Field operations weekly report, 2017 June 24

Field Operations
Weekly Report June 18th June 24th, 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)
FLOYD COUNTY On June 21st, Cpl. Ben Cunningham participated in the 8th annual Kids vs. Wild summer camp that is put on by the Floyd County Sheriff's Office and Floyd County Parks and Recreation Department. The 30 campers ranged from 8 to 12 years of age. Instructors taught the campers gun safety and helped them work on their marksmanship skills at the Floyd County Wildlife Club. The campers got to shoot BB guns and bows. Some of the campers said it was their first time ever shooting. Cpl. Cunningham helped them get on target with their shooting skills.
Cpl. Ben Cunningham helped campers learn to shoot BB guns at the 8th annual Kids VS. Wild Summer Camp.
Campers learned to shoot bows at Kids VS. Wild Summer Camp in Floyd Co.

On June 24th, Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Ben Cunningham were on patrol in Floyd County checking trout fishermen at Johns Creek. They stopped alongside Floyd Springs Road which is adjacent to the creek. The officers witnessed two males smoking suspected marijuana. Cpl. Cunningham made contact with the men. They had very little of a small joint left. The driver of their vehicle consented to a search of the vehicle. No other illegal drugs or drug objects were found. Cpl. Cunningham discussed the seriousness of drug use with the two young men. MONROE COUNTY On June 19th and 20th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore taught several classes at the Advanced Game Warden Academy at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth, Georgia. He is a Critical Incident Reconstruction Team member and taught hunting and boating incident investigations, drowning investigations, and courtroom testimony and demeanor. These skills are regularly used by Game Wardens. On June 21st and 22nd, Sgt. Mike Barr and Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon taught a class at the Advanced Game Warden Academy at the GPSTC in Forsyth, Georgia. The Game Warden cadets received training on customer service, information and education programs, and media relations with the class deemed "Game Warden in the Public". Game Wardens often respond to critical events covered by the media.
Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon practices a media interview with new Game Warden Cadets at the Advanced Game Warden Academy.

WALKER COUNTY On June 23rd, Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) dispatch center. They had received a call from the Walker County 911 dispatch center that a tractor/trailer car hauler had gone off the road at Pigeon Mountain WMA on Dougherty Gap Road. Walker County Fire and Rescue responded and transported the driver for minor medical treatment. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) worked the accident and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) inspected the truck. Fuel was leaking from the truck. Game Wardens contacted the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and a HazMat crew arrived out of Chattanooga, Tennessee to contain the spill. The car hauler was fully loaded and Yates wrecker service estimated it would take six plus hours to remove the cars and hauler. Sgt. Mike Barr, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, and Cpl. Ben Cunningham assisted at the scene. GSP issued the driver multiple citations. A car hauler lost control on Pigeon Mountain WMA at a switchback off Dougherty Gap Road. Trucks are not allowed to operate on this road which has roadway signage.
Recovery of the overturned car hauler took over six hours. CARROLL COUNTY On June 19th, Cpl. Chad Cox checked on a complaint of someone trying to sell a whitetail deer fawn on Facebook. The Game Warden was able to locate the individual, and he was cited for possession of wildlife without a permit. The deer was transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
RABUN COUNTY On June 18, Cpl. Anne Wiley patrolled the Tallulah Gorge State Park. Game Warden Wiley cited one adult female for not having a gorge floor permit to access the Tallulah Gorge floor.
On June 24, Cpl. Wiley charged one adult male for allowing three juveniles to operate an inflatable vessel on Tallulah Lake without possessing any personal floatation devices.
TOWNS COUNTY On June 18, RFC David Webb and Cpl. Anne Wiley patrolled Lake Chatuge by vessel. Several boats and fishermen were checked by the Game Wardens. One adult male was warned for towing a skier on a personal watercraft without having an observer and for operating vessel with an expired fire extinguisher.
WHITE COUNTY On June 24, Cpl. Anne Wiley patrolled Unicoi State Park. One warning was written to an adult male for fishing without a trout license. His daughter was also warned for not having a fishing license or a trout license and was advised on how to purchase the licenses.
Cpl. Wiley patrolled the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area. One adult male was warned for using a metal detector on the WMA.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
BURKE COUNTY On June 19, Corporal Jeff Billips concluded a month long investigation with the arrest of two suspects for multiple turkey hunting violations. The suspects were charged with hunting without permission (3 counts), recording/reporting requirements for game birds (4 counts), hunting after obtaining bag limit (5 counts), taking over the bag limit (4 counts), hunting without hunter safety certification (1 count), and making false statements to obtain license (1 count).
RICHMOND COUNTY On June 24, Cpl. Payne patrolled Richmond County. He checked fishing and boating activity around the county. Several without permission complaints were checked with no activity documented.
CLARKE COUNTY On June 23rd RFC Tim Butler patrolled local fishing and boating areas. Violations documented during the patrol were fishing without a license.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HEARD COUNTY On June 21st, Sgt. Brent Railey and Cpl. Jeremy Bolen attended the Rock Ridge youth church camp. The Game Wardens taught BB gun shooting fundamentals and safety to the group of kids. Cpl. Bolen also utilized K-9 Ruger to perform a demonstration which displayed the various functions of the departments K-9 program.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On June 18th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver interviewed 2 subjects involved in a spear fishing complaint on the Chattahoochee River. At the conclusion of the interviews, it was apparent that neither subject had a vast knowledge of the laws pertaining to spear fishing in Georgia. Both subjects were educated as to when, how, and what fish could be taken with spear fishing equipment. The two fishermen were issued written warnings for spearing game fish and one was issued a citation for non-resident fishing without a license.

