Field operations weekly report [Dec. 27, 2015-Jan. 2, 2016]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report December 27, 2015 January 2, 2016
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)
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On January 2nd, RFC McConkey located three rabbit hunters in which one hunter was found hunting without a license and with an unplugged shotgun. The hunter was charged with hunting without a license and written a warning for hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
CATOOSA COUNTY On January 1st, RFC McConkey located one out of state hunter who had harvested a doe on the last day of either sex days. The deer had already been removed from the location of harvest and had not been properly recorded. The hunter was found to have all necessary licenses needed to hunt in Georgia. The hunter was written a warning for removing the doe deer before recording the harvest on his deer harvest record.
POLK COUNTY On the night of December 30th, RFC Chad Cox received a complaint from a Cedartown Police Officer about someone shooting deer in the city limits of Cedartown. RFC Cox and RFC Daniel Gray responded to the scene and with help of other Cedartown Police Officers located and cited three subjects for hunting deer at night.
HARALSON COUNTY On January 1st, Cpl. Eric Brown was working illegal night hunting activity in Haralson County. Shortly before midnight, a vehicle was witnessed shinning a field with a spotlight. The vehicle and its occupants were detained and subsequently the three occupants were charged for blinding and harassing wildlife.
FULTON COUNTY On January 2nd, Ranger First Class Mark Puig located two hunters near the Chattahoochee River off Fulton Industrial Boulevard. RFC Puig suspected that they did not have permission to hunt on that property given the direction they came from. RFC Puig then asked to see the hunter's stands so their exact location could be known in relation to the property lines. After a long walk the stands were confirmed to be on property they had no permission to hunt on. One of the stands, a hasty ground blind made of tree branches, was overlooking a large pile of corn several yards away. That hunter said he didn't know it was there yet it was easily visible to RFC Puig standing in the ground blind. That hunter received citations for hunting without permission and hunting over bait. The other hunter received a citation for hunting without permission after his stand was not found to be near any bait.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
UNION COUNTY On January 1st, Sgt. Steve Seitz and RFC David Webb patrolled Towns and Union County for hunting activity on the last day of deer season. While checking a hunting without permission complaint in Union County, the officers checked an old vacant subdivision near the complaint area and located one hunter sitting in the woods on a log who was not wearing any orange. The officers issued the hunter a citation for hunting deer without orange.
JACKSON COUNTY On December 30th, RFC Eric Isom conducted an area check on landowner's property near Talmo. RFC Isom and Colt located two subjects fishing on the property. Both subjects received warnings for fishing without permission.

On December 31st, RFC Eric Isom responded to a hunting from the road complaint near the Barrow County line. At the scene, RFC Isom deployed his K9 "Colt" to locate any possible evidence at the scene. A hunter was located at the scene. He was known to be a convicted felon and had a rifle in his possession. The subject was placed under arrest for possession of firearm by convicted felon and violation of Georgia's controlled substance act.
Later that day Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and RFC Eric Isom utilized Colt to find a hunter in the Jefferson area. Colt picked up a track near the hunter's vehicle. The track led to an empty ladder stand near the vehicles. Fresh mud was observed on the ladder rungs. RFC Isom gave Colt the command to continue to track. The track led into the woods and to a fresh pile of corn. The hunter was located in a camouflaged ladder stand approximately 35 yards from the corn pile. He received citations for hunting big game over bait and hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
LINCOLN COUNTY On January 2nd, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin and RFC Robert Timmerman apprehended one subject for hunting deer without wearing orange clothing. The subject was warned and released.
WARREN COUNTY On January 3rd, Cpl. Brian Hobbins and RFC Robert Timmerman responded to a waterfowl hunting complaint off of Hwy 17. The Rangers made contact with the subjects in question. After an inspection of the subjects, it was determined that no violations had occurred.
WILKES COUNTY On January 2nd Sgt. Brian Carter and Cpl. Mark Patterson patrolled portions of Wilkes County and the Fishing Creek WMA. Violations addressed during the patrol were hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, and operating a vessel without navigation lights.
ELBERT COUNTY On Friday, Jan. 01, Cpl. Julian Wilkins completed a littering investigation that began on Monday Dec. 28. One subject was issued a citation for littering, and Wilkins will be requesting the judge have him clean up and properly dispose of the material.
On Friday, Jan. 01, Cpl. Julian Wilkins caught three subjects in a vehicle night deer hunting. All three subjects were issued citations for the following charges; hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
On Saturday, Jan 02, Cpl. Julian Wilkins issued a subject a citation for unlawfully killing a doe with a firearm during closed season.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On Saturday Jan 2, CPL David Allen, RFC Phillip Nelson, and RFC Richard Tanner, patrolled Redlands WMA for hunting activity. During the patrol, violations of hunting deer on a closed WMA, hunting without a WMA license and hunting with unlawful ammo were documented.
