Field operations weekly report [Feb. 26-Mar. 4, 2017]

Field Operations
Weekly Report February 26 March 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)
No activity to report.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY On March 2nd, Game Warden Chris Kernahan patrolled Lake Lanier for fishing related activity. While on patrol in Hall County, he made contact with multiple subjects who were found to be in possession of marijuana. The violations were documented.
On February 26th, RFC Kevin Goss responded to a hunting complaint at Cedar Creek Reservoir. When he arrived he discovered a truck with a dog kennel in the back and a spent shotgun sell. Later RFC Eric Isom arrived with his K-9 partner "Colt". They proceeded to track the hunters. When the hunters were encountered it was determined that they, where on county property and one of the hunters didn't have a hunting license. 2 rabbits were seized and hunting without permission and license citations were issued.
HABERSHAM COUNTY On March 2nd, Sgt. Steve Seitz and RFC Joe Hill conducted commercial license inspections of two taxidermist in Habersham County. The Game Wardens found that one taxidermist had violations for information that needed to be recorded with animals the business had taken in for taxidermy work. This taxidermist had received a written warning for the same violation in 2016 and was issued a citation for the violation. The Game Wardens found that the second taxidermist had violations for information that needed to be recorded with animals the business had taken in for taxidermy work. This taxidermist received a written warning for the violation since they had not been issued a warning prior to this encounter.
RABUN COUNTY On March 4, 2017, Sgt. Steve Seitz, and Rangers Beth Gilbert and Tommy Crabb assisted with the rescue of an adult female who fell and injured her knee in the bottom of the gorge at Tallulah Gorge State Park. Rescue personnel carried the female out of the gorge and she was transported to a local hospital for additional medical attention.
WHITE COUNTY On March 4, Cpl. Anne Wiley was patrolling the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area when she encountered a campsite with non-natural debris inside the fire pit which was unburned mail and a partially burnt Georgia vehicle license plate. A white in color U-Haul style, truck was parked in the campsite. Cpl. Wiley knocked on the door after finding the back door was locked from the inside. A male subject inside did not want to open the door and exit the vehicle at first but after a conversation with the male subject, he opened the back door and provided Cpl. Wiley with his identification. Cpl. Wiley found him to be carrying two firearms on his person and he possessed a weapons carry license which expired in July 2016. Cpl. Wiley called for assistance from White County Sheriff's Department. Cpl. Ken Daniels with the White County S.O responded to the campsite to assist Cpl. Wiley. The officers gained consent to search the vehicle. During the search, the officers found two ounces of suspected marijuana in the back of the truck. The officers called the Appalachian Drug Task Force for assistance to handle the case since a felony amount of marijuana was found. The male subject who owned the truck was arrested for felony possession of marijuana and possible charges for distributing marijuana.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GLASCOCK COUNTY On March 6, Game Warden Cpl. Brian Adams assisted the Glascock County Sheriff's Office with a hostage situation stemming from a child custody dispute.

BUTTS COUNTY On March 1, while traveling through Butts County, RFC Tim Butler observed someone driving a truck while a passenger was attempting to jump out of an open door. RFC Butler initiated a vehicle stop, and determined the occupants of the truck were having a domestic dispute. Additionally, the driver of the truck was driving with a suspended driver's license. RFC Butler contacted the Butts County Sheriff's Department to assist with the situation. The driver was arrested by the sheriff's department for driving on a suspended driver's license.
WILKES COUNTY On March 4, Cpl. Mark Patterson and RFC Tim Butler patrolled the county for hunting and fishing activity. Violations documented during the patrol were trapping raccoons out of season and possession of over the daily creel limit of crappie.
NEWTON COUNTY On March 3, Ranger Schay was patrolling Newton County for fishing activity and a violation of fishing without a license was documented.
On March 4, Ranger Schay and Ranger Harrison were patrolling Newton County for fishing and boating activity and a violation of operating a vessel without PFD's was documented.
WALTON COUNTY On February 26, Ranger Jason Harrison Patrolled Lake Varner for Fishing and Boating Activity. Seven cases of Fishing Without a License were documented.
On March 5, Ranger Jason Harrison Patrolled the Oconee River for Fishing and Boating Activity. One case for Fishing Without a License, and two cases of Operating a Vessel with insufficient PFDs were documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BERRIEN COUNTY On February 26th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked fishing and boating activity at Paradise PFA. Violations documented were fishing w/o a license, fishing w/o a WMA license, operating a vessel w/o PFD's, and illegal consumption of alcohol on a PFA.
On March 4th, Cpl. Daughtrey responded to a complaint at Paradise PFA in reference to subjects fishing in a closed lake and keeping undersize bass. Cpl. Daughtrey documented numerous violations while on patrol at the PFA, including: fishing w/o a license, fishing w/o a WMA license, possession of undersize bass and operating a vessel w/o PFD's.
BEN HILL COUNTY On March 4th, Game Warden John A. Stokes patrolled creeks for fishing violations. Two people were checked and violations were documented for fishing without a license.

DODGE COUNTY On March 4th, Game Warden Allen Mills conducted a patrol at the Dodge County Public Fishing Area. Three vessels and eight anglers were checked for rules and regulation compliance. Violations for operating a vessel with insufficient personal flotation devices (PFD) and entering a designated fee area without a Georgia Outdoor Recreational Pass (GORP) were documented.
On March 5th Ranger Lamar Burns conducted a river patrol at Ocmulgee River. One vessel and two anglers were checked for compliance. No violations were documented.
LAURENS COUNTY On March 4th, Corporal Dan Stiles and Ranger First Class Allen Mills patrolled the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area during a quota feral hog hunt. The officers located four persons hunting during the quota hunt that were not selected as part of the quota. Four violations for hunting on a closed Wildlife Management Area (WMA) were documented. Two additional violations were documented for transporting a loaded firearm (rifle) in a vehicle on a WMA and hunting without a hunting license.
On March 4th, Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area. Nineteen anglers were checked for license and creel compliance and four vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment. Three violations for fishing on a Public Fishing Area (PFA) without a Wildlife Management Area license were documented. One violation for fishing without a fishing license, one violation for operating a vessel without registration and one violation for fishing without a license on person were also documented.
IRWIN COUNTY On February 27th, Ranger First Class (RFC) Rodney Horne investigated a compliant in Ocilla about 3 adult poachers and a juvenile shooting squirrels from a vehicle and from a public road. In conclusion, the investigation resulted in the three adult poachers charged with hunting from a vehicle and for hunting from a public roadway.
TELFAIR COUNTY On March 4th, Ranger Lamar Burns conducted an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) patrol on Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area. Four vessels and six anglers were checked for compliance. No violations were documented.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRIAN COUNTY On Saturday March 4, 2017 Game Warden, Cpl. J. Morgan checked the fishing pier on Ft. McAllister State Park campground. He found two men fishing without license. One fisherman had several Whiting. Both men were cited for fishing without a license.
Later that same day Cpl. Morgan checked the Tivoli River fishing Pier. There were several fishermen on the pier fishing and trying to land Blue Crabs. One man had and undersized Spotted Sea Trout and a few undersized crabs. The man was cited for the undersized wildlife and given current fishing regulations.
On Saturday March 4, 2017 Game Wardens Kiel Toney and Tim Morris patrolled the Ogeechee River for fishing and boating activity. While on vessel patrol the Game Wardens checked several boaters and anglers. Some of the violations documented were: operating vessel within 100' of object/shore above idle speed, operating vessel with improper PFD, and failure to obey regulatory marker.