Field operations weekly report, 2013 March 3-9

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report March 3 -9, 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)
BARTOW COUNTY On March 4th, Cpl. Chip Cox and Cpl. Lee Burns participated in a "table top" exercise with Bartow County emergency personnel and CSX Railroad personnel at the Clarence Brown Center in Cartersville. The officers were given a scenario of a train derailment in downtown Cartersville and utilized the Incident Command System to respond. DNR recognized the importance of this exercise as a CSX railroad track goes over Allatoona Lake. An action plan to handle the disaster was coordinated by local, state, and federal public service agencies.
On March 6th, Cpl. Lee Burns located three people digging for Indian artifacts on the City of Cartersville property along the Etowah River. Upon approaching the three, a male and female ran off into thick river bottoms. Cpl. Burns located them attempting to get to their vehicle. All three people were on probation and one had multiple arrest warrants out of Bartow County. All three were in possession of chards of flint and pieces of pottery. Cpl. Burns issued written warnings to all three for digging artifacts without permission. The person with warrants was arrested and transported to the Bartow County Jail.
On March 7th, Cpl. Lee Burns located two subjects metal detecting and digging for artifacts along Pumpkinvine Creek near the Etowah River. Cpl. Burns issued both written warnings for collecting artifacts without permission.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On March 9th, Cpl. Byron Young and RFC Bart Hendrix patrolled the north side of Allatoona Lake and Sgt. Mike Barr and Ranger Zack Hardy patrolled the south side of Allatoona Lake for fishing activity. The officers checked 46 boats and 68 fishing licenses. The officers issues 4 citations for fishing without a license and operating a vessel without PFD's (lifejackets).
COBB COUNTY On March 5th, Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from National Park Service Chief Anthony Winegar regarding a possible deer illegally killed on Kennesaw National Park. Cpl. Byron Young responded to the call in Cobb County. Cpl. Young met with National Park Ranger Mel Johnson and together they located a blood trail leading off the park to a Marietta residence. While collecting evidence the homeowner pulled into the driveway. Cpl. Young interviewed the man and asked about the blood trail on the driveway. The man first denied any knowledge of a deer being killed. While talking with the man, Cpl. Young and Ranger Johnson observed blood and deer hair in the back of the truck that he was driving. Facing the obvious evidence, the homeowner admitted to killing a doe in his yard with a bow and told the officers the deer ran over onto the National Park property where he retrieved it. Cpl. Young and NPS Officer Mel Johnson issued the subject a citation for hunting deer out of season.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DAWSON COUNTY On March 3rd, Sgt. Lee Brown was patrolling Dawson Forest WMA at the Delayed Harvest Stream. Sgt. Brown checked several fishermen at Steele Bridge and Hwy 53. Written warnings and verbal guidance was given for fishing with illegal bait in a delayed harvest stream, fishing without a license, fishing without a trout license and not possessing a GORP permit.
On March 4th, Sgt. Lee Brown was patrolling the Delayed Harvest Stream on Dawson Forest WMA at Steele Bridge and Hwy 53. On this day several fishermen and people walking were checked. Written warnings and verbal guidance were given for fishing with illegal bait in a delayed harvest stream and not possessing a GORP permit.
FORSYTH COUNTY On March 9th, RFC Barry Britt and RFC Mitchell Crump held a HIN inspection at the Georgia State Patrol Post in Cumming. A total of 21 boats were inspected.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On March 5th, RFC Mitchell Crump conducted an On-Line Hunter Education Class at the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office. One student was certified in Hunter Education.
WALTON COUNTY On March 9th, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins and Cpl. Eric Sanders interviewed a subject for rangers in Union County in reference to the illegal harvest of a black bear on September 10th 2012. The subject admitted to harvesting a black bear over bait and several other violations. Charges are pending at this time.
HALL COUNTY On March 5th, RFC Eric Isom along with his K9 partner Colt read a children's book to several fourth grade classes at Flowery Branch Elementary School. Afterwards, RFC Isom explained to the audience Colt's abilities, training, and function within the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement section. Colt also performed an exhibition on evidence recovery for the children.