WASHINGTON COUNTY On January the 2, Cpl. Brian Adams checked a group of duck hunters in Chalker's Swamp. One hunter was charged with hunting with an unplugged shot gun and on was charged with hunting without Federal Duck stamp.

BURKE COUNTY On January 2, RFC Jeff Billips received a call from a landowner about someone shooting deer on his property from the road. The land owner was able to give a description of the vehicle and that it had a Florida tag. After meeting with the landowner RFC Billips was able to locate a freshly spent .243 caliber shell casing on the side of the road. From the location of the shell casing RFC Billips then found the blood trail were a deer had been drug off of the landowner's property and loaded in a truck. RFC Billips was able to determine tire tracks and boot tracks of the poachers. At this time RFC Billips searched the area until he found a vehicle matching the description the land owner gave. He went and got the poachers out of their deer stand and matched up the boot tracks with the ones he found on the dirt rd. In the vehicle was a .243 rifle with matching shell casings to the one found at the scene. The poachers stated that they had shot the deer on their land and that it ran onto the complainant's land. At this time RFC Billips went back to where the deer had been drug from and was able to locate blood splatter on a tree showing where the bullet had exited the deer. The three poachers were placed under arrest and transported to the Burke County Jail. They were charged with Hunting from Public Road, Hunting from Motor Vehicle and Hunting without Permission.
On January 2, RFC Billips responded to duck hunting without permission complaint. After locating the hunters, it was determined that an employee of the land owner gave the hunters permission to hunt. The hunters were given a verbal warning not to come back and the land owner addressed the problem with his employee.
MORGAN COUNTY Cpl. David Allen assisted Morgan County fire and rescue when a vehicle was swept down a flooded creek. The driver was on the back of the truck and was pulled to safety.
GREENE COUNTY Cpl. Derrell Worth and Sgt. John Harwell cited four subjects for deer hunting on a closed WMA; cited one subject for hunting deer without a license; two subjects for hunting ducks without permission; one subject for hunting deer without permission; one subject for hunting deer without fluorescent orange; one subject for hunting ducks with an unplugged shotgun; one subject hunting ducks without WMA license.
Cpl. David Allen and RFC Richard Tanner cited one hunter for hunting deer on a closed WMA, hunting with illegal ammunition, and hunting without a WMA license.
LAKE OCONEE Cpl. Derrell Worth received multiple calls reference abandoned/floating vessels from Greene, Morgan, and Putnam Counties due to flood waters. Much time was spent researching the owners of these vessels and providing necessary information in order for owners to retrieve.
NEWTON COUNTY Ranger Schay was called to an in progress night hunting complaint by Newton SO. Two subjects were issued citations for hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a motor vehicle.
Ranger Schay, CPL Allen, and RFC Butler responded to a boating incident on the Yellow River.
WALTON COUNTY Ranger Dan Schay checked several hunters and a license violation were documented.
HANCOCK COUNTY Sgt. John Harwell and Cpl. David Allen responded to a hunting incident on Lake Sinclair Drive. After further investigation, two subjects were arrested for hunting deer at night, hunting from a public roadway, and hunting from a motor vehicle. They were transported to the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On December 27th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver was listening for waterfowl hunting activity when he heard several gunshots come from an area near his location. Cpl. Oliver went to investigate and located 2 hunters in a pasture at the edge of a duck swamp. One hunter said he was hunting deer and coyotes, while the second hunter said he was coyote hunting and had missed 1 earlier. After talking with the 2 hunters for a brief time, Cpl. Oliver noticed 2 separate piles of turkey feathers. Aside from the feathers, there was fresh blood, meat, and bullet strikes in the ground. Cpl. Oliver questioned the hunters about the feathers and one of the subjects admitted to killing 2 hen turkeys with the .223 caliber rifle he was hunting with. The hunter showed Cpl. Oliver where he had hid the turkeys in the bushes as the officer approached. The subject that killed the turkeys was charged with 2 counts of hunting out of season and with hunting with an illegal weapon. He was issued a warning for hunting big game over bait. The second hunter was issued a citation for hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange.
On December 28th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver interviewed a suspect from a night hunting investigation from earlier in the week. The subject admitted to killing a deer from his truck on the night of the 22nd after getting off work. The suspect was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle.
