Field operations weekly report, 2013 January 20-26

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report January 20 26, 2013
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 January 21st, Cpl. Eric Brown was patrolling the Carrollton area for waterfowl activity. Two groups of hunters were checked. Two subjects were issued warnings for not possessing a HIP (Harvest Information Program) permit.
On January 26th, Cpl. Eric Brown and RFC Daniel Gray were conducting a foot patrol in reference to rabbit hunting. One subject was issued a warning for an unplugged shotgun and one subject was issued a warning for having an expired hunting license.
On January 26th, Cpl. Wil Smith and RFC Chad Cox patrolled near Temple for waterfowl hunting activity. RFC Cox located some hunters on Ivey Lake and set up surveillance. After checking two other hunters, Cpl. Smith met RFC Cox and they waited on the hunters to return to their vehicles. While waiting, Cpl. Smith spotted another vehicle parked in the woods across the lake. Cpl. Smith went to the vehicle and located the hunters. When the first group of hunters returned, RFC Cox discovered one of the three subjects did not possess a Georgia waterfowl license or a hunting license. RFC Cox issued the hunter a citation for the hunting without a waterfowl license and a written warning for hunting without a license. When the second group returned Cpl. Smith discovered one of three hunters only possessed a valid federal duck stamp. Cpl. Smith issued the hunter citations for hunting without a license and hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license. The hunter received a written warning for hunting without participating in the Harvest Information Program (HIP).
CHEROKEE COUNTY On January 23rd, RFC Bart Hendrix noticed a truck parked on the Corp of Engineers property off Mill Creek Road in Woodstock. The area was part of the Corp of Engineers property that is not open to hunting. RFC Hendrix had received several complaints the past few years of persons hunting the area. He also noticed a dog box in the back of the truck and other hunting related items and decided to foot patrol. RFC Hendrix found a duck hunter and his dog next to Little River. The hunter was checking the low lying areas that had collected water over the past weeks for wood ducks. RFC Hendrix informed the hunter that the area he was hunting was not open to hunting even with the Corp permit. RFC Hendrix explained the Corp property hunting regulations and issued a citation for hunting without permission.
COBB COUNTY During the week of January 21st 25th, RFC Brooks Varnell took on the assignment of training a new K-9 handler for Region 4 Law Enforcement. As head of the K-9 program for DNR, RFC Varnell will transition the dog to a new handler for use in the field with wildlife detection, article detection, and officer safety.

FLOYD COUNTY On January 25th, DNR Critical Action Team (CAT) members responded to a request for assistance in the search for a missing female with medical issues. The missing female's vehicle had been located overnight in a remote wooded area outside of Rome. Capt. Johnny Johnson, Sgt. Brian Keener, Sgt. Jeff Galloway, Cpl. Tommy Gentry, Cpl. Eric Brown, Cpl. Lee Burns, RFC Chad Cox and RFC Daniel Gray responded. The missing female was located alive just before noon in a heavily wooded area. The female received on-site medical attention and was transported to the hospital by ambulance for further evaluation.
GORDON COUNTY On January 21st 25th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore attended instructor certification training in the field of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Cpl. Elmore will assist in the advanced training of Conservation Rangers to assist them in detecting impaired vessel operators, vehicle operators and hunters.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FORSYTH COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Barry Britt and Sgt. Lee Brown patrolled Forsyth County for duck hunting activity. Three hunters were checked and one was given verbal guidance for not having a GA waterfowl license.

ROCKDALE COUNTY On January 24th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and Cpl. Eddie Tompkins flew with the DNR Aviation Unit checking for duck swamps. Several swamps were located and hunters were checked on these swamps on the last weekend of the duck season.
WALTON COUNTY On January 21st, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins located two hunters hunting waterfowl in a swamp that was baited with whole kernel corn. The owner of the swamp was charged with hunting waterfowl over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. The other subject was issued warnings for hunting waterfowl over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife. 5 wood ducks were confiscated.

