Field operations weekly report [Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2016]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report October 30 November 5, 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)
DOUGLAS COUNTY On November 5th, Sgt. Eric Brown responded to possible hunting without permission complaint near the Chattahoochee River. Upon arriving, Sgt. Brown located a hunter that was deer hunting over bait, without orange, and without landowner permission.
On November 5th, Sgt. Eric Brown responded to a hunting without permission complaint near the Chattahoochee River. The care-taker of the land advised that he saw a car drive down a steep embankment to access the property. The care-taker blocked the road and attempted to make contact with the violator. The violator sped off at a high rate deeper into the property. Upon arrival, Sgt. Brown and two deputies discovered the car abandoned near the river. Shortly, afterwards, the two subjects walked back to the car. One subject was dressed in camo and had a deer rifle. An investigation, discovered a 10 point buck that had been killed by the violator. One subject was arrested for hunting without permission, hunting without orange, and failure to record deer harvest.
After dark on November 5th, Sgt. Eric Brown and Cpl. Chad Cox responded to Sweetwater Creek State Park in reference to a lost hiker. The subject had gotten lost and his cell phone battery had died. After a couple of hours, the subject walked to a nearby house and Sgt. Brown and a Douglas County Deputy picked up the subject and transported him back to his truck at the park. After getting checked out by Douglas EMS, the hiker was turned over to his parents.
POLK COUNTY On November 5th, Cpl. Chad Cox checked two locations that had been baited for deer. Cpl. Cox located a hunter at each location and issued each of them a citation for hunting big game over bait.
On November 5th, Cpl. Cox located two vehicles parked at gate that appeared to belong to someone hunting. After waiting for a period of time Cpl. Cox put his orange vest on and started to walk the field when he observe two people dressed in camouflage and carrying rifles walking his way. Neither hunter had on an orange vest. While speaking with them Cpl. Cox witnessed another subject also dressed in camouflage that was trying to leave the location in a hasty matter. Cpl. Cox yelled at him to come to his location and the other hunter also yelled at him. He then walked to Cpl. Cox location and was not carrying a gun. Cox asked if he had laid down a gun and he replied yes and took Cpl. Cox to the gun's location. Cpl. Cox issued him a citation for hunting without orange and hunting without a hunting license. He was also warned for hunting without a big game license. One of the other hunters was issued a citation for hunting without orange. The other hunter received a verbal warning about the orange from Cpl. Cox.
Later in the morning of November 5th, Cpl. Cox responded to a call about someone hunting without permission. A hunter had shot two deer on hunting club's land that joined his land and did not have permission to hunt on. Cpl. Cox meet with the president of the hunting club and issued a citation for hunting without permission to the hunter.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
WHITE COUNTY On November 4th, Cpl. Anne Britt received a call from White County S.O requesting assistance from Deputy Chad Edwards who had two adult males in custody who had been seen spot lighting a field off Barrett Mill Rd. Cpl. Britt responded and investigated the complaint. Deputy Edwards found 2 pistols and a 16 gauge shotgun located inside the vehicle. Deputy Edwards also located fresh blood on the receiver gate located at the rear of the vehicle. One adult male admitted to harvesting a spike deer earlier that day during the daylight hours. Deputy Edwards impounded the vehicle due to it not being insured and also for not having the correct tag displayed. Sergeant Jerrell's with Habersham County S.O. transported both males back to their residence. Cpl. Britt followed and then confiscated the processed deer that was located inside the residence due to the male not possessing a valid hunting license, big game license or harvest record. Both males were charged for hunting deer at night, hunting from a road, and hunting from a vehicle. One male was charged for hunting big game without a license and warned for not having a hunting license, hunting without a harvest record and possession of illegally taken wildlife. The confiscated deer was given to a family in need. More charges may be taken in Habersham County due to a pending, on-going investigation.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
HANCOCK COUNTY On Saturday, November 5, RFC Richard Tanner responded to a call in reference to a possible injured person. The caller stated they could hear someone screaming for help shortly before dark on an adjoining property. RFC Tanner and several other local first responders searched the woods for several hours, but were unable to locate any signs related to anyone being in the area. The search was suspended pending additional information.
GREENE COUNTY Cpl. Derrell Worth and RFC. Richard Tanner cited three subjects for hunting deer without a license; three subjects without big game license; four subjects without wearing fluorescent orange while deer hunting; three subjects for hunting big game over bait; and one subject for interference with the performance of a Rangers' duties.
Cpl. Worth cited three subjects for hunting without permission, one subject for operating vessel without lights, and one subject for operating without registration.
LINCOLN COUNTY On November 5th, Cpl. Ryan Swain apprehended four subjects who were hunting deer over bait. One subject was hunting without permission and 3 subjects were hunting without proper orange clothing. All subjects were cited and released.
WILKES COUNTY On November 5th Cpt. Stan Elrod and Cpl. Mark Patterson patrolled portions of the county. Violations documented include taking of game fish by illegal methods and failure to record deer harvest.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BF GRANT WMA On November 3rd through November 5th, Cpl. Bubba Stanford and Sgt. Bo Kelly worked the quality buck managed hunt. Numerous hunters were checked and several deer were confiscated for not meeting the requirements. The hunters received citations and the deer were donated to needy families. One complaint of unlawful dumping was received when 2 hunters witnessed a subject dump tires on the WMA. The officers located the responsible party and issued a citation.

