Field Operations Weekly Report October 8 October 14, 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) CHATTOOGA COUNTY On October 14th, Corporal Ben Cunningham and Game Warden Kalem Burns were traveling north on Highway 27 when the game wardens noticed traffic at a standstill. Upon going around the traffic via the turning lane, the game wardens discovered that there had just been a head on collision between a small hatchback car and a large four door truck. Cpl. Cunningham notified GSP dispatch while GW Burns accessed the scene. The elderly woman in the car was coherent and was talking her son but still requested an ambulance. Cpl. Cunningham assisted her while GW Burns checked on the driver in the truck. GW Burns found the driver in the floorboard of the passenger seat and discovered he did not have a pulse. Several other people had started to gather on scene, and with their help, GW Burns removed the driver from the vehicle and assisted with CPR until paramedics arrived. Georgia State Patrol arrived on scene and the crash investigation was handed over to them. After talking to witnesses, it was found that the driver of the truck had passed out from medical complications and veered over into the other lane striking the elderly lady in the car. The driver was pronounce dead on arrival to the hospital. The incident is under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol. DADE COUNTY On October 13th, GWFC McConkey attended a youth deer hunt in Dade County presented by the Tennessee Wildlife Association. The youth hunt was held in Georgia thanks to a local land owner and member of TWA. The young hunters were selected from across Tennessee to attend and learn many different aspects of hunting deer. This hunt was the first ever deer hunt for some of the new hunters. Game Warden McConkey was able to meet and talk to the young hunters on safety issues, updates in regulations and laws, and answer any questions they had about hunting in Georgia. FLOYD COUNTY On October 11th and 12th, Corporal Ben Cunningham and Game Warden Kalem Burns taught the Georgia Hunter Ed course for a group of students at the Floyd County E.C.O. Center. All of the 13 students that attended the class passed the class and received their hunter education certificate. BARTOW COUNTY On October 14th, Cpl. Byron Young and Game Warden Frank Pucci checked Georgia Department of Transportation property off Old Martin Rd. The Wardens located a truck parked on the property and a few minutes later located a hunter on adjacent property. The hunter did not have permission to access the property through Georgia DOT property. The hunter was also not wearing the required hunter orange. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting without orange and issued a criminal trespass warning for parking on DOT property. On October 14th, Cpl. Byron Yong and Game Warden Frank Pucci located two hunters on Allatoona WMA with muzzleloaders. The 14th was opening day of Primitive Weapons Season statewide, but the WMA was only open to archery hunters. After talking with the hunters it became obvious that the hunters made an honest mistake. The hunters were issued warnings for the violation. Both hunters advised they would double check the hunting regulations in the future. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) BANKS COUNTY On October 14th, Game Wardens Adam Loudermilk and Kevin Goss patrolled Banks County for hunters. During the patrol, they checked 6 hunters and issued citations and warnings for hunting without orange, hunting big game over bait, and hunting without permission. Region III- Thomson (East Central) HANCOCK COUNTY On opening day of primitive weapons season, Sgt. Matt Garthright checked several properties where he had previously found bait. He encountered one juvenile and one adult hunting deer over corn in separate stands. Both had their orange vest with them, but were not wearing it in the stand. Violations of hunting big game over bait and hunting without wearing fluorescent orange were documented. While on patrol, Sgt. Garthright also observed a buck being skinned out and stopped to see if it was properly recorded on the shooter's harvest record. It was determined that a juvenile harvested the buck and that the juvenile did not have a harvest record and therefore had not tagged the buck. Sgt. Garthright addressed this issue with some guidance. NEWTON COUNTY On October 12th Ranger Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting activity. Violations for hunting without a license and failure to record deer harvest were documented. WILKES COUNTY On October 14th Cpl. Mark Patterson checked areas known to be baited for deer. Violations of hunting big game over bait were documented. Region IV- Macon (West Central) No activity to report. Region V- Albany (Southwest) SEMINOLE COUNTY On October 13th, Cpl. Tony Cox and Game Warden David Jones completed an investigation into an illegally harvested deer. The subject of the investigation was issued a citation for recording and reporting requirements for game animals and birds. SUMTER COUNTY In the early morning hours of October 8th, Game Wardens Jesse Harrison and Clint Martin responded to a call of a sinking vessel on Lake Blackshear. When the game wardens arrived the vessel was completely swamped and the four occupants were wearing life jackets. The occupants were transported to shore, and a short time later the vessel was removed from the lake. DOOLY COUNTY On October 8th, Game Warden Clint Martin received a call from a Dooly County Sherriff's Deputy in reference to a subject hunting without permission from his vehicle. Cpl. Martin located and interviewed the subject who claimed he was hunting hogs, but items discovered in the vehicle showed evidence of hunting deer. The subject was charged with hunting without permission, hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, and hunting out of season. MACON COUNTY On October 14th, Game Warden Jesse Harrison responded to a hunting incident after a subject shot himself in the foot while dove hunting. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) EMANUEL COUNTY On October 8th, Ranger Randell Meeks responded to a hunting incident involving quail hunters, off Big Oak Road near the Canoochee community. Meeks assisted the DNR C.I.R.T. Team in the investigation of the incident. JENKINS COUNTY On October 14th, Cpl. Wilcox received a call about somebody shooting at a deer that was standing in someone's yard. The caller gave a description of the driver and the vehicle. Cpl. Wilcox responded to the area off West Old Savannah Road and met with the complainant. While Cpl. Wilcox was at the location he found blood and deer hair in the area that the suspect was seen but was unable to locate the deer. Cpl. Wilcox left the scene and was able to locate the vehicle that matched the description from the complainant. The vehicle was at a nearby hunting camp. The owner of the vehicle matched the description of the suspect. After interviewing the suspect Cpl. Wilcox documented violations for hunting from a vehicle and hunting without permission. LAURENS COUNTY On October 9th, Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the River Bend Wildlife Management Area and the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area. No violations were detected at either of the state owned properties. WILCOX COUNTY On October 7th, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled looking for deer hunting violations. One violation was documented for hunting deer without fluorescent orange vest while muzzleloader hunting. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) BRYAN COUNTY On October 8th, Game Warden Jay Morgan checked fishermen at Tivoli Pier and cited one person for fishing without a license. Wardens Morgan and Morris also conducted and inland patrol of the Richmond Hill WMA. No violations were noted. Later that afternoon, the two Game Wardens investigated a call of shots being fired near the marsh at the Ford Plantation. The Game Wardens investigated the area but were unable to find the source of the shots. LIBERTY COUNTY On October 14th, Game Wardens Kiel Toney, Tim Morris, and Jay Morgan visited with and thanked a group of volunteers from Clean Coast and from Keep Liberty Beautiful organizations who were conducting a beach cleanup event on St. Catherine's Island. The group of volunteers removes trash from the island once a year. The volunteers this year are pictured below along with the Game Wardens that were able to meet with them. On the afternoon of October 14th, Game Wardens Toney, Morris, and Morgan conducted a salt water patrol, checking fishermen and boaters around the St. Catherine's Sound area. One fisherman was cited for over the limit of and possession of undersized of red drum.