JACKSON COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Eric Isom and RFC Kevin Goss located four waterfowl hunters hunting a small pond baited with corn near Nicholson. Lead shot was also found in the hunter's ammo bag at their vehicles. RFC Isom also located spent lead shot shell hulls in the pond where the hunters were hunting. The four hunters received citations, warnings, and verbal warnings for hunting ducks over bait, hunting ducks with illegal ammo, possession of illegally taken wildlife, hunting without a federal duck stamp, hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license, hunting without a license, and hunting without a HIP permit. Four wood ducks were confiscated for the hunters.

RFC Kevin Goss collecting evidence.
HALL COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Mark Stephens was patrolling Jackson County for waterfowl hunters. Officer Stephens encountered six duck hunters off Hwy. 53 and checked for the necessary license requirements. Officer Stephens issued one citation for hunting w/o a license.

FRANKLIN COUNTY On January 26th, Ranger First Class Tim Vickery and Corporal Bill Bunch responded to a duck hunting complaint on the Lavonia Waterworks Watershed. The complainant stated that five duck hunters in a small 14 foot Jon boat had come from the water plant and pulled up into their set up. After talking to the hunters in the boat, the complainant stated that the hunters went to the other side of the lake. The complainant had concerns that they did not have permission to be there and that their vessel was overloaded. Upon arrival, RFC Vickery and Cpl. Bunch located the hunter's vehicles and eventually the hunters. The hunters were on the back side of the watershed, so the Rangers drove around to make contact with them. The Rangers drove down a small road behind the watershed and saw the boat moving through the water towards them. Ranger Vickery noticed that the hunter in the bow of the boat was standing up and had his shotgun shouldered. Corporal Bunch got out and walked down to the bank to watch them. As Cpl. Bunch walked toward the water, the Rangers heard three shots. Corporal Bunch waved the hunters over to the bank to talk to them. There were three hunters in the boat. After talking with them, the Rangers found that the other two hunters had been dropped off on one of the points of the watershed. The hunters in the boat admitted to shooting at a wood duck from the boat when the Rangers were approaching them. They also had a pie-billed grebe in the boat, which is a protected species. The boat had five life jackets, but one was an infant-sized jacket and another was torn and unserviceable. The Rangers told the hunters to meet them back at their vehicles. All five hunters met the Rangers at their vehicles. Citations were issued for taking protected species, hunting from a vessel, and operating a vessel with unserviceable PFD. After speaking with a Lavonia Police Officer, it was determined that the person that gave the hunters permission to hunt did not have the authority to do so. The Police Officer advised the subjects not to come back until they had written permission to be on the watershed.
HART COUNTY On January 22nd, RFC Brandon Pierce responded to a call from the Sheriff's Office in reference to a possible illegal burn. Subjects in the residence had been arrested due to drug related charges and the burn pile was found. RFC Pierce investigated the issue and found a subject to be in violation. The violation consisted of unlawful burning of egregious litter.
On January 25th, Corporal Craig Fulghum heard shots being fired from a location on Sunflower Drive at approximately 1816 hours. Upon further investigation of the shots, Corporal Fulghum encountered a waterfowl hunter in a beaver swamp about a half mile off the road. The hunter had killed 5 wood ducks and one Hooded Merganser. Corporal Fulghum checked the hunters' shotgun and upon examination found that he didn't have a plug in his shotgun. The hunter was cited for Hunting waterfowl after hours( legal time ended at 1800 hours), Taking over the Daily Bag Limit of Wood Ducks, Hunting with an unplugged shotgun, and Possession of illegally taken wildlife. The ducks were seized as evidence.

