Field operations weekly report, 2017 May 6

Field Operations
Weekly Report April 30 May 6, 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 May 5th RFC Cody Jones went to the designated fishing day for Military Veterans at the Chattahoochee Fish Hatchery on Blue Ridge WMA. Despite the rainy weather, there was a large crowd of Veterans that attended. On May 6th Sgt. James Keener and RFC Cody Jones assisted the citizens of Blue Ridge Lake and the Blue Ridge Lake Civics Association with the annual lake cleanup day. The Game Wardens were one of seven boats that made multiple trips around the lake until the large dumpster was completely filled. The Game Wardens picked up tires, tarps, outdoor furniture, pieces of old docks, flower pots, fishing equipment and other trash.
On May 7th RFC Cody Jones was patrolling Noontootla Creek on the Blue Ridge WMA when he encountered a man along the creek bank smoking Marijuana. RFC Jones searched the suspect and his vehicle and seized the Marijuana. The suspect was charged with possession of Marijuana (less than one ounce).
MURRAY COUNTY On May 6th RFC Mark Moyer assisted the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited with a Kid's Fishing Event on Rock Creek near Peeple's Lake. Warden Moyer also responded, later in the day, to a vessel that had ran aground on the Carter's Re-regulation Lake and then became swamped. Warden Moyer investigated the incident and returned the following day to assist the owner with recovery of the vessel.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On May 3rd, RFC Roger McConkey assisted the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office with the apprehension of a wanted subject that fled into a large wooded area after a domestic disturbance. The subject was found to have felony warrants through the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office. After searching the area the suspect was last seen, RFC McConkey was able to pick up the fleeing man's track. This provided a direction of travel of the fleeing suspect. An investigator was sent ahead of the search party by vehicle while the officers continued to track the subject. He was later apprehended by the investigator that was sent ahead of the tracking officers.
DADE COUNTY On May 6th, SGT. Mike Barr was patrolling Cloudland Canyon State Park. He received a call from Parks Manager Woody Hughes that a tree had fallen on two vehicles in the main parking lot of the day use area. High winds estimated to be in excess of 30 mph had caused the top of a large oak tree to break and fall. No one was hurt or injured. Parks personnel removed the tree that had fallen and assisted the operators of the damaged vehicles. Caution should be used by anyone in the outdoors when high winds may cause trees to give way.

High winds caused the top of a tree to break and fall on vehicles at Cloudland Canyon State Park.
BARTOW COUNTY On May 6th, Cpl. Byron Young and RFC Zack Hardy attended the Wounded Warrior Weekend at the Lake event at Red Top Mt. State Park. Service men, women and families enjoyed a day on Allatoona Lake and returned to the State Park for fellowship and a Bar-B-Que supper. Cpl. Young and RFC Hardy provided the DNR Fishing Simulator for the families to enjoy. 80 people attended the event.
On May 6th, RFC Mark Puig patrolled Pine Log WMA in the evening. RFC Puig encountered several underage males consuming alcohol on the area. The men were charged underage possession of alcohol. RFC Puig also encountered 2 juveniles on a side by side ATV. ATV's are prohibited on the WMA. The young men were escorted off the WMA.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
BARROW COUNTY On May 5th, Game Warden Chris Kernahan conducted an investigation concerning a subject illegally hunting on private property. Game Warden Kernahan made contact with a subject who was found to be hunting without permission, hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, violating recording & reporting requirements for game animals, and in possession of methamphetamine. Game Warden Kernahan arrested the subject, transported him to jail, and obtained warrants.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
CLARKE COUNTY On April 30th CPL Mark Patterson and RFC Tim Butler patrolled Clarke County for fishing and boating activity. Violations documented during the patrol were fishing without permission, fishing without a license, operating a vessel without registration, operating a vessel without personal flotation devices, and operating a vessel with insufficient personal flotation devices.
On May 2nd RFC Tim Butler patrolled Clarke County for fishing and boating activity. Violations documented during the patrol were operating a vessel without personal flotation devices and fishing without a license. On May 5th RFC Phillip Nelson assisted Commissioner Mark Williams, State Parks, and Non-Game with a career day at Fowler Drive Elementary School in Athens.
ELBERT COUNTY On Saturday May 6th SGT Brian Carter, CPL Julian Wilkins, and RFC Phillip Nelson patrolled Elbert County for fishing and boating activity. Violations documented during the patrol were possession of undersized largemouth bass.
BURKE COUNTY On May 1-3, Corporal Jeff Billips and RFC Grant Matherly presented boating and ATV safety programs to all fourth grade students in Burke County through the annual Ag in the Classroom event held at the UGA Experiment Station in Midville. This program is presented to the public schools as well as Edmund Burke Academy, Faith Christian School, and the Mennonite School.
On May 6, Corporal Billips worked two wild turkey hunting complaints. Corporal Billips apprehended a poacher hunting turkeys on property without permission. The case also documented several unreported and unrecorded turkeys harvested by the poacher. Corporal Billips and Corporal Ben Payne met South Carolina DNR Lance Corporal Willis Bowers in North Augusta, South Carolina. The game wardens conducted an interview of a suspect in the second poaching turkeys on property without permission complaint in Burke County. Cases were made for hunting without permission, nonresident license violations, and unreported and unrecorded turkey harvested by the poacher. These investigations remain open with more charges pending.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No Activity to Report
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No Activity to Report
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On April 30th, Sergeant Jon Barnard and Corporal Kevin Joyce patrolled Bullard Creek WMA for illegal ATV use. Multiple ATV's were located on the area and violations were documented for the illegal activity.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY On April 30th, Sergeant Jon Barnard and Corporal Kevin Joyce checked the Altamaha River for boating and fishing activity. Multiple vessels and individuals were checked and violations were documented for operating a vessel with insufficient personal flotation devices.

APPLING COUNTY On April 6th, RFC Bobby Sanders was patrolling Deen's Landing for boating and fishing activity when violation were documented for fishing without a license and operating vessel with improper lights during hours of darkness.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Sunday April 30th, 2017, Cpl. Morgan and Ranger Morris 663 patrolled the Ogeechee River checking boaters and anglers. It was a good day for fishing and boating. Some of the violations cited on that patrol included not having personal flotation devices (PFD), not enough PFD's and allowing a child to ride without wearing a PFD.
On Sunday April 30th Sgt. Scott and RFC Toney were notified of roofing shingles being dumped at an abandoned residence in Bryan County. The complainant believes that he knows who the violators are. The case is currently under investigation.
Also on Sunday April 30th, 2017, Sgt. Scott noticed a boater violating the no wake zone at the King's Ferry boat ramp. When he went to the operator to discuss the violation he found a small child on board riding without wearing a PFD. The operator was cited for the violation.
LIBERTY COUNTY On Saturday May 06, 2017 Sgt. Scott and Cpl. Morgan talked to the kids and adults of Liberty County at the Safe Kids event in Hinesville. Game Wardens Scott and Morgan had wildlife mounts and displays along with handouts about boating, hunting, and fishing.
GLYNN COUNTY On May 5, RFC David Brady participated in the Glynn County Public Safety Day put on by the Glynn County Fire Department. DNR's Law Enforcement Division was able to present to kids and adults of all ages about boating safety, life jackets and everyday duties of a Georgia Game Warden.