Field operations weekly report [Feb. 16-22, 2014]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 16-22, 2014
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 Division.

Region I- Calhoun (Northwest)
BARTOW COUNTY On February 17th, Kosta Georgiefski and his son "Matt" Georgiefski hunted Pine Log WMA with success. After a difficult deer season, the two had spoken with DNR Sgt. Mike Barr who directed them to Pine Log WMA and to a corn field that had been recently harvested. Hog sign was everywhere and Sgt. Barr thought the two might have some luck in the area. The WMA gates were closed for small game season but the two hunters hiked over a mile to get to the area best for hog hunting. Kosta Georgiefski stated "It took us 6 hours to get that hog out of there. That was a lot of work dragging that hog out." Congratulations to Kosta and Matt Georgiefski for their successful hunt and reducing the feral hog population on Pine Log WMA.
Matt Georgiefski with a large feral hog boar taken at Pine Log WMA.

CHEROKEE COUNTY On February 16th, Cpl. Lee Burns was on a foot patrol off Damascus Road. While returning back to his patrol vehicle and still in the edge of the woods, he noticed a red Chevrolet truck with a very distinctive fluorescent green Browning decal in the back window pass his location with a load of old tires. Cpl. Burns decided to follow the truck and shortly found the same vehicle with the tail gate down and an empty bed. Knowing there were no residences within close proximity to his location, Cpl. Burns stopped the driver to inquire about the tires. After a quick interview with the person, he agreed to return to the two locations he had dumped the tires. After discussions with Cpl. Burns, the driver volunteered to pick up and properly dispose of the tires he had dumped. The man was charged with unlawful dumping of egregious litter less than 500 pounds which is a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature. The case is pending in the State Court of Cherokee County.

First dump site

Retrieving the tires

Tires reloaded for proper disposal

COBB COUNTY On Friday Feb 20th, Sgt. Mike Barr traveled to Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna where he met with DNR Volunteer Coordinator Michael Sellers and DNR Intern Taylor Lawrence. Together they met with owners of the hunting and outdoors store to discuss hunter safety, promoting the upcoming turkey season for Georgia's youth, and a Safari Club International Banquet. While at the store, DNR Intern Taylor Lawrence learned a lot about firearms and gun safety during a visit to the store's indoor shooting range.
DNR Volunteer Coordinator Michael Sellers and DNR Intern Taylor Lawrence discuss handgun safety while at Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Georgia. DNR will be assisting with youth events during turkey season and at the Safari Club International Banquet at Adventure Outdoors in March. CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER On February 21st and 22nd, Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Lee Burns attended the annual Georgia Hunter Education Association (GHEA) Conference at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield, Georgia. The conference included statewide updates and presentations from DNR, hunter safety instructors, and GHEA representatives. The conference included training from Glock representative Megan West and time on the range with shotguns and handguns for instructors and DNR rangers.

Glock Representative Megan West reviews gun safety assistance available from Glock and a review of the new handguns for 2014.
DNR Law Enforcement Division Region IV Cpl. Travis Sweat (right) receives an award for the DNR Ranger 2013 Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year from DNR Hunter Program Development Coordinator Walter Lane.