MADISON COUNTY On January 27th, Ranger Shane Sartor and Ranger Eric Isom were working the Madison and Jackson County line due to calls in reference to after-hours duck hunting. Ranger Sartor heard several shots around 5:45pm and placed them coming from property with a land owner's affidavit. Ranger Sartor walked into the swamp and heard several more shots at 6:10pm which was 8 minutes after legal hours. The subjects were located across the lake from Ranger Sartor, but he was able to locate the subject's vehicle. Ranger Sartor contacted Ranger Isom and both officers waited on the subjects to return to the vehicle. The subjects had killed several red head ducks but were not able to retrieve all of them and were planning on returning the following day. Both subjects were issued citations for hunting without permission, possession of illegally taken wildlife, and hunting waterfowl after hours.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On January 26th Capt. Mark Padgett, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, Cpl. Ryan Swain, and RFC Bobby Timmerman responded to an emergency call for assistance from the McDuffie County Sheriff's Office. Officers assisted with riot and crowd control when a large crowd of 300 people gathered in a neighborhood after a homicide.
WILKES COUNTY On January 23rd, Cpl. Julian Wilkins conducted a patrol of the Fishing Creek WMA. During the patrol three individuals were cited for driving a vehicle on a closed road.
ELBERT COUNTY On January 26th, Sgt. Brian Carter and Cpl. Mark Patterson located several individuals hunting ducks in a beaver pond. Violations addressed included hunting without a license, hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license, hunting without a HIP permit, hunting without completing the hunter safety course, and failure to sign federal waterfowl stamp.
OCONEE COUNTY On January 24th RFC Tim Butler located a man hunting ducks in a pond baited with corn. The hunter harvested three wood ducks. RFC Butler issued the subject a citation for hunting ducks over bait and a warning for possession of illegally taken wildlife. The ducks were confiscated as evidence.
On January 26th RFC Tim Butler located an illegal burn. The subject responsible for the burn was issued a warning for burning egregious waste less than 500 pounds.

NEWTON COUNTY On January 24, RFC Niki Spencer located an abandoned vehicle while patrolling a duck swamp in Covington. RFC Spencer determined the vehicle had been stolen and turned the investigation over to Newton county Sheriff's Office.
On January 25, RFC Niki Spencer participated in a Transportation Day Event at the United First Methodist Church in Covington.
GREENE COUNTY On January 20, RFC Ricky Boles cited individuals for hunting within 300 feet of a structure/dock on Lake Oconee.
On January 22, RFC Ricky Boles cited one individual for littering.
WASHINGTON COUNTY Corporal Micheal Crawley and K9 Storm attended a 3 day long Decoy Seminar in Warner Robins. Over the weekend Corporal Crawley and K9 Storm apprehended 3 subjects shooting waterfowl after hours.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
COWETA COUNTY On January 21st, RFC Travis Sweat checked several duck hunters near the Lake McIntosh project. Through an investigation and with the assistance of RFC Kevin Godbee it was later determined they were actually hunting on the project itself. They were all issued citations for hunting without permission.
CRAWFORD COUNTY On the morning of January 19th, RFC Josh Swain heard a duck shoot in the area of a pond that he had previously determined was baited. Upon his arrival at the location, RFC Swain found two subjects hunting ducks. Both hunters were charged with hunting waterfowl over bait and issued warnings for possession of illegally taken wildlife the harvested ducks were confiscated. One of the hunters was also charged with hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
HARRIS COUNTY On January 26th, Corporal Mitch Oliver was patrolling Lake Harding for waterfowl hunting activity when he stopped a boat to check the hunter's license and equipment. The hunter's license checked out and plugs were found in the shotguns, but the operator of the boat was missing a wearable PFD and the registration was expired. Corporal Oliver issued the operator of the vessel a warning for both violations.