On March 4th 7th, RNG Kevin Goss attended Level 1 Boat Accident Investigation course provided by NASBLA. The course is designed to provide accident investigators with a foundation in the proper and most effective ways to produce the most complete reports that will adequately state what happened before during and after a boating incident.

RABUN COUNTY On March 3rd, While on routine patrol of Chattahoochee National Forest, Cpl. Jesse Cook came up on a truck that partially blocking a U.S. Forest Service Road. There was no one around the vehicle. Upon checking the vehicle, Cpl. Cook observed that the doors were unlocked, the keys were in the ignition and there was a rifle lying in the vehicle. A wrecker was called to remove the vehicle from the roadway. After the owner of the vehicle arrived he advised that they had been raccoon hunting. He was advised that raccoon season had closed on February 28th. His hunting companion decided that they were actually hunting coyotes. The rifle in the front seat was loaded. This information was passed on to U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers for Federal prosecution. State charges are also pending for hunting without a license.
HART COUNTY On March 9th, RFC Brandon Pierce, along with several volunteer hunter safety instructors, conducted a ten hour hunter education course. A total of fifteen individuals participated in the course and all were certified.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY On Saturday, March 9, 2013, SGT Doyte Chafffin, RFC Leroy Ficklin and the intern were on vessel patrol on Clarks Hill Lake. Several boating inspections and creel inspections were done with no violations detected. Later that day SGT Doyte Chaffin patrolled Keg Creek WMA.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On Saturday, March 9, 2013, RFC Leroy Ficklin patrolled McDuffie PFA and Clarks Hill WMA for fishing activity.
MORGAN COUNTY On March 9, 2013, while patrolling Lake Oconee boat ramps, RFC Ricky Boles issued a citation to a fisherman fishing without a license. Several verbal warnings were given on boat safety equipment to other individuals.
RICHMOND COUNTY On March 3, 2013, CPL Ben Payne patrolled Richmond County checking without permission complaints. He also checked local creeks for fishing activity. No violations were documented. Later in the afternoon he patrolled Phinizy WMA for fishing activity with no contacts made.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On March 7th, Sergeant Jim Bradfield, Corporal Jeremy Bolen, and RFC Russell Epps attended the Lake Harding Homeowner's Association meeting held at Georgia Power. The officers answered legal questions about boating. Corporal Bolen presented a boating safety information and education program to the audience about potential boating law changes.
JASPER COUNTY On March 3rd, at approximately 12 A.M., RFC Freddie Hays was contacted by the Jasper County 911 that someone was night hunting and had shot a deer from the road on Hodges Farm Road. RFC Hays, along with Jasper County Deputies, responded to the location and found a deer that had been shot. RFC Hays concealed his patrol vehicle and waited to see if anyone would return to get the deer. After waiting for several hours and no one returned for the deer, RFC Hays loaded the deer into his patrol vehicle and carried it to a needy family located in Jasper County. RFC Hays has an on-going investigation in this case and if anyone has any information, please contact RFC Hays at the Region IV Law Enforcement Office at 478-751-6415, or call the Turn In Poachers (T.I.P.) Statewide number at 800-241-4113.
MUSCOGEE COUNTYOn March 8th, Sergeant Jim Bradfield, Sergeant Chad Welch, Corporal Jeremy Bolen, and Corporal Keith Waddell assisted officers from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with an ongoing investigation. The Georgia officers served a search warrant on a residence from an artifact investigation and seized items such as arrowheads, spear points, pottery, beads, and civil war artifacts which possibly were taken illegally out of Florida. An archaeologist from Florida was on site to assist in determining the origin of the items. A team of 7 FWC officers were on scene to package the evidence.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On March 3rd, Cpl. Dan Stiles patrolled the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area. Six fishing licenses were checked and two vessels were checked for boating safety requirements and registration compliance. One violation for fishing on a PFA without a WMA license was documented.
On March 9th, Sgt. David Reckley, Cpl. Dan Stiles, RFC Rodney Horne, and RFC Allen Mills conducted a HIN / Vessel inspection site in Laurens County. Twenty-seven vessels were inspected and vessel owners were assisted with vessel registration issues.

