Field Operations Weekly Report Oct 29 Nov 4, 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) DADE COUNTY On November 4th, Game Warden Sgt. Mike Barr was patrolling Dade County off Old State Road near the Alabama line. He found three hunters that had harvested a buck and were using an ATV and road on property that no one has permission to hunt to access the area. The hunter who took the buck had not properly recorded his harvest. The hunters were warned for hunting without permission and not recording/reporting their harvest. Sgt. Barr assisted the hunter with getting his buck recorded through the Go Outdoors App. On November 4th, Game Warden Sgt. Mike Barr located a vehicle parked on private property off Sulphur Springs Road. The property owners do not allow any type of hunting or trespassing. The vehicle had a Tennessee tag and camouflage clothing in the vehicle. After sitting on the vehicle for several hours, two men returned to the truck. They stated they were ginseng hunting and had harvested approximately pound of ginseng. They stated they had talked to an older man riding an ATV in the area about two years ago who said they could hunt ginseng in the area. Sgt. Barr contacted the landowners who verified they were not supposed to be on the property. The men were charged with harvesting ginseng without written permission. The pound of ginseng was seized as evidence. The two men promised not to return to the area. Ginseng illegally harvested without permission on private property in Dade County near Rising Fawn. FLOYD COUNTY On October 31st, Game Wardens Cpl. Ben Cunningham and Kalem Burns responded to a complaint of a person hunting deer from a public road in the area of Cave Springs, Georgia. On arrival, they located an older man simply watching deer while sitting in his vehicle. No actions were taken. On November 1st, Game Wardens Cpl. Ben Cunningham and Kalem Burns were working the Berry College WMA hunt near Rome, Georgia. They located an inexperienced hunter hunting too close to a public road and using improper ammunition for deer hunting. He was warned for the violations and the game wardens helped him better understand the hunting regulations. On November 1st, Game Wardens Cpl. Ben Cunningham and Kalem Burns donated two illegally harvested deer to a needy family through a local high school near Rome, Georgia. The deer had been found at a local deer processor. The game wardens had previously made contact with the hunter who had turned in the deer. On November 2nd, Game Wardens Cpl. Ben Cunningham and Kalem Burns responded to a tree stand incident in Floyd County. A 25 year old hunter had attempted to use an older tree stand to climb a tree to deer hunt. The stand had a cable that connected around the tree. The loop in the cable broke and the hunter fell approximately 10 feet to the ground. The hunter broke a fibula bone and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. A broken cable was found on a tree stand incident after a hunter fell 10 feet to the ground. GORDON COUNTY On October 30th, Game Warden Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Game Warden Nolan Callaway was checking deer processors and located two small bucks that had been killed by the same person. Game Warden Roger McConkey and Game Warden Callaway met with the suspect on November 3rd and he was issued a citation for taking over the season limit of antlered deer. The 5 point was confiscated and the meat was donated to a needy family. On November 4th, Game Warden Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Game Warden Nolan Callaway served arrest warrants on the individuals from Fairmount. The trio was charged with theft by taking, criminal trespass, and theft by receiving stolen property. The charges stem from an investigation by the game wardens into a trail camera and corn from a feeder that had been stolen. On November 5th, Game Warden Cpl. Shawn Elmore checked an area in Fairmount where he had received information that a Fairmount man was hunting on a club and the man's membership had been suspended due to previous hunting violations. Cpl. Elmore located the Fairmount man hunting deer without fluorescent orange in the same hunting blind where he was caught and charged with hunting deer over bait on September 23rd. This violation was the third time he has been charged with hunting violations in the last 7 months. He was arrested and charged in March 2017 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and hunting turkeys over bait. BARTOW COUNTY On October 29nd, Sgt. Jason Roberson obtained information that a buck was killed near the property line of a private hunting club and Allatoona WMA. At the time the WMA was closed to deer hunting. Cpl. Byron Young met with Sgt. Roberson and checked the area. The Wardens searched the area for several hours and located fresh ATV tracks and a fresh blood trail. At the conclusion of the investigation the Wardens determined that the buck was shot over a baited area and trailed onto the closed WMA and shot again. