Field operations weekly report, 2017 December 23

Field Operations
Weekly Report December 17 December 23, 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)
FANNIN COUNTY On December 22nd, Sgt. Steve Sietz and a Fannin County Deputy responded to a road hunting complaint on Old Dial Rd. Officers handled the initial investigation and forwarded everything to Cpl. Cody Jones the following day. Cpl. Jones interviewed the two suspects (Grandfather & Grandson) and the complainant. The Grandfather was charged with hunting from a vehicle, hunting big game from a public road and hunting without permission. The Juvenile Grandson was given verbal warnings.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On December 22nd, Game Wardens Cpl. Shawn Elmore, GWFC Roger McConkey, GW Kalem Burns, and GW Nolan Callaway were working a night hunting complaint that GW McConkey had received earlier in the week in the south end of the county. Around 2200 hours a vehicle began to shine a field with a flash light. A traffic stop was made on the Chevrolet truck from Alabama. The game wardens located a loaded 22 rifle beside the passenger and several flashlights. Both men admitted to trying shine for a deer. They were both arrested and transported to the Chattooga County jail. The driver, an Alabama man was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road. The passenger, a Summerville man, was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting from a public road, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
After the night hunting stop, the game wardens set back up in the same areas. Around 0130 hours on December 23rd, another vehicle came by and shined the field CPL Elmore and GW Callaway were watching. The game wardens stopped a Honda Civic on a local dirt road after watching the occupants shine several more fields with spotlights. A Rome man, and a Calhoun man had a loaded 30/06 and a loaded 6.5 Creedmoor in the front of the car. The two admitted to shooting at something about 20 minutes before they were stopped. Both were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a motor vehicle.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
BARROW COUNTY On December 17th, Game Warden Chris Kernahan patrolled Barrow Co. for deer night hunting activity. While patrolling, he apprehended one suspect who was spotlighting deer with his vehicle, and hunting with a crossbow. Through the course of the investigation, Game Warden Kernahan determined that the suspect hunted deer at night, hunted from a public roadway, and hunted from a motor vehicle. The violations were addressed. Later that date, Game Warden Kernahan completed an illegal deer hunting investigation. Through the course of the investigation, he determined that one suspect killed multiple deer illegally, hunted without a license, hunted without a big game license, hunted deer without fluorescent orange, violated recording and reporting requirements for game animals. Additionally, Game Warden Kernahan determined that the suspect had instructed one of her family members to illegally tag multiple deer they did not kill on their harvest record. That suspect was also apprehended, and the violations were addressed.
HALL COUNTY On December 17th, Game Warden Kernahan responded to an illegal hunting complaint in Hall Co. He apprehended one suspect who was found to have hunted without permission, hunted without a license, and hunted without a big game license. The violations were addressed.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
MORGAN COUNTY On December 17th , Ranger Dan Schay responded to a complaint at Hard Labor Creek State Park. A violation of failure to obey park regulations was documented.
On December 17th, Cpl. David Allen patrolled Morgan County for boating activity. A Violation for insufficient PFDs was documented.
NEWTON COUNTY On December 17th, Ranger Dan Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting activity and violations for hunting without a license and hunting without a big game license were documented.
HANCOCK COUNTY Between December 15th and 17th Cpl. David Allen patrolled Hancock County for Boating Activity. Violations for No PFD and Failure to obey regulatory Marker were documented.
WILKES COUNTY On December 17th Cpl. Mark Patterson patrolled Wilkes County for hunting activity. Two violations of hunting big game over bait were documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY On December 17th, Game Warden Cpl. Steve Robinson was patrolling the Chattahoochee / Marion County line when he encountered four subjects at a hunting camp. There were two deer hanging in the camp and after further investigation Cpl. Robinson discovered the deer had been killed the previous day by two subjects in the camp who did not have a hunting license. A third subject had killed the two-deer hanging in the camp that day and had also killed a deer the previous day and one last month. The subject had not completed game check or written the deer on his harvest log. All three subjects were issued citations and two deer were confiscated.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TOOMBS COUNTY In the early morning hours of December 17th, Sergeant Jon Barnard and Ranger First Class Bobby Sanders were in an area of a complaint where individuals were shining and shooting deer at night. Around 1:00 am the Game Wardens observed a vehicle on a public road shining a bright light from a pickup truck window. The Game Wardens exited their position and a short distance away conducted a traffic stop. Five individuals were in the vehicle along with a spotlight and .17 caliber rifle. Violations for hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle were documented for all five individuals.
TREUTLEN COUNTY On December 17th, Corporal Kevin Joyce was patrolling for afterhours waterfowl hunting activity. One shoot was located and three hunters were checked resulting in violations for hunting without a license, hunting without Georgia migratory bird license, hunting without a federal duck stamp, hunting with lead shot, hunting with unplugged shotgun, and hunting waterfowl after hours.

DODGE COUNTY On December 22nd, Game Warden Allen Mills and Corporal Dan Stiles were conducting an after-hours waterfowl detail along the Dodge/Laurens county line. Game Warden Mills began to hear shots at 5:50pm and contacted Corporal Stiles to head his way. The officers conducted a foot patrol and located 4 suspects waterfowl hunting. The last shot was at 6:12pm (nearly 45 minutes after legal time). Violations for hunting waterfowl afterhours, taking over the bag limit, hunting without a license, and hunting without Georgia migratory bird stamp were documented. Twenty ducks were confiscated.
Game Warden Allen Mills and Corporal Stiles pictured with confiscated ducks.
IRWIN COUNTY On December 21st, Game Warden Lamar Burns conducted a patrol at Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area. While on patrol Warden Burns encountered three hunters who were checked for compliance. No violations were documented. On December 22nd, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne investigated a hunting incident between two hunters that occurred while hunting doves and resulted in a serious injury to one of the hunters.
LAURENS COUNTY On December 20th, Corporal Dan Stiles conducted a morning and evening patrol on the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area during a sign-in big game hunt. Six hunters were checked for license and regulation compliance. No violations were detected. On December 21st, Corporal Dan Stiles was patrolling for deer hunting activity. A successful hunter was located skinning a deer near his camp. One violation for failure to record the deer on a harvest record was documented. On December 23rd, Corporal Dan Stiles conducted a vessel patrol on the Oconee River for waterfowl hunting activity. While on patrol Corporal Stiles located a vessel tied to the river bank next to a large tract of industrial property. One subject was located on the property and charged with hunting without permission. Later, while on the same patrol Corporal Stiles checked a waterfowl hunter in a kayak. A violation for operating a vessel without a Coast Guard Approved Personal Floatation Device (life jacket) was documented.
TELFAIR COUNTY On December 21, Game Warden Lamar Burns conducted a night hunting patrol. While patrolling Warden Burns encountered three hunters hunting hogs at night. The hunters were checked for compliance and no violations were documented.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.