CHARLTON COUNTY On March 8th, at approximately 9:30 pm, Ranger Sam Williams was notified by Charlton County S.O. that a canoe party had been reported as being lost in the Okefenokee Swamp. Shortly after, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) staff also contacted Ranger Williams requesting assistance with the incident. The information obtained from the lost party stated that they were supposed to be camping overnight at Bluff Lake on the Green Trail in the Okefenokee Swamp, but the last sign they saw just before dark was the number 12 red mile marker and then another sign reading Maul Hammock. The canoe party consisted of 12 individuals, 4 of whom were adult and the remainder juveniles, ranging between 11 14 years old. Ranger Williams and Sara Aicher, an Okefenokee NWR employee, made the decision to attempt to locate the lost party due to the age of the group, the fact that the party was twelve miles from their original destination, and the predicted temperatures to be in the mid-thirties during the night. At approximately 12:00 a.m. Ranger Williams and NWR staff member Aicher, left Kingfisher Landing. Soon after leaving the boat ramp, low water levels and heavy vegetation were encountered, requiring frequent stops to clean the propeller and water intakes. At several locations, they were forced to pole the boat for as much as 200 yards before reaching operable water levels. Just after 5:00 a.m. and traveling approximately 12 miles, the lost canoe party was located near Maul Hammock approximately 150 yards off the red canoe trail. The party was led a short distance to an overnight camping platform at Maul Hammock Lake. Other than being damp and cold, the individuals were not suffering from any injuries. One juvenile did fall into the water while exiting the canoe and was treated immediately to prevent hypothermia. Ranger Williams and NWR staff member Aicher provided instructions to the group on how to find their way back to Kingfisher Landing and the urgency for them to leave soon after daylight the next morning due to the long paddle back. They then departed Maul Hammock Lake at approximately 6:00 a.m. and returned to Kingfisher Landing at approximately 9:15 a.m.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY In the early morning hours of March 7, 2013 RFC Jack Thain and Ranger Trey Taylor were patrolling Bryan County and noticed head lights glowing off of Harris Trail Rd on a Powerline. They then conducted an investigation of what the subjects were doing and came to the conclusion that they were trespassing on a hunt club and were mud bogging. After speaking with the landowner, they decided not to press charges on the individuals of destruction of property and trespassing.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On March 8, 2013 Cpl. Jimmy Finn, Ranger Jay Bright and Sgt. Wayne Hubbard responded to a boating accident with injuries which occurred in Hudson Creek in McIntosh County. Minor injuries were involved and the incident is still under investigation by the CIRT (Critical Incident Reconstruction Team) On March 9, 2013 Sgt. Wayne Hubbard was working a HIN inspection in McIntosh County. A customer needing a HIN inspection asked Hubbard if he could also look at his trailer so he could get a tag. During the inspection it was determined that the trailer had

been stolen out of Bluffton SC in 2010. The trailer was seized and will be turned over to the Bluffton PD.
CHATHAM COUNTY On March 7, Sgt. Cindy Miller conducted an inspection of a seafood business in Pt. Wentworth. Upon inspection of the seafood business Sgt. Miller discovered a bag of oysters was not tagged. Sgt. Miller looked at the bill of sale for the oysters and there was not a bill of sale for the untagged oysters. The manager of the seafood food business was cited for possession of untagged oysters.
GLYNN COUNTY On March 9th, RFC John Evans received a call about three trucks tearing up the roads and driving recklessly in some of the openings on the Clayhole Swamp WMA. RFC Evans responded and made contact with all three vehicles and cited the drivers for Damaging Department Property.
On Saturday, March 9th, RFC John Evans, CPL Craig Smith, and Wildlife Technician Ed Van Otteren worked the 5th Annual JAKES Day at Camp Tolochee in Glynn County. Officers set up the Laser Shot, Fishing Simulator and had animal hides and skulls on display for the kids. There were about 75 kids in attendance.
On Saturday, March 9th, Cpl Craig Smith and RFC John Evans set up the Laser Shot simulator at the Annual Wild Game Supper put on by Northside Baptist Church in Brunswick. There were over 150 people in attendance.