Field operations weekly report [Dec. 4-10, 2016]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report December 4 December 10, 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)
FANNIN COUNTY On December 7th, RFC Cody Jones investigated an illegal burn that the Fannin County Fire Department had to put out on Dills Road. A fire was set to burn a large amount of household trash and a couple of mattresses. The fire was set during the time when it hadn't rained in over a month and a burn ban was in effect. The suspect admitted to setting the fire and was charged with unlawful burning of egregious litter.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
BARROW COUNTY On the morning of December 11th, Ranger Chris Kernahan conducted an area check on private property for illegal hunting activity in Barrow County. While on the area check, Ranger Kernahan made contact with a subject who was found to be hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait, and hunting deer without wearing the required fluorescent orange. The violations were documented.
BANKS COUNTY On December 10th, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk patrolled Banks County for deer and waterfowl hunters. While on patrol he checked ten hunters and issued six citations and warnings for various hunting violations.
JACKSON COUNTY On December 8th, RFC Eric Isom responded to a complaint for hunting without permission off Brockton Rd. RFC Isom and his K9 partner, Colt, located a subject hunting deer without an orange vest. In addition, they found a 4point buck killed by the suspect. During the interview with the subject, RFC Isom noticed illegal substance in the suspects coat pocket. The suspect was in possession of five syringes, heroin, and a bag containing a bunch of women's jewelry. RFC Isom issued citations for hunting without permission; hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, and hunting deer without wear fluorescent orange. The drugs and possible stolen items were turn over to the Jackson County Sherriff Deputies on scene.
WHITE COUNTY On December 5th, the Rangers located and met with the adult male at his residence. He admitted to taking three antlered deer (1) six pointer on November 17th, (1) spike & (1) 9 pointer on November 28th. The adult male admitted to tracking the 9 pointer deer onto another landowner's property without permission. Ranger Crabb issued the adult male (1) citation for taking over the bag limit and (1) citation for failure to record deer harvest. Ranger Crabb gave him a warning for retrieving the deer on other property w/out permission. The 9 pointer rack was confiscated for evidence.
On the evening of December 5th, Cpl. Britt received information from another resident in White County that said the adult male had more antlered deer posted on his Facebook page from an earlier date taken in November. The rangers met with the adult male again on December 6th and he admitted to killing (2) more antlered deer (spikes) in Lumpkin County in early November, making a total of (5) antlered deer taken this season. (2) deer were taken in Lumpkin County and (3) in White County.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
CLARKE COUNTY On December 3rd RFC Tim Butler documented one violation of hunting without permission.
ELBERT COUNTY On November 27th Capt. Stan Elrod, Sgt. Brian Carter, and Cpl. Julian Wilkins made contact with a subject hunting to close to a WMA road that morning. They verbally warned him to move farther off the road. Later that afternoon around 4:30 pm, Cpl. Wilkins received a call of a lost hunter on the same WMA. The lost hunter was the same subject they had made contact with that morning. The hunter was located, and returned to his truck just before dark. He said that he had been trying to get back to his truck since around noon.
On December 2nd Cpl. Julian Wilkins made contact with three subjects deer hunting. A sixteen year old juvenile was verbally warned for hunting w/o fluorescent orange clothing and hunting w/o license. An adult that was with him was cited for accompanying a deer hunter without wearing fluorescent orange. Violations documented to additional adults were: hunting w/o fluorescent orange, hunting w/o license and hunting w/o a big game license.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On December 3rd RFC. Tim Butler observed a vehicle failing to maintain lane. RFC Butler initiated a traffic stop, and determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, RFC Butler observed a three year old child in the back seat without a child safety restraint. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for driving under the influence, child endangerment (DUI), failure to maintain lane, and failure to use a child safety restraint.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY On the morning of December 5th, Corporal Bubba Stanford checked a deer hunter near Milledgeville. Whole corn was located near the stand and the hunter received a citation for the offense.