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and the buck was seized. On October 30th, Wardens Zack Hardy and Frank Pucci responded to a call of a doe shot near Kingston, GA. The Wardens located a large doe in a field off Reynold Bridge Rd. The Wardens checked the area and located a male that shot the doe. The hunter did not possess a valid hunting license. The hunter was charged with shooting an antlerless deer and hunting without a license. The hunter was issued a warning for hunting without a big game license. On October 30th, Cpl. Byron Young received a call from a hunter that wanted to turn himself in for shooting an antlerless deer out of season. The hunter explained that he made a mistake not reading the hunting regulation prior to his hunt and took full responsibility for his actions. Cpl. Young issued the hunter a warning for taking an antlerless deer. On October 31st, Warden Zack Hardy completed an investigation of subjects breaking into park pass boxes on Red Top Mt. State Park. Warden Hardy obtained 5 arrest warrants for prowling, criminal trespass and interference with Government Property for a repeat offender that was arrested last year for the same charges. On November 1st, Warden Zack Hardy located a baited ladder stand with whole corn and sweet feed on Barnsley Gardens property near Kingston. Later that afternoon Warden Hardy checked the stand and located a hunter in the stand. The hunter was issued citations for hunting big game over bait and hunting on lands of another without permission. On November 4th, Warden Zack Hardy responded to Pine Log WMA on a complaint of someone possibly hunting big game on a closed WMA. Warden Hardy located three hunters that were hunting feral hogs on the WMA. Two hunters were hunting with 30-06 caliber rifles and the other with a .22 caliber rifle. Warden Hardy issued warnings for hunting small game with illegal weapons and a warning for hunting without a license. A few minutes later Warden Hardy responded to Allatoona WMA off Wilderness Camp Road for possible hunting without permission complaint. Warden Hardy located a hunter that was hunting on the WMA. The hunter crossed through CORP of Engineer property closed for hunting to access the WMA. The hunter was issued a warning for hunting without permission on the CORP of Engineer property and advised of another area to park to legally access the WMA. On November 4th, Cpl. Bart Hendrix and Warden Frank Pucci patrolled Pine Log WMA. The wardens located three hunter big game hunting on the closed WMA. The officers also located a subject that littered a beer can into the woods. Citations and warnings were issued for the violations. CHEROKEE COUNTY On October 31st,Cpl. Bart Hendrix and Cpl. Byron Young responded to a call of shot being fired on US Army Corps of Engineers Property in Woodstock. This area is closed to rifle deer hunting. Cpl. Young located a deer hunter with a rifle on the Corps property line. The hunter was not wearing hunter orange. The Wardens searched the area and located whole corn within 200 yards of his location and a trail camera. The 18 year old hunter was issued a citation for hunting without hunter orange and a warning for hunting big game over bait. On November 4th, Warden Mark Puig located a hunter in a baited deer stand in southern Cherokee County. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and hunting without hunter orange. COBB COUNTY On November 1st, Warden Mark Puig responded to Kennesaw National Battlefield Property to investigate a buck shot on the property line. Warden Puig determined that the deer was shot on private property. The hunter had not recorded the deer harvest on his license or DNR game check. The hunter was issued a warning for the violation. On November 4th, Warden Mark Puig located a hunter in the Powder Springs area hunting big game over bait and without permission. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting over bait and hunting on lands of another without permission. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) BANKS COUNTY On November 4th, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk patrolled Banks County for hunters. During the patrol, he encountered an area heavily baited for deer. As he attempted to locate the hunter, he observed the hunter attempt to hide from him. He made contact with the hunter, who also attempted to hide his gun. After speaking with the hunter, he was arrested and charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, hunting under the influence of alcohol, interference with the performance of a ranger's duties, hunting big game over bait, and hunting without orange. BARROW COUNTY On October 29th, Cpl. Eric Isom, Game Warden Chris Kernahan, and K-9 Colt conducted an area check on private property in Barrow County. During the area check, they located two subjects who were found to be hunting deer without fluorescent orange. Upon further investigation, additional violations were addressed which included hunting big game over bait, unlawful enticement of game animals, non-resident hunting without a license, and non-resident hunting without a big game license. On November 4th, Game Wardens Mark Stephens and Chris Kernahan conducted an area check on private property in Barrow County. During the area check, the Game Wardens located one subject who was found to be hunting big game over bait. The violation was addressed. On November 5th, Game Warden Chris Kernahan conducted multiple area checks on private property in Barrow County. During the area checks, Game