On June 18th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver checked boating activity at the Lake Oliver Marina. Cpl. Oliver encountered 4 boaters in kayaks that did not have a PFD on board. The four boaters were issued citations for operating a vessel without having CGA PFD's on board.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On June 21, RFC Steve Thomas conducted a PSA at a local radio station in Decatur County on boating safety.
GRADY COUNTY On June 21, RFC Steve Thomas responded to a fishing without permission complaint at Tired Creek Public Lake. Two subjects were issued citations for fishing without permission. One subject was issued a warning.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
SCREVEN COUNTY On June 23rd, Corporal Shaymus McNeely investigated a complaint of poisoning wildlife. A dead feral hog had been located near a property line, with shelled corn poured out nearby. Cpl. McNeely investigated the area and determined no poison had been used. The hog had been caught in a snare. The snare was located in a gap in a fence row. A suspect was located on the adjoining property, and the violation of trapping with an unlawful device was documented.
JENKINS COUNTY On June 20th, Corporal Mike Wilcox was patrolling boat landings along the Ogeechee River in Jenkins County. Cpl. Wilcox documented one violation of fishing without a license.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
WAYNE COUNTY On June 23, CPL Bobby White and RFC Patrick Gibbs patrolled the Altamaha River between Hughes Old River and Lake Bluff. They checked 12 vessels and 22 boaters/fishermen. The Game Wardens addressed violations for: Allowing a child under 13 to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a PFD, 2 counts of operating a vessel without PFD's, two counts of operating above idle speed within 100' of an object, and littering.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On June 21, SGT Damon Winters and RFC Jay Bright conducted an I/E program for the students in the Wildlife Program at ABAC during their week-long visit to Sapelo Island.
On June 24, RFC Patrick Gibbs checked boaters/fishermen throughout the inshore coastal waters of McIntosh County. His efforts resulted in violations being addressed for towing a skier without a PFD, and two counts of operating a vessel without PFD's,
BRYAN COUNTY On June 24, 2017 Sgt. Scott and RFC Toney patrolled Bryan County and Fort McAllister State Park. While patrolling the State Park several campers were cited for consuming alcohol in pubic use areas. Sgt. Scott and RFC Toney also patrolled King's Ferry boat ramp and Three Ponds recreational area. While patrolling the boat ramp several vessel operators were cited for light violations, either no navigation lights at all or improper navigation lights, or for safety equipment violations. Some of the safety violations were for not having any Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's) on board or not enough PFD's onboard. The vessel without any PFD's had five persons on board. One other person was cited for fishing without a license.

On June 24, 2017 Sgt. Scott and RFC Morris were patrolling the salt water fishing areas of Bryan County. The two Game Wardens were slowly approaching a vessel with two men on board fishing. RFC Morris noticed one of the men leaning over near the back of the boat and a large fish in the water. As the Game Wardens continued to get closer to the fishermen they noticed that the large fish was now drifting away from the anchored vessel. The fish was retrieved from the water and found to be a large Red Drum. When asked about the fish one of the anglers admitted to having the fish on board but trying to sink or otherwise get rid of the fish before they could be checked. The size limit for Red Drum is a slot limit from 14-23 inches. This Red Drum was 41 inches long, 18 inches over the limit. The fish was seized and the fisherman was cited for possession of the illegal Red Drum and for concealing wildlife. Below is a phot of RFC Morris holding the large Red Drum.
LIBERTY COUNTY On June, 19, 2017, Game Wardens Morris and Thain received information that someone possibly had an alligator in their possession. It was unknown if the alligator was alive or dead. The Game Wardens, along with K9 Case, arrived at the residence in Liberty County. After an investigation it was discovered that the alligator had recently been killed and was about to be consumed along with some shrimp. The individual was preparing the meat to be cooked when the Game Wardens arrived. The individual was cited for the violation of having the alligator and all parts of the alligator were seized. On June 24, 2017, Game Wardens Cpl Morgan and Ranger Morris patrolled the Ogeechee River in Bryan County including areas of King's Ferry, the Ford Plantation Marina, and residential areas along the river. Several recreational boaters, PWC, and fishing vessels were checked. Some of the violations encountered included several involving Personal Flotation Device's (PFD's) and skiing violations. There were also some violations of Georgia's 100' law where boaters must reduce to idle speed within 100' of other boaters, docks, etc.

GLYNN COUNTY On June 17th, RFC Judd Sears and RFC David Brady were checking boating and fishing vessels in north Glynn County. They Game Wardens stopped a vessel for a child's life jacket violation and after conducting a thorough vessel inspection discovered several undersize Black Drum and Red Drum. The men were charged with possession of undersize fish and allowing underage child to ride in moving vessel without a PFD.
CAMDEN COUNTY On June 24th, RFC David Brady was on patrol when he received an in-progress complaint off White Oak Creek regarding individuals that had been fishing all night and keeping illegal fish and crabs. When Brady arrived he made contact with the suspects and conducted a check of licenses and catch. When Brady checked their cooler he discovered undersize crabs and red drum, along with the license violations that he had already identified. The two subjects were charged with possession of undersize crabs, possession of undersize fish and non-resident fishing without a license.
GLYNN COUNTY On June 25, RFC David Brady was patrolling Jekyll Island State Park for activity when he observed two men running from a creek bank and placing a large object in the vehicle they were in. Brady stopped the men to see what they had and found them to be in possession of some tabby pieces and a tabby fence post from the island. The two men were turned over to Georgia State Patrol on the Island for further action.