HENRY COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Kevin Godbee received a call from the State Operations Center that a deer in Henry County had jumped through the master bathroom window of a home in a subdivision. RFC Godbee then made contact with the Henry County Police and was advised by officers on the scene that a whitetail deer had been spooked by a dog at the location and the deer had jumped through the bathroom window, causing severe injuries to the deer. The home owner then closed the door to the bathroom, locking the deer in the bathroom. RFC Godbee made contact with Wildlife Biologist Charlie Killmaster, of the Game Management Section and advised him of the situation. Killmaster responded to the scene with RFC Godbee and was able to dispatch the deer with a small caliber pistol. The deer was then removed from the home and turned over to a neighbor for processing.
HOUSTON COUNTY On January 22nd, Ranger David Fisher encountered three subjects on Flat Creek PFA and found that none of the individuals possessed a Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass (GORP). Further investigation also revealed one the individuals had an open warrant for arrest. Three warnings were issued for entering a designated fee area without GORP and the wanted subject was taken into custody.
JONES COUNTY On Saturday, January 26th, Corporal Bubba Stanford heard a duck shoot near Highway 49. He located the duck shoot and observed two individuals running from the swamp to the house. He made contact with the two hunters and checked their licenses. Sergeant Bo Kelly and Ranger Jeremy Reese arrived on scene a short time later. One of the hunters did not have any hunting license or hunter education. The same hunter was also hunting with an unplugged shotgun. Both hunters were shooting lead shot, and the swamp was found to be baited with whole corn. One wood duck was seized and the hunters cited for numerous infractions.

MERIWETHER COUNTY On January 25th, Sergeant Brent Railey assisted a US Fish and Wildlife Service agent check a group of duck hunters hunting a baited pond in Meriwether County. The agent had determined earlier in the season that the pond was baited and began watching the area. Federal charges were made by the agent for placing bait in an area to hunt waterfowl.
PIKE COUNTY On January 26th, Sergeant Brent Railey checked two duck hunters on Concord Road. One of the hunters was issued a written warning for hunting without a federal waterfowl stamp.
PUTNAM COUNTY On Saturday evening, January 26th, DNR Rangers and Putnam County Deputies conducted a wildlife checkpoint near Cedar Creek WMA. Two raccoon hunters were checked and Ranger Jeremy Reese arrested one subject for driving on a suspended license.
TALBOT COUNTY On January 26th, Corporal Jeremy Bolen located a duck shoot on private property. Corporal Bolen checked 2 hunters on the property. Corporal Bolen checked the area where they had been hunting and discovered that the pond was baited with corn. One hunter was issued a citation for hunting ducks over bait. The other hunter was issued a citation for possession of illegally taken wildlife and a written warning for hunting ducks over bait. One wood duck was confiscated.
On the evening of January 26th, Corporal Mitch Oliver assisted Corporal Jeremy Bolen in locating a late duck shoot in Talbot County. While checking the area where the officers believed the shooting was in, Corporal Oliver had a truck pass him on the road. Corporal Oliver noticed that the driver was wearing a camouflage and therefore hit his breaks as he passed and this truck stopped in the road. Both trucks backed towards each other and Corporal Oliver got out and spoke with the driver. Corporal Oliver asked the driver if they had been duck hunting and the driver said that they had and indicated they had stopped shooting at legal shooting time. Corporal Oliver asked the hunters if they were the ones still shooting at 18:50 hours, past legal sunset of 18:08 hours. The driver now admitted they were indeed still hunting past sunset. Corporal Oliver asked if any ducks were killed and the driver said that he had killed one. The driver of the truck was charged with hunting waterfowl after hours and possession of illegally taken wildlife. A second adult was charged with hunting waterfowl after hours and hunting waterfowl without a Georgia waterfowl license and was issued a warning for hunting waterfowl without a federal stamp. There was a juvenile with the hunters who was not charged.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
SEMINOLE COUNTY On January 25th, Sgt. Rick Sellars and Cpl. Mike Binion responded to a boat incident which occurred when a vessel transporting three duck hunters capsized. The subjects were found on top of the overturned vessel and were returned safely to shore. On January 26th, Sgt. Rick Sellars, Cpl. Mike Binion, Ranger Jace Heard, and Captain Jeff Swift investigated a complaint of subjects hunting ducks over bait. Sgt. Sellars checked the pond and found it to be baited with milo. Thirteen hunters were cited for hunting waterfowl over bait. TIFT COUNTY On the morning of January 26th, Cpl. Greg Wade was working duck hunting activity when shortly after sunrise he heard a volley of shots nearby. The officer proceeded to the location and found two hunters without the required licenses shooting a pond which was also baited. Both subjects were issued citations for the infractions. BROOKS COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Jon Penuel heard shots coming from a pond which had been previously discovered to be baited. Officer Penuel proceeded to the area and located five hunters shooting ducks. Each hunter was cited for hunting ducks over bait. WORTH COUNTY On the morning of January 25th, Cpl. Robbie Griner located two hunters shooting ducks in a pond. After conducting a license and equipment check, Cpl. Griner located a platform that was floating nearby in shallow water. Cpl. Griner garnered the assistance of Cpl. Greg Wade, and the two searched the area, eventually finding corn and wheat which had been scattered in the pond. Both hunters were charged with hunting ducks over bait.
Floating platform used to bait ducks.