Warden Kernahan addressed violations which included hunting big game over bait, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting without a license, and hunting without a big game license. JACKSON COUNTY On October 30th, Game Warden Eric Isom finish and investigation, which involved someone shooting two bucks opening weekend on someone else's property. Cpl. Isom located the subject hunting and found that he was not wearing orange after an interview the subject confessed to shooting a spike and 8-point without permission. On November 4th, Game Warden Eric Isom answered a complaint from a landowner near Braselton. Cpl. Isom along with K9 Colt located a subject hunting without permission and over bait. That same day Cpl. Isom responded to a complaint near Talmo. The landowner heard someone shoot six rapid shots that morning on his property. Cpl. Isom located a suspicious vehicle hidden across the road from the complainant's property. Cpl. Isom and Colt located two subjects on the complaint's property. Both subject were not wearing orange, and had no hunting licenses. One of the subjects was also found to be a convicted felon. Later that day Cpl. Isom responded to another hunting without permission complaint. Cpl. Isom and Colt located a sixteen-year-old hunter on the complaint's property. He was not wearing orange and had killed a button buck. Cpl. Isom turned the subject over to his mother with a verbal warning and allowed him to keep the deer, with the landowners consent. HART COUNTY On October 30th, RFC Brandon Pierce and RFC Tim Vickery finished a complaint that involved a subject killing a doe on a "buck only" day. The subject was issued a citation for killing an antlerless deer. On November 3rd, RFC Brandon Pierce and RFC Shane Sartor ended an investigation on possible violations surrounding an illegally harvested deer. Enough evidence was gathered to interview the subject and the officers were able to get a confession. The investigation resulted in one citation of hunting big game over bait and an eight point buck was seized as evidence. On November 4th, RFC Brandon Pierce and Sgt. Derek Dillard finished up an investigation of some possible violations that resulted from an illegally harvested deer. The officers located the subject and an interview took place. The officers were able to determine that the subject had several violations. As a result, a citation for hunting without a license was issued and two warnings of hunting without a big game license and failure to record deer harvest was documented. An eight point buck rack was seized as evidence. On November 4th, Cpl. Craig Fulghum responded to a complaint of hunting without permission. Cpl. Fulghum arrived at the scene and found one subject to be hunting without permission on the hunting lease. A citation was issued for hunting without permission and warning for unlawful enticement of game. On November 4th, Cpl. Craig Fulghum received an illegal hunting complaint near the Hart/Elbert County line. Cpl. Fulghum responded to the complaint and found a small buck that had been shot illegally over bait and no permission had been granted to hunt the property. A short time later a subject pulled up to retrieve the deer and Cpl. Fulghum made contact with the hunter. After a brief interview if was determined that the hunter had killed the buck over bait and had not received permission to hunt the property. A citation was issued for hunting big game over bait and warnings issued for hunting without permission and hunting without a big game license. The buck was confiscated as evidence and the meat was given to a family in need. STEPHENS COUNTY On November 4th, RFC Brandon Pierce, Sgt. Derek Dillard, and RFC Shane Sartor worked Stephens County for any hunting violations. One hunter was checked and found to be in violation of hunting deer over bait. The hunter was issued a warning for hunting big game over bait. Region III- Thomson (East Central) OCONEE COUNTY On October 29th Sgt. Brian Carter and RFC. Tim Butler checked several properties for deer hunting activity. Five cases of hunting without permission were documented. Additional charges documented were hunting deer without fluorescent orange, failure to record deer harvest, and hunting with an illegal weapon. On November 4th RFC Tim Butler documented one violation of hunting without permission. HANCOCK COUNTY On November 4th, SGTGarthright and CPL Allen patrolled Hancock county for Deer Hunting Activity, Violations for Hunting Big Game Over Bait and Hunting Deer Without Fluorescent Orange were documented. NEWTON COUNTY On November 1st, Ranger Dan Schay was patrolling Newton County for hunting activity and violations for hunting big game over bait and hunting deer without fluorescent orange were documented. MORGAN COUNTY On November 3rd, RFC Ricky Boles Patrolled Morgan County for Deer Hunting Activity, violations for a Doe out of Season and an Illegal Buck were documented. WALTON COUNTY On October 30th, Ranger Dan Schay and RFC Boles worked an investigation in Walton county. During the course of the investigation a violation of taking over the bag limit was documented and a 9 point buck was seized as evidence. On November 4th, Ranger Jason Harrison patrolled Walton county for hunting activity. A violation for Hunting