HARRIS COUNTY On November 3rd, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen was patrolling for deer hunting activity on the Blanton Creek WMA quota hunt. Two hunters killed does on buck only days. The hunters were issued citations for taking illegal deer on a quality buck hunt.
On November 4th, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen and Cpl. Mitch Oliver were patrolling for deer hunting activity on the Blanton Creek WMA quota hunt. The officers found a hunter who they determined was missing a WMA license according to the hunting license database. K-9 Ruger was utilized to locate the hunter in his deer stand. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting without a WMA license.

JONES COUNTY

On the

morning of November 5th, RFC Ronnie Beard and Sgt. Bo Kelly located 2 hunters on private property. It was

discovered that the hunters were hunting deer over bait and without fluorescent orange and citations were issued.

PUTNAM COUNTY

On

the morning of November 5th, Cpl. Bubba Stanford checked private property for hunting activity. One hunter was

located hunting deer over bait and without orange and citations were issued. Later that afternoon, Cpl. Stanford

responded to the Oconee National Forest in reference to lost hunters. The hunters were soon located, checked by

EMS and released.

TAYLOR COUNTY On October 30th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver was patrolling for deer hunting activity when he observed what he believed to be a hunter sitting at the edge of a watermelon field. When Cpl. Oliver pulled into the field, he observed the subject get up and go into the wood line. Cpl. Oliver exited his truck and approached the subject who was dressed in blue jeans and a camouflage shirt. The subject said he was not hunting and had only sat down on the hay bale to catch his breath from a morning walk. Cpl. Oliver had the subject sit back down on the hay bale and he walked into the woods to see what the subject had hid. Cpl. Oliver located a compound bow and 2 arrows. The hunter, who was a convicted felon, admitted to hunting deer and to not having a current hunting license. The hunter was charged with hunting without a license and hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange. He was issued a warning for hunting without a big game license.
On October 30th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver checked a hunter that did not have any fluorescent orange and issued the subject a citation for the violation.
On November 5th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver checked a hunter quartering a deer in a hunting camp. The hunter's license was checked and it was noted that the deer harvest record hadn't been completed on the button buck. The hunter was also missing a big game license. Cpl. Oliver assisted the hunter with recording the deer harvest and accessing the DNR website to confirm the harvest of the deer. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting without a big game license.
On November 5th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver, assisted by Cpl. Jeremy Bolen, worked a complaint in regards to a convicted felon hunting with a firearm. The officers were able to locate the hunter and he was indeed found to be in possession of a Remington .308 semi-auto rifle. The subject was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
TURNER COUNTY On 10/31/2016 Sgt. Al Greer received a complaint in reference to an incident of hunting from the road which occurred the night before in Turner County. Sgt. Greer was able to identify the subjects involved and both subjects were interviewed in regards to the incident. The two subjects were charged with hunting from the road, hunting from a vehicle, and other various charges for hunting small game.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
COFFEE COUNTY On 10-30-2016 at approximately 11:00P.M., Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey was contacted by State Trooper Stanley White in reference to three subjects Trooper White had made contact with in Coffee County who were walking down the road with a .rifle. The subjects stated they had been hunting and had gotten lost. Trooper White got the subject's information. Cpl. Daughtrey located the subjects the next day. It was determined that the subjects had been deer hunting the previous day. Violations of hunting w/o a license, hunting w/o a big game license and hunting w/o orange were documented.
In the early morning hours of 10-31-2016, Cpl. Daughtrey was contacted about a deer that had been shot and drug out of a field. Cpl. Daughtrey met with the complainant in Ambrose. Evidence was recovered at the scene of the incident and the case is still under investigation.
BERRIEN COUNTY In the early morning hours of Saturday November 5, 2016 Sergeant Morty Wood was working in Eastern Berrien County patrolling for night deer hunting activities. Sergeant Wood observed a truck shining a roof mounted GoLight into several fields while travelling down a county dirt road. Sergeant Wood stopped the truck and discovered 2 males in the front seat and 2 females in the rear seat of the truck. Sergeant Wood immediately noticed the smell of alcoholic beverage and burnt marijuana coming from the truck. Sergeant Wood also saw a rifle firearm by each of the males. After a brief investigation the driver was arrested for driving under the influence and open container. The male passenger was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. Both males also were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On November 5, Corporal Kevin Joyce was working night hunting activity in the south part of the county when he observed a vehicle approaching his location. As the vehicle got closer Cpl. Joyce noticed a light being shinned out of the passenger side window. Cpl. Joyce made a traffic stop on the vehicle and located four subjects, and three loaded firearms inside. The subjects were charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
TOOMBS COUNTY On November 2, 2016 Captain Scott Klingel, Corporal Chase Altman, and Ranger First Class Bobby Sanders attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated boat landing area at Grays Landing on the Altamaha River. The Department of Natural Resources and Toombs County partnered together to provide better quality recreational opportunities for all users.
On November 5, 2016 Ranger First Class Bobby Sanders patrolled the north end of Toombs County when three hunters were encountered. Two of the individuals did not have the required 500 square inches of fluorescent orange and one hunter did not have a hunting license, big game license or a harvest record. The hunters were advised of the infractions and violations were documented.
WHEELER COUNTY On November 4th, Ranger First Class (RFC) Rodney Horne responded to an in progress compliant of hunting without permission in Wheeler County. Upon arrival, RFC Horne found the poacher had left the scene on an allterrain vehicle. After tracking the all-terrain vehicle to a residence an investigation of a subject began. In conclusion the investigation resulted in one arrest of a poacher for hunting without permission.