CLAY COUNTY On January 25th, Ranger Jim Atchley apprehended a subject fishing three gill nets totaling 400 feet in length on Lake W.F. George. The nets and fish were confiscated and the subject was cited for commercial fishing in closed waters, commercial fishing without a license, taking game fish by illegal method, and operating a vessel without lights.
Illegal gill nets WF George Lake
On January 26th, Ranger Jim Atchley received a complaint of four subjects driving through rafts of ducks and coots and shooting them from a power boat. The subjects were located and issued citations for hunting from a vessel and warnings for wanton waste of migratory game birds.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TATTNALL COUNTY On January 20th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked a duck shoot with violations for hunting without a license, hunting without the Georgia waterfowl stamp, hunting without the federal waterfowl stamp, hunting without the H.I.P. license, hunting with illegal ammunition, hunting without hunter safety certification and possession of illegally taken wildlife. RFC Brannen was assisted by Cpl. Dave Sims.

On January 27th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked three duck hunters off Hwy. 280 near Manassas. One violation for hunting without a Georgia waterfowl stamp was documented and several verbal warnings were given for failure to sign the federal waterfowl stamp.
EVANS COUNTY On January 19th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked several duck hunters along the Canoochee River. Verbal guidance was given to three individuals for not signing their federal duck stamp.
COOK COUNTY On January 25th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey responded to an illegal burn complaint on Pike Creek Road. One subject was cited for burning of egregious litter less than 500 pounds. The illegal burn got out of control and burned a barn and other property.
BERRIEN COUNTY On January 26th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked several boaters and fishermen at Paradise PFA. One subject was given a written warning for operating a vessel with insufficient life jackets.
LOWNDES COUNTY On January 27th, Sgt. Damon Winters, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey, RFC Tim Hutto, and RFC Keith McDonald were patrolling Lowndes County for duck hunting activity. The officers encountered five individuals hunting ring neck ducks on a private pond. While Cpl. Daughtrey and RFC McDonald checked licenses and shotguns, RFC Hutto discovered the pond was baited with cracked and whole kernel corn. The hunters were issued citations for hunting ducks over bait and written warnings for possession of illegally taken wildlife. Twenty-nine ring neck ducks were also confiscated.