2014 GHEA President Wayne Davis (left) congratulates Fred Perry, 2013 Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year.
FLOYD COUNTY On February 22nd, Cpl. Shawn Elmore was patrolling John's Mtn WMA and located a Cartersville man fishing in John's Creek. John's Creek is a seasonal trout stream and is currently closed to fishing. The man had not caught any trout and Cpl. Elmore issued a written warning for fishing in closed trout waters.
On February 22nd, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, Cpl. Tommy Gentry, and RFC Roger McConkey attended the annual Trout Unlimited Expo held at the Rome Eco-Center. The officers set up the fishing simulator for use by the attendees.
CATOOSA COUNTY On February 19th, RFC Roger McConkey assisted the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office with a standoff on Three Notch Rd. The male suspect had taken shots at an animal control officer and Catoosa County deputies who had responded to assist. The suspect was found to have multiple warrants for child molestation. RFC McConkey assisted blocking off the area to ensure the safety of surrounding residents and keeping the area surrounded until the situation was resolved.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
TOWNS On February 13th, Cpl. Jesse Cook assisted the Hiawassee Police Department with a noknock search warrant of a residence in reference to illegal drug activity. Officers detained three subjects during the search warrant and located a quantity of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and firearms.
WHITE On February 15th, RFC Anne Britt and Sgt Steve Seitz were on routine patrol when they located a subject fishing on the Chattahoochee River in Helen. Upon checking the subjects fishing license and identification the officers learned that the subject possessed both a Georgia driver's license and an Illinois driver's license. He provided the officer's with a Georgia fishing license. Officer's learned that the subject is actually a resident of Illinois, but had purchased a Georgia fishing license. The subject was issued a citation for Non-Resident fishing with a resident fishing license and a warning for fishing without a trout license. The subject's Georgia driver's license was confiscated.
On February 15th, while patrolling the area around Richard B. Russell scenic highway, RFC Anne Britt and Sgt Steve Seitz observed a subject moving a road closed sign and driving behind the sign. Richard Russell scenic highway is closed at this time due to hazardous road conditions from the winter storm that past over the last few days. Upon checking the status of the subject's driver's license it was learned that his license was suspended. The driver was arrested for driving on a suspended license.
STATEWIDE On February 15th, RFC David Webb and Major Walter Rabon attended the National Wild Turkey Federation National Convention in Nashville Tennessee. RFC Webb gave a 45 minute presentation on the "Operation Something Bruin" case to roughly 50 participants of the convention.
DAWSON COUNTY On February 22nd, RFC Barry Britt and Sgt. Lee Brown issued citations for fishing in a closed trout stream and fishing without a fishing license on Wildcat Creek in Dawson Forest WMA. They also issued verbal guidance for several GORP violations while patrolling Dawson Forest WMA.
On Saturday 22nd, RFC Barry Britt responded to a missing hiker case on US Forest Service property north of Amicalola Falls State Park. The intoxicated hiker had wondered several miles away from his group's camp. After an extensive search, RFC Britt along with Dawson County Fire and Rescue personnel located the hiker several hours later at the Amicalola Falls Lodge.

FORSYTH COUNTY On February 16th, Sgt. Lee Brown was patrolling the Chattahoochee River for boating and fishing violations. Verbal guidance and written warnings were issued for fishing without a license, fishing without a trout license and possession/fishing with unlawful bait in the artificial only section of the Chattahoochee River.
On January 31st, RFC Mitchell Crump and Ranger Shane Brown responded to call from Forsyth County of possible raptor parts. The Forsyth Deputies were serving a eviction when they noticed several animal skins and bird feathers, a large wing and two feet. The Rangers seized some of the animal parts so that they could be identified. Ranger Brown had a biologist from the Gainesville office ID some of the parts as a wing and a foot from a Barred Owl, a foot from a Eastern Screech Owl, songbird feathers, and a wing from a Turkey Vulture. Ranger Brown took out a warrant for the subject on Feb 20th.
On February 22nd, Ranger Shane Brown patrolled the Chattahoochee River. Citations and warnings were issued for fishing without a trout stamp and fishing with unlawful equipment.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On February 21st, SGT Lee Brown and Ranger Shane Brown were on their way to Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office after CAT team training when they noticed two Jon boats at Yahoola Creek Lake with what appeared to be juveniles on board with no PFD's. The Rangers stopped to check the vessels. Neither had a single life jacket on board, and all subjects were under 18. The Rangers issued written warnings to the subjects and explained the importance of the PFD's.
On February 22nd, Ranger Shane Brown issued a citation for operating a vessel without C.G. approved PFD's.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On February 22, Sgt. Brian Carter, Cpl. Julian Wilkins, and RFC Tim Butler patrolled Lake Russell for boating and fishing activity. The Rangers made contact with a vessel that was disabled due to mechanical difficulty. The vessel was towed back to the boat landing and the owner was issued a warning for operating a vessel without registration.
OCONEE COUNTY RFC Tim Butler attended the Three Rivers National Wild Turkey Banquet. He talked with guests at the banquet and answered numerous questions.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On February 22nd, RFC Robert Timmerman conducted a Boater Education Class at Mistletoe State Park. Four students were certified in Boater Safety.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
JASPER COUNTY On February 22nd, RFC Keith Page and Sergeant Tim Kendrick responded to a call from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office in reference to three young boys being stranded on an island in the Ocmulgee River. The boys were in two kayaks and a canoe, all of which had been overturned and swept downstream by swift water due to recent heavy rainfall. Page and Kendrick drove through private hunting clubs to try and locate the boys. The father of one of the boys had already located them and got the boys from the island to dry land. The Rangers picked the father and three boys up on a hunting club road and took them to the father's vehicle that was parked approximately a mile away.
On the night of February 22nd, RFC Keith Page and Sergeant Tim Kendrick met U.S. Forest Service Officer Zach Nichols on Smith Mill Road. While speaking to Officer Nichols, a truck that was traveling at excessive speed came down Smith Mill Road towards the officers. The truck also had a headlight out and the driver was observed not wearing a seatbelt. Officer Nichols was standing in the road and motioned for the truck to stop. While speaking to the driver, the officers found that the man was 18 years old and was drinking a 40 ounce beer while driving down the road. Also, a search of the suspect's truck revealed a small amount of marijuana. RFC Page charged the suspect with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and possession/consumption of alcohol by a person under 21 years of age.
On the night of February 22nd, RFC Keith Page, Sergeant Tim Kendrick and U.S. Forest Service Officer Zach Nichols located a vehicle that had driven over two berms on a closed forest service road off of Smith Mill Road. The vehicle had been mud bogging and had gotten stuck. Five teenagers were in the stuck vehicle. The driver was charged by Nichols for driving on a closed forest service road. RFC Keith Page also located a small amount of marijuana on one of the passengers of the vehicle. Page charged the man with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
TALBOT COUNTY On February 16th, Corporals Mitch Oliver, Jeremy Bolen, and Keith Waddell worked a complaint of illegal ATV use on state owned properties at Sprewell Bluff. The complaint was focused on the Nichols Tract and Pigeon Creek Tract along the Flint River in Talbot and Meriwether Counties. The officers apprehended several subjects riding around state gates and operating ATVs illegally on state owned property. In all, 6 people were charged with driving around closed gates on a WMA and 2 were issued written warnings for criminal trespass.