without a license was documented. On November 6th, Ranger Jason Harrison and RFC Ricky Boles worked a hunting without permission complaint. During the course of the investigation violations for Hunting Without Permission and Hunting Without Fluorescent Orange were Documented. Region IV- Macon (West Central) BALDWIN COUNTY On the afternoon of November 4th Cpl. Bubba Stanford located two deer hunters on a small tract of private property. The hunters did not possess valid licenses, were hunting over bait and were not wearing the required fluorescent orange. Citations were issued to both hunters for the violations. BF GRANT WMA From November 2nd-4th Cpl. Bubba Stanford and Sgt. Bo Kelly patrolled the quota deer hunt. Numerous hunters were checked and three hunters were issued citations for killing an illegal deer on a quality buck hunt. The deer were confiscated and donated to a local needy family. JONES COUNTY On the afternoon of November 4th RFC Ronnie Beard located a deer hunter on a powerline. The hunter was not wearing the required fluorescent orange and was discovered to be hunting over bait. The subject was issued a citation. TALBOT COUNTY On October 29th, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen and Game Warden Ethan Franklin were patrolling for deer hunting activity. The officers located a vehicle and ran the tag. They determined through the database that the driver did not have a valid hunting license. K-9 Ruger was utilized to track the hunters from the vehicle to their deer stand. Two hunters were located and determined to be in possession of only a valid deer harvest record. Both hunters were issued a citation for hunting without a big game license and a written warning for hunting without a license. During the investigation, Cpl. Bolen discovered that one of the hunters killed a 7 point buck the day before. The deer rack was seized as evidence and the meat donated to a food bank. Region V- Albany (Southwest) DECATUR COUNTY On November 1st, Cpl. Tony Cox and Warden David Jones were patrolling Lake Seminole, when they encountered a subject commercial fishing who was in possession of approximately 600ft of gill net. The subject was issued a citation for possession of more than 300ft of gill net on Lake Seminole. MITCHELL COUNTY On November 4th, Cpl. Jon Penuel and Warden David Jones encountered one adult and a child hunting deer, neither of which was wearing the required fluorescent orange. As a result, the adult was issued a citation for hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange. COLQUITT COUNTY On October 31st, Warden Eric White responded to a complaint of a subject hunting without permission on a landowner's property. When Warden White arrived on scene he witnessed a large tower stand, a food plot, and other hunting related items placed on the complainant's property. After a search of the area, Warden White was able to locate evidence identifying the subject as a neighboring landowner. Warden White interviewed the neighboring landowner and he admitted to hunting on the property without permission. Warden White charged the subject with hunting without permission and instructed him to remove all of his equipment from property. WORTH COUNTY On November 2nd, Warden Eric White responded to complaint of a subject hunting out of season. Warden White received evidence linking the violator to a slain bobcat which was killed the previous weekend. Warden White interviewed the subject who admitted to killing the bobcat. Warden White charged the subject for hunting out of season. TIFT/WORTH COUNTIES October 29th, Cpl. Greg Wade completed an illegal dumping investigation where a subject cleared a lot where a home had burned, and dumped the debris along the roadway. The suspect was charged with unlawful dumping of egregious litter in Tift and Worth Counties. TURNER COUNTY On October 30th, Game Warden Al Greer responded to a hunting without permission complaint and observed the subject exiting the woods without a firearm or bow. Sgt. Greer conducted a quick search of the area and recovered the subjects the rifle. The subject was charged with hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait, hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license and hunting deer without fluorescent orange. A warning was given for hunting without hunter safety certification. On November 3rd, Game Warden Al Greer received a hunting without permission complaint in Turner County. Greer checked the property and located the deer stand and the following morning observed a subject hunting from the deer stand. The subject was charged with hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait, hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license and hunting deer without fluorescent orange. A warning was given for hunting without hunter safety certification. MARION COUNTY On November 4th, Game Warden Jesse Harrison received information about a subject illegally hunting during the quota hunt on the Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA. Harrison located the subject and determined the subject had not been selected for the quota hunt. The subject had killed a buck the previous evening and it was confiscated. Harrison continued his patrol and determined two other subjects hunting the WMA had not been selected for the quota hunt. All 3 subjects were charged with criminal trespass on DNR property. