Field operations weekly report [Jan. 1-7, 2017]

Field Operations
Weekly Report January 1 January 7, 2017
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- Acworth (Northwest)
No activity to report.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
No activity to report.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
OCONEE COUNTY On January 5th RFC Tim Butler received a complaint of a person shooting a red tailed hawk and a woodpecker. When RFC Butler arrived he saw both birds laying in a front yard. The person living in the home was cited for shooting the birds.
NEWTON COUNTY On January 2, Ranger Schay and RFC Butler were checking duck hunters in Newton County. Three violations for hunting waterfowl over bait were documented.
HANCOCK COUNTY On January 6-7, Cpl. David Allen was deployed to Atlanta to work the winter storm. Cpl. Allen assisted a Georgia State Patrol Officer with two traffic accidents and assisted a motorist with a flat tire on highway 166.
WALTON COUNTY On January 2, Ranger Jason Harrison cited an individual for hunting without permission, no hunting license, and no big game license. On January 5, Ranger Jason Harrison cited an individual for hunting ducks over bait.
McDUFFIE COUNTY On January 3, Sgt. Garthright checked two hunters shooting ducks. One individual was cited for hunting without a license, no Ga. Waterfowl stamp, and no federal duck stamp.
WARREN COUNTY On January 7th Sgt. Chaffin and Cpl. Adams were working a hunting without permission complaint on Hwy. 80. Two subjects were apprehended and charged with hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait and hunting without orange.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On January 7th Ranger First Class Jordan Crawford received a complaint regarding deer dogs being off permitted property. RFC Crawford responded to the area and caught one dog on unpermitted property. The owner of the dog was contacted and one violation for failure to keep deer dogs on permitted property was documented. Later that day RFC Crawford checked several other hunters. One violation for operating a motor vehicle without numbers displayed was documented.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CHATHAM COUNTY On Saturday January 7, 2017, Game Wardens Chambers and Scott were called to respond to a boater who was stuck approximately one mile east of the Hwy 204 bridge in the Little Ogeechee River. The man had gone duck hunting that morning in the bitterly cold weather. The gas motor quit working when he was a few miles from the landing he had left from. The man was able to run the trolling motor to get a little bit closer to the landing. The battery used to power the trolling motor ran out and the man was stranded a good distance from the landing. The man tried to use the tide to his advantage but could not due to very strong winds against the tide. The hunter got out to walk the boat closer to the landing through some of the marsh. The man soon stepped into a deep spot in the marsh sinking well past his waders. Realizing how dangerous it is to take water into his waders risking the possibility of drowning or hypothermia the man decided to call for assistance. This Saturday was one of the coldest days of the year. Game Wardens Chambers and Scott were able to locate the hunter through his use of his cell phone to accurately describe his location. When the Game Wardens found the hunter he and his hunting dog were doing very well despite being very cold and wet. The man was towed back to the landing and needed no further assistance.