Field operations weekly report, 2017 April 8

Field Operations
Weekly Report April 2 April 8, 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)
CATOOSA COUNTY On April 3rd, RFC Roger McConkey and DNR Game Management Biologist David Gregory responded to a complaint of someone holding a raccoon without a wildlife permit in Catoosa County. The officers found that the home was an uninhabited residence and the raccoon was entering and leaving the residence at will and was helping itself to cat food inside the residence. Since the raccoon was not held captive, the officers determined that no violation existed. CHATTOOGA COUNTY On April 5th, RFC Roger McConkey was on patrol in Chattooga County. Multiple storms had passed through the area. RFC McConkey was assisting the county with any needs resulting from the storm. Fortunately, no severe issues developed. Game Wardens have 4x4 trucks, ATVs and chain saws if needed to assist with severe storm damage. DADE COUNTY On April 4th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore teamed up with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wildlife Officer Russ Vandegriff and Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Greg Elrod in Trenton, Georgia for a discussion on KWN TV Sheriff's Talk. The three officers discussed turkey hunting, fishing, and boating topics. This program is a tristate effort to give citizens in the northwest corner of Georgia, northeast corner of Alabama, and southern Tennessee a glimpse at DNR related activities. These officers get together twice a year for this program
TWRA Wildlife Officer Russ Vandegriff, Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer Greg Elrod, & Georgia LED Cpl. Shawn Elmore.

FLOYD COUNTY
Sgt. Mike Barr was on patrol in Floyd County as storms moved through the area. On April 2nd, Cpl. Ben Cunningham conducted a boat and safety patrol at Heath Lake on Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area (PFA). Cpl. Cunningham checked over thirty vessels. One citation and two warnings were written in reference to Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs life jackets). On April 8th, Cpl. Cunningham participated in "Hunt With a Game Warden" sponsored by the DNR Law Enforcement Division. He took a 10 year old girl and her dad on her first turkey hunt to Berry College property. Although they did not harvest anything they had a great time. They saw 3 long beards, 6 hens, lots of deer, and learned a lot about turkey hunting in the spring!
WALKER COUNTY On April 2nd, RFC Roger McConkey was on patrol on the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA). During the patrol, he found several people in the designated fee area without the required Georgia Outdoor Recreational Pass (GORP). People using the area who are ages 16-64 must possess either a GORP, a WMA license or some type of license that includes a WMA license such as a Lifetime license or Sportsman's License. RFC McConkey also found people camping and driving in unauthorized areas. Game Wardens are frequently on patrol on Wildlife Management Areas. PAULDING COUNTY On Sunday, April 2nd, Cpl. Chad Cox was patrolling Paulding Forest WMA and checked a turkey hunter that was exiting the woods. The hunter was hunting with an unplugged shotgun and did not have any current hunting licenses. Cpl. Cox issued the hunter a citation for hunting with an unplugged gun and hunting without a license. He was also given warnings for hunting without a big game license and not having a WMA license.