WILKINSON COUNTY On Saturday, February 22nd, RGR Matt Johnson, RFC Jeremy Reese, Corporal Lynn Stanford and Sergeant Bo Kelly assisted with the annual Quail Hunt for Kids event. Participants got to shoot skeet, compete in a skeet competition and hunt quail. Fifteen youth hunters participated in this event and a few even harvested their first quail.
Region V- Albany (Southwest) Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
IRWIN COUNTY On February 21st, Sgt. David Reckley and RFC Tim Hutto presented a wildlife program to Irwin County Elementary School students. The officers exhibited a live grey fox and numerous wild animal furs to the students. The officers explained the characteristics of each animal and why we shouldn't disturb them in the wild. EMANUEL COUNTY On February 23rd Cpl. Shaymus McNeely and Sgt. Don Dasher conducted a patrol of Emanuel County including George L. Smith State Park and Ohoopee Dunes Natural Area. At George L. Smith State Park officers checked a number of boaters and fisherman. A total of seven citations were issued for operating a vessel without coast guard approved PFD's.

EVANS COUNTY On February 19th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked a local business selling bait fish. One violation was documented for selling bait without a fish dealer license. RFC Brannen checked licenses on the Evans County Public Fishing area and one violation for fishing on a PFA without a WMA license was documented.
On February 20th, RFC Brannen patrolled the Evans County Public Fishing Area. Violations for fishing on a PFA without a WMA license, consuming alcohol on a PFA, and entering a designed fee area without a GORP license were addressed.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Feb. 22, RFC Jack Thain and Ranger Jason Miller patrolled the Richmond Hill WMA off of Bryan Co-op Rd. and found hog hunters running hogs with dogs on the WMA. Cpl. Bill Bryson and Cpl. Jay Morgan proceeded to the area to assist. Four hunters were cited for hunting hogs with dogs on the WMA and for hunting/possession of buckshot on the WMA.
OFFSHORE/FEDERAL WATERS On Feb. 20th, Ranger Jason Miller, Cpl. Jay Morgan, and Sgt. Phillip Scott patrolled offshore of Ossabaw Island to the "CAT" reef checking offshore fishermen. No violations were found.