNTY On September 14, 2012 RFC Randy Aspinwall was patrolling Wayne County when he found a baited dove shoot in the area of Lake Lanell Road. He located 4 hunters. They were hunting on a small field baited with bird seed. Citations were written for hunting dove over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. A total of 8 dove were confiscated.
CHATHAM COUNTY

On September 15, Sgt. Cindy checked recreational cast netters at Bell's Landing. One boat came in with 64 quarts of recreationally caught shrimp. Two individuals were charged with catching over the limit of recreational caught food shrimp.
BRYAN COUNTY On Sept. 14th, Cpl. Jay Morgan, Rangers Trey Taylor and Jason Miller conducted a saltwater patrol from Sapelo Sound to the Ogeechee River. Later that evening, they attended the boat captains' meeting for the Wounded Warriors Fishing Tournament at Ft. McAllister Marina, giving out fishing/boating safety brochures and information. While at the marina, they cited two boaters for operating a vessel without lights at night and allowing underage children (under 10) to ride in a vessel without wearing life jackets. On Sept. 15th, Cpl. Morgan, Rangers Taylor and J. Miller patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area up to Ft. McAllister on the Ogeechee River. Numerous fishermen/boaters were checked. One boater was cited for operating above idle speed within 100 feet of a dock and possession of undersize flounder. Another boater was cited for operating without any life jackets with four persons on board. Later that day, the rangers conducted a HIN/boat registration inspection detail at the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery, assisting two boat owners with registering their boats. CAMDEN COUNTY On September 9, RFC David Brady was conducting a salt water patrol in Camden County. RFC Brady stopped a vessel that had been fishing in the Satilla River, and after checking size and possession limits, RFC Brady found 5 undersize sea trout and learned

that one of the subjects did not have a fishing license. The subjects were cited for possession of undersize saltwater fish and fishing without a license.