DOUGLAS COUNTY On Sunday April 2nd Sgt. Eric Brown and RFC Daniel Gray patrolled on Sweetwater Creek State Park. During the patrol the Game Wardens checked 8 individuals fishing and 4 people were issued citations for fishing w/o license.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
BARROW COUNTY On April 4th, Game Warden Chris Kernahan conducted an investigation concerning the egregious dumping of littering on private property in Barrow County. He made contact with the subject who was responsible, and proceeded to conduct an interview. When confronted with the evidence, the subject admitted to dumping the litter. The violation was documented.
HALL COUNTY On April 7th, 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 fishing without licenses, and in possession of marijuana. The violations were documented.
JACKSON COUNTY On April 6th, Game Wardens RFC Eric Isom and K9 "Colt" assisted Jackson County Sheriff's Department in a search for a missing juvenile special needs female near Maysville. She was located under a house in the area. She was not hurt and turned over to the Jackson County Sheriff's Deputies on scene.
On April 8th, Game Wardens Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and RFC Eric Isom conducted an area search on affidavit property located near Commerce. Two subjects were located fishing without permission. All violations were documented and the subjects were released from the scene.
On April 9th, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk, & Game Warden Chris Kernahan patrolled Barrow and Jackson Counties for fishing and boating activity. While on patrol, they detected violations that included fishing without a license, operating a vessel without registration, and operating a vessel without life jackets. The violations were documented.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On April 8th Cpl. Julian Wilkins patrolled Elbert County. One hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait, and another hunter was issued a citation for unlawful enticement. Another person was warned for hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On April 9th, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen and Intern Shayna Kadian checked fishing activity along the Chattahoochee River in Columbus. Cpl. Bolen checked 25 fishing license during the patrol. Four warnings and three citations were issued for fishing without license violations.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
MACON COUNTY On April 5th, Game Warden Jesse Harrison received a call from a landowner in reference to illegal turkey hunting. A landowner had observed a subject shoot a hen turkey in a field. The subject was apprehended and cited for hunting without permission and taking totally protected wildlife.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
COOK COUNTY On April 1st, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey observed a subject at the Barney Bridge Landing (Little River) toss a beer bottle into the woods. Cpl. Daughtrey approached the subject and asked about the beer bottle. The subject picked up the bottle. Using the Mobile Data Terminal in his patrol vehicle, Cpl. Daughtrey learned that the subject was "wanted" out of Lowndes County. After the warrant was verified through GSP Valdosta, the subject was arrested and turned over to Lowndes authorities. BERRIEN COUNTY On April 5th, after a brief investigation, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey cited a subject for hunting turkeys without a big game license. The subject had killed two turkeys. LOWNDES COUNTY On April 5th, Ranger First Class Daniel North was patrolling the west side of Lowndes near the Spain Ferry Rd area when he discovered some turkey bait. On April 6th, RFC North returned in the early morning hours and discovered a truck parked in the vicinity of the bait with matching bait in the bed of the truck. While RFC North was observing the baited area looking for the location of the poacher a gobbler entered the field. It wasn't long before a shot rang out just yards in front of RFC North. Contact was made with the poacher and violations for hunting turkey over bait, hunting big game without a license, hunting without a license and hunting without harvest record were documented. The turkey was seized and donated to local needy family.
BACON COUNTY On March 23rd, Corporal Mark Pool received a call from Bacon County 911 about an illegal burn. Cpl. Pool responded to the location and observed a recliner that had been burnt and was still smoldering. Cpl. Pool spoke with the resident that admitted to burning the recliner. A citation was issued for the illegal burning of egregious litter (less than 500 pounds/ 100 cubic foot).

PIERCE COUNTY On March 31st, Corporal Mark Pool attended a career day at Patterson Elementary School. Cpl. Pool talked to K-5th grades about being a Game Warden in the State of Georgia.
On April 4th, Corporal Mark Pool attended the Pierce County Commission meeting. Cpl. Pool presented the Commissioners with the past year's DNR law enforcement activity and thanked them and concerned citizens for their continued support of DNR LED in the Pierce County area.
WARE COUNTY On April 1st, Corporal Jason Shipes and Sergeant Patrick Dupree were patrolling Swamp Road when two fishermen were encountered. Neither subject possessed a valid fishing license. Cpl. Shipes issued both citations for the violation.
On April 3rd, Corporal Jason Shipes was patrolling popular fishing locations along the Satilla River for fishing activity. Cpl. Shipes located two subjects fishing in the area without valid fishing licenses. Cpl. Shipes issued both subjects citations for the violation.
ECHOLS COUNTY On April 6th, Sergeant Patrick Dupree responded to a hunting without permission complaint near Tom's Creek. Several members of a hunting club were hunting hogs with dogs and entered the neighboring property to continue their hunt when they were encountered by the neighbor. Sgt. Dupree gave verbal warnings to the hog hunters at the neighbor's request and notified the timber company of the incident.
JENKINS COUNTY On April 8th, Corporal Mike Wilcox was patrolling local fishing holes in Jenkins County. Cpl. Wilcox checked several fishermen along the Ogeechee River. One violation for fishing without a license was addressed.
BULLOCH COUNTY On April 8th, Ranger First Class Jordan Crawford patrolled Bulloch County for turkey hunting activity. During the patrol RFC Crawford checked several hunters with one violation for hunting without a license documented.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.