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) BERRIEN COUNTY On the night of November 3rd, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey was sitting in a field that he and Ranger Chris Thompson had seen a spotlight shined into while sitting in a nearby location the previous weekend. At approximately 11:45 P.M., Daughtrey observed a vehicle stop on the dirt road in front of the field. A light with a red lens was shined into the field several times. Daughtrey pulled in behind the suspect vehicle and followed it several miles before making a traffic stop. The driver had a light with a red lens beside him in the front seat. A passenger in the rear seat of the truck had a loaded 308 caliber rifle in the seat with him. The driver became confrontational. Daughtrey called for backup. Two Berrien County Sheriff's deputies and GSP 653 soon arrived on scene. The driver was arrested by GSP for DUI. All three subjects in the truck were cited for: hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting big game from a public road. EFFINGHAM COUNTY On November 1st Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford received a call from members of the Effingham County Animal Control section within the Effingham County Sheriff's office. The deputies alerted Warden Crawford that an individual was holding four live opossums in her home. Warden Crawford went to the home and met with the person holding the opossums. Warden Crawford explained to the homeowner that she could not keep the opossums and that her actions were against the law. Warden Crawford documented a violation for holding a game animal without a permit and confiscated the opossums. On November 4th Game Wardens Jordan Crawford, Jack Thain and K9 Case were conducting a foot patrol on a tract of property off Taylor Chapel road. While conducting the patrol both Game Wardens observed a loud verbal argument coming from a house across a field from the property they were on. The argument continued to escalate until both parties drew handguns and started threatening to shoot each other. Being too far from the subjects (approximately 300 yards) to affect an arrest both Game Wardens quickly ran back to their patrol trucks to notify the local Sheriff's Office. Several deputies were nearby and quickly made it to the scene and all units converged on the suspects. Two subjects were taken into custody and charged with assault with a weapon and public intoxication. EMANUEL COUNTY On October 29th, Corporal Mike Wilcox and Ranger Randell Meeks were patrolling the Canoochee area when they observed a group of hunters place a dog in a dog box in the back of a truck. After a quick investigation, the three hunters admitted that they had been running deer with dogs. Violations of hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting deer with dogs on unpermitted property, hunting without a hunting license and hunting without big game license were documented. CHARLTON COUNTY On Saturday, October 28th, Ranger First Class Sam Williams was patrolling for deer hunting activity in the Winokur area when he observed a group of dog deer hunters parked alongside a public roadway. As the officer approached the group of hunters, he observed one subject standing on the road shoulder holding a shotgun and could hear the dogs just a short distance from the road in an active deer chase. The subject's hunting licenses were check and the violation of hunting big game from a public road was documented. CLINCH COUNTY On November 4th, Ranger First Class Daniel North was patrolling the Dupont area for night hunters when he observed a truck pull off the road and two individuals started shining lights around the area, and into a group of trees. RFC. North made contact with the individuals and they advised that they had been hunting raccoons. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that neither had a valid hunting license nor had permission to be hunting on that property. Violations of hunting without permission and hunting without license was documented for both suspects. TOOMBS COUNTY On October 31st Sgt. Jon Barnard and Ranger First Class Bobby Sanders were working in an area that had several complaints of shots being fired late at night. The two Game Wardens observed a vehicle drive past their location shining a spotlight in a peanut field and then in the trees surrounding the field. The vehicle was stopped and two individuals stated they were looking for raccoons to shoot. Violations for hunting from a public road, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting without a license were documented. TOOMBS COUNTY On November 4th Corporal Kevin Joyce and K-9 Briar were patrolling for hunting activity when one hunter was contacted and found to be hunting without a florescent orange vest, the proper violation was documented. APPLING COUNTY On the night of November 4th, Cpl. Altman was working a complaint for night hunting near a blueberry field. One vehicle was observed shining a light out the driver's side window and then the passenger side window. The vehicle was stopped and 3 subjects were charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) No activity to report.