WILCOX COUNTY On January 20th, Cpl. John A. Stokes located three individuals hunting ducks. Two individuals did not have a GA Waterfowl license and neither hunter had signed their Federal duck stamp.
On January 26th, Sgt. David Reckley was on patrol near Rochelle in Wilcox County. Three hunters were located hunting ducks. No violations were documented.
DODGE COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Allen Mills conducted a hunter development program, assisted by Cpl. Dan Stiles, at the Gresston Baptist Church. RFC Mills and Cpl. Stiles utilized the hunting and fishing simulators as part of the day's activities. The program concluded with a wild game supper. Eighty-two youth and adults participated in the activities.
LAURENS COUNTY On January 21st, RFC Rodney Horne apprehended four duck hunters in Laurens County with assistance from Cpl. Dan Stiles. The four poachers were charged with nine violations including hunting ducks over bait, hunting without a license, and possession of illegally taken wildlife. Four wood ducks were seized.
On January 25th and January 26th, Cpl. Stiles conducted vessel patrols for hunting and boating activity on the Oconee River. A total of five hunting licenses were checked with no violations detected.
WHEELER COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Rodney Horne responded to an in progress complaint of hunting without permission. Three raccoon hunters were apprehended and were charged with five violations, including hunting without permission and hunting without a license.
On January 26th, RFC Rodney Horne, Cpl. Kevin Joyce, and K9 Briar patrolled the Oconee River at Clarks Bluff Landing. Using RFC Rodney Horne's vessel the officers checked two groups of duck hunters on the river. One group was found to have four hunters with multiple violations. The individuals were charged with a total of 14 violations, including fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, hunting without a license, hunting without a GA waterfowl license, hunting without a federal duck stamp, hunting with illegal ammunition, operating a vessel without personal flotation devices, and operating a vessel with expired registration.
TREUTLEN COUNTY On January 26th, RFC Rodney Horne, Cpl. Kevin Joyce, and K9 Briar located a duck roost shoot in Treutlen County resulting in the arrest of two people with ten violations. The violators were charged for hunting waterfowl after legal shooting hours, hunting with unplugged shotgun, hunting without a license, hunting without a GA waterfowl license, hunting without license on person, and hunting without a federal duck stamp.

WARE COUNTY On January 25th, Corporal Josh Chambers and Ranger Daniel North were patrolling in the northern part of the county when they observed a vehicle parked in the middle of a road without any lights on. Corporal Chambers and Ranger North followed the vehicle after it started moving and observed a cold beer can lying in the area where the vehicle had been stopped. Corporal Chambers and Ranger North performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and the passenger threw two more beer cans out in an attempt to hide them. The driver of the vehicle admitted to throwing the can out in the road that Corporal Chambers and Ranger North recovered earlier. Neither the driver nor the passenger were above the legal blood alcohol limit to operate a vehicle in the state of Georgia. Both the driver and the passenger were charged with littering and given a verbal warning for having an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Jan. 26th, Rangers Trey Taylor and Jason Miller checked boaters at King's Ferry Ramp, citing one boater for failure to have any life jackets on board his boat and for no throwable (Type IV) life jacket. Ranger Taylor also cited a boater at Demeries Creek boat ramp for operating a boat without any life jackets. Ranger Miller cited a boater at Morgan's Bridge ramp for operating during hours of darkness without any lights and for operating a boat without a registration.
On the evening of Jan. 26th, Ranger Trey Taylor patrolled the Richmond Hill WMA and cited one raccoon-hunter for hunting without a hunting license.
CHATHAM COUNTY On January 26, Ranger Kiel Toney received a complaint of someone hunting hogs on Chatham County property near Oatland Island. Ranger Toney responded and saw the boat. Ranger Toney waited for the individuals to return to their boat. Ranger Toney cited the two individuals for hunting hogs without permission.
On January 26, Ranger Kiel Toney, while on salt water patrol, overheard a distress call from the United States Coast Guard about a stranded vessel in Romerly Marsh Creek, with a hypothermic male on board. Ranger Toney responded from the Thunderbolt Area, in the Wilmington River. While in route, Ranger Toney picked up Corporal Chris Moore. Ranger Toney and Corporal Moore were the first to arrive on scene and found a center console boat that drifted up into the marsh with three males on board. The three men had little more than a t-shirt with temperatures hovering in the low 40's. The Rangers helped the hypothermic male into their vessel; he could not stand under his own power and was having trouble speaking. The Rangers wrapped the male in two of their jackets and a fleece balaclava until the Coast Guard arrived where he could be transported in an enclosed cabin out of the wind. Once in possession of the Coast Guard he was transported to the Landings Harbor Marina where EMS was waiting to take him to Memorial Hospital.