DODGE COUNTY On November 2nd, Ranger First Class Allen Mills received a littering complaint from Dodge 911. RFC Mills arrived on scene and located several bags of household garbage. After collecting evidence, RFC Mills met with the suspect and discussed the littering issue. One violation for littering was documented.
On November 4th, Ranger First Class Allen Mills was conducting a patrol when he encountered five anglers fishing from the roadway. The individuals were checked for license and creel compliance. Three violations for fishing without a license were documented. On November 5th, Ranger First Class Allen Mills conducted a patrol at the Dodge County Public Fishing Area during an archery deer hunt. Five hunters were checked for rules and regulation compliance. Violations for operating a vessel without Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices and operating a vessel with expired registration were documented. Verbal guidance was given for light requirements for operating a vessel during hours of darkness. CLINCH COUNTY On November 5th, while patrolling south of Homerville, Corporal Jason Shipes noticed several hunters standing around the skinning rack of a local deer dogging club. Cpl. Shipes learned that one of the hunter's knowingly and purposely recorded an antlered deer as an antlerless deer. The subject has been cited in the past for similar issues by Cpl. Shipes. Cpl. Shipes also located a number of other violations ranging from operating a vehicle without deer dog permit number displayed, failure to obtain a deer harvest record, and hunting deer with dogs without a deer dogging license. PIERCE COUNTY On November 5th, Ranger First Class Sam Williams patrolled Little Satilla WMA for deer hunting activity. During the patrol, RFC Williams checked an area where deer bait had been located in the past. A subject was located hunting in the area while not wearing the required fluorescent orange and deer bait was found close by. After speaking with the hunter during a check of his hunting license, the poacher admitted to putting out the bait a week earlier. Violations for placing bait on a WMA and hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange was documented.

ECHOLS COUNTY On October 30th, while conducting night deer hunting surveillance north of Statenville, Sergeant Patrick Dupree observed a cab-mounted spotlight on a pickup truck being shined across a soybean field. Sgt. Dupree stopped the truck and two adult males were found to possess a loaded high-powered rifle. Both were charged for hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting big game from a public road.
Weapon and light used by Echols County poachers. On October 30th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree observed a deer dog hunter standing on the edge of public right-of-way of GA Hwy 94 near Needmore with a loaded rifle during a dog deer hunt. The hunter was issued a written warning for the violation. On October 30th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree responded to a report of a road-killed black bear on US Hwy 441 north of Fargo. Sgt. Dupree located the bear and ensured there was no traffic safety hazard. Sgt. Dupree forwarded the bear mortality information to the regional game management office.
Road-killed bear near Fargo, GA.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Sunday 10/30/2016 Cpl. Morgan received an anonymous complaint of someone in Bryan County keeping squirrels as pets. Upon investigation, Cpl. Morgan discovered that this group was in fact keeping two squirrels as pets. When questioned as to why, one person told Cpl. Morgan that the squirrels appeared to be abandoned after hurricane Mathew. The group agreed to release the squirrels and not to keep them confined any longer.
LIBERTY COUNTY On Wednesday November 02, 2016, Cpl. Bryson and RFC Thain were patrolling Liberty County near the Cay Creek Road area. The Rangers noticed a large pile of commercial type trash in the ditch of Cay Creek Road near Hwy 17. Some concerned citizens told the two Rangers about a truck that had recently backed into the area, and where they thought the truck went. The Rangers found the truck and talked with the driver. The driver admitted that he dumped the trash there because he needed it off of his truck and wasn't sure where to take it. The driver was cited for unlawful dumping.