BIBB COUNTY On December 4th, RFC David Fisher responded to a call of a missing hunter on Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. After searching the area for approximately one hour, RFC Fisher was able to locate the lost hunter and transport her out of the woods where she was examined by Bibb County EMS, then later released.
HOUSTON COUNTY Throughout the day of December 10th, DNR Rangers patrolled Twiggs, Bibb and Houston Counties for the one day bear season. Numerous bear, deer, hog and waterfowl hunters were checked.
PULASKI COUNTY On the morning of December 10th, Corporal Robert Stilwell and Sergeant Bo Kelly located several waterfowl hunters on private property. Further investigation led to the whole corn being located in the pond and the subjects received citations for hunting waterfowl over bait. Ten wood ducks were confiscated and donated to a needy family.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
WARE COUNTY On December 11th, Corporal Jason Shipes and Corporal Mark Pool, patrolled the Dixon Wildlife Management Area dog deer hunt. Several license were checked during the patrol. Two citations for possession/transporting a loaded firearm in a vehicle were issued.
ECHOLS COUNTY On December 7th, Sergeant Patrick Dupree encountered a deer-dog hunter near Needmore that did not possess all of the required licenses to hunt deer. The hunter had purchased a hunting license and a deer-dog license. He was issued a written warning for hunting deer without a big game license. He purchased a big game license using his phone so he could continue his hunt.
JENKINS COUNTY On December 10th, Corporal Mike Wilcox was patrolling in North Jenkins County when he encountered hunters that were hunting deer with dogs. Cpl. Wilcox documented violations for hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange, hunting deer with dogs without a deer dog hunting license, and operating a motor vehicle without the permit numbers displayed.
SCREVEN COUNTY On December 10th, Corporal Mike Wilcox and Sergeant Brian Hobbins responded to a hunting incident off of Brannens Bridge Road. The incident occurred during a dove hunt. The victim was hunting doves with a 12 gauge shotgun. The gun bumped into an irrigation pivot and the hunter lost his grip on the gun. When the hunter grabbed for the gun his finger pulled the trigger and the gun discharged into the top of his foot. The victim was transported to Memorial Hospital in Savannah for treatment. Ranger First Class Jordan Crawford went to the hospital and obtained a statement from the victim. The victim is expected to be okay.
APPLING COUNTY On December 10th, Corporal Chase Altman was patrolling for duck hunting activity with Sergeant Jon Barnard, and came across several hunters. One violation for hunting w/o a federal duck stamp was documented.
On December 10th Sergeant Jon Barnard and RFC Bobby Sanders were patrolling Deen's landing area for evening waterfowl hunting activity when two boats were encountered operating without navigation lights during hours of darkness as well as operating with insufficient number of life jackets (PFD). Proper violations were documented.
LOWNDES COUNTY Ranger First Class Daniel North found a duck pond in the south west portion of Lowndes County that had been shot in the first portion of the duck season. After searching the pond, RFC. North discovered that it was baited with corn. On December 10, RFC. North and Sergeant Morty Wood arrived at the location in the early hours of the morning and waited for the hunters, who later arrived and started shooting. Four poachers were involved and had shot fifteen wood ducks and one hooded merganser. Violations of hunting ducks over bait and obtaining over the bag limits. All of the birds were confiscated and donated to a family.

LAURENS COUNTY On December 7th, Corporal Dan Stiles received a report of a stranded vessel on the Oconee River. Cpl. Stiles and Ranger Lamar Burns launched a patrol vessel and investigated the location where the vessel was stuck on rocks in the river channel. The officers retrieved the vessel, but were unable to determine the vessel's owner. No persons were reported missing. No vehicles or boat trailers were located at any of the boat landings in the area. The vessel was transported to the Laurens County Sheriff's Department for storage and investigation.
On December 10th, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne received a report of illegal dumping of debris on a hunting club. A large amount of trash and building products were searched through looking for clues as to who may have committed such a crime. At this time, this crime is still under investigation.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.