On January 1st, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen was patrolling private property for deer hunting activity. Four hunters were located on the property. Each of the hunters received citations for hunting deer without fluorescent orange. Also, one of the hunters received a citation for non-resident hunting without a license and a written warning for non-resident hunting without a big game license.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On December 27th, Cpl. Tony Cox was on patrol when he encountered a deer hunter with a freshly killed 8 point buck. During his inspection, Cpl. Cox found that the hunter did not possess a license. The subject was cited for hunting without a license and hunting without a big game license. The deer was confiscated and donated to a needy family.
MILLER COUNTY On January 2nd, Cpl. Tony Cox was on patrol when he located a group shooting ducks after legal hours. He called RFC Steve Thomas to assist and together they located four adults and three juveniles hunting the roost pond. The adults were cited for fourteen violations, including hunting waterfowl after legal hours, hunting without a license, hunting without a Georgia waterfowl license, and hunting without a federal duck stamp.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
ECHOLS COUNTY On December 21st, Ranger First Class Daniel North received information about illegal trapping activity near Suwannoochee Creek. The locations where an illegal snare had previously been set was found but the snare had been removed. Sergeant Patrick Dupree assisted in the investigation which continued for several more days. The officers eventually discovered two foot-traps and several snares set on December 29th. On December 30th, Sgt. Dupree and RFC North were able to locate the poacher due to continued surveillance of the area. A total of seven large-diameter snares were found set on game trails and seized, including three spring-loaded foot snares. Violations of non-resident trapping without license, failure to affix stamped metal tag, trapping with illegal device, trapping without written permission and failure to carry choke stick were documented.

RFC North with one of the large trail snares discovered set in Echols County.
RFC North with illegal foot-snares and trail snares seized in Echols County. CLINCH COUNTY On January 2nd, Corporal Jason Shipes, Corporal Mark Pool, Ranger First Class Daniel North and Ranger Judd Sears conducted a concentrated patrol in specific areas where officers have received complaints related to hunting deer with dogs. During the patrol, a number of individuals hunting deer with hounds were encountered. As a result, officers issued 31 citations for violations ranging from hunting license issues, hunting deer with dogs on unpermitted property, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, and other deer- dogging related violations. In addition, arrests were made for possession of marijuana, possession of drug related paraphernalia, driving on suspended license, and driving under the influence of drugs.
Drugs and paraphernalia seized from a hunter in Clinch County.

LAURENS COUNTY On December 27th, Corporal Dan Stiles responded to a report of a stranded vehicle in flood water at the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area. Cpl. Stiles located the vehicle which had become disabled after the driver drove through standing water. Eventually Cpl. Stiles located the vehicle owner and assisted the subject with retrieving his vehicle.
On December 31st, Corporal Dan Stiles conducted a night patrol at the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area. No violations were detected.
WHEELER COUNTY On January 2, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne arrested two poachers hunting deer at night with the assistance of Georgia State Trooper First Class Chris Calhoun and Georgia State Trooper First Class Brian Screws. The investigation and arrest resulted in six violations, being documented for hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting from a public road. A secondary investigation relating to this incident resulted in two violations being documented for hunting deer without a big game license.
WILCOX COUNTY On Jan 2nd, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled for duck hunting in the southeast part of the county. Six hunters where checked, one violation was documented for hunting without a license.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Saturday night, January 2, 2016, RFC Toney and Sgt. Scott responded to a call of dogs on the Richmond Hill Wildlife Management Area in South Bryan County. The Rangers responded to the area and made contact with the hunters. The hunters were participating in a field trail for raccoon hunting. There were no violations.
On Dec. 27, 2015, Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the St. Catherine's and Ossabaw Sounds area, checking boaters and fishermen. He checked a commercial crab boat in Ossabaw Sound and found that the crew member did not have a commercial fishing license. The crew member was cited for no commercial license and the boat captain cited for not having enough serviceable life jackets on board. Upon doing a license check, it was found that the boat captain had an active arrest warrant for child neglect out of Chatham County. Upon returning to the Ft. McAllister boat ramp, RFC Jason Miller took the captain in custody and the subject was transported to Chatham County Jail.
On Dec. 28, 2015, RFC Jason Miller was checking boats at the Ft. McAllister boat ramp where he checked a boat returning to the ramp after dark. RFC Miller was familiar with the boat owner for a previous stop where he was cited for operating without navigation lights at night. RFC Miller spotted the boat returning to the ramp without any bow lights. Cpl. Jay Morgan arrived on scene to assist. Upon checking the boat, it was found that the two fishermen had kept three illegal size fish. One fish was a 26-inch red drum/spot-tail bass (max. legal length is 23 inches) and the two other fish were a 15 inch and a 16 inch striped bass (legal size on the Ogeechee River is 22 inches or longer). The boat operator was cited for illegal size fish and the fish were confiscated.