Field operations weekly report, 2018 January 13

Field Operations
Weekly Report January 7 - 13, 2018
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)
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On January 7th, GWFC McConkey and GW Turner patrolled Berry WMA during a firearms specialty hunt for honorary license holders and kids. During the patrol, the Game Wardens located a man and his son hiking on the WMA while the area was closed to all activity but hunting deer. The WMA was posted advising the area was closed due to the firearms hunt. The man advised he was aware that Berry was closed during hunts, but had not seen any signs where they had entered the wildlife management area. The subject was charged for hiking on the area, putting himself and his son at danger during a managed firearms hunt. On January 8th, GWFC McConkey and GW Turner reported to the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office to monitor and provide assistance with severe weather entering the area. The Game Wardens staged at the Chattooga County Sheriff's Office with local deputies and investigators to monitor issues due to the ice storm.
On January 11th, Game Warden Cpl. Ben Cunningham assisted Georgia State Patrol with a road check in Chattooga County near Summerville, Georgia. Twenty six citations and warnings were written for not wearing seatbelts, open containers of alcohol, and other traffic offenses. One person was arrested for driving on a suspended license.
DADE COUNTY On January 13th, Game Wardens Sgt. Mike Barr and GW Travis Shrader were working a complaint by ATV and foot patrol in the area of Rising Fawn, Georgia. GW Shrader found an unusual trap set using a conibear trap baited with a dead chicken. The Game Wardens suspected the set was for use on coyotes. The conibear trap is primarily used for beavers and is only legal when used in water or within 10 feet of water. The set usually kills any animal caught in the trap regardless of if it is a predator or not. No water was present. Additionally, the trap was not tagged with the trapper's information. The following day, the Game Wardens made contact with a landowner where the three conibear traps had been set. They discovered the landowner had previously trapped and killed a raccoon using the sets, was not checking the traps with the proper required equipment, was not licensed (a free license for landowners), and was not checking the traps every 24 hours. He was charged with illegal use of a body gripping trap and warned for other violations. The Game Wardens assisted the landowner with information on how to properly trap predators utilizing leg hold traps.
An illegal conibear body gripping trap set using a dead chicken for bait. The landowner was not familiar with the trapping laws.

Game Wardens Sgt. Mike Barr and GW Travis Shrader were patrolling north of Trenton by ATV in Dade County near Creek Road. They checked a hunter who had harvested two feral hogs under the brow of Lookout Mountain.
Several wild hogs harvested by a hunter north of Trenton in Dade County. GORDON COUNTY On January 10th, Game Warden CPL Shawn Elmore received a call from Gordon County Sheriff's Office SGT Ben Worley about a deer that had been shot in the Sonoraville community and was still lying in the field. CPL Elmore responded to the area and setup surveillance on the deer. Approximately two hours later, a vehicle approached and the passenger, a Calhoun man, got out of the vehicle and the vehicle continued up the roadway. The Calhoun man came to the deer and began to drag it across the field toward the roadway. CPL Elmore came from his location of concealment and announced "Game Warden." The Calhoun man admitted to CPL Elmore to shooting the deer at night from the roadway while in his Ford Ranger. The Calhoun man had come by several times shining the field looking for the dead deer. He then went home and had his 20 year old daughter drive him back to the scene to retrieve the deer. The Calhoun man was arrested and booked in the Gordon County jail for hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and discharging a firearm from a public road. His daughter was issued warnings for her role in the incident.
Doe deer shot at night in Gordon County.

BARTOW COUNTY On January 7th, Cpl. Byron Young checked a two hunters on private property off Hwy 411. The property had several areas baited with whole corn, molasses blocks and sweet feed. Cpl. Young located one hunter directly over one baited area, the other hunter was approximately 150 yards from another baited area. The first hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and a warning for hunting without a license. The second hunter was issued a warning for hunting big game over bait.
On January 11th, Wardens Mark Puig and Frank Pucci patrolled Pine Log WMA. The Wardens located a Toyota SUV in an area closed to vehicle traffic. The driver of the SUV also had a loaded shotgun in the vehicle. The driver was issued a citation for driving in an unauthorized area on a WMA and issued a warning for transporting a loaded firearm in the vehicle.
On January 12th, Warden Frank Pucci checked a fishermen on Allatoona Lake. The fishermen's license were expired by a couple of weeks. The fishermen was issued a warning for fishing without a license.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY On January 7th, Game Warden Ryan Locke received information that a subject had shot an 8-point buck. Throughout the investigation, Game Warden Locke determined that the subject did not have a hunting license, big game license and failed to record their harvest. It was also determined that the individual had shot another 8 point buck the year before without a hunting license, big game license, and failed to record their harvest. Game Warden Locke interviewed the subject, the subject admitted to shooting two bucks while not obtaining a hunting license, big game license and failing to record harvest. The two bucks were confiscated and two citations and four warnings were issued to the subject.
On January 13th, Game Warden Ryan Locke conducted an investigation regarding a subject that had shot a buck over bait. Upon interviewing the subject, it was determined that the subject had shot two bucks over bait and failed to record both harvest. Both bucks were confiscated and the violations dealt with accordingly.
Later that morning, Game Warden Ryan Locke received information about a subject that had shot a deer on 01/10/2018 with an illegal weapon. Game Warden Locke interviewed the subject and it was determined that the subject shot the deer on their own property with a .22 hornet but did not record the harvest. A citation was issued for failure to record harvest.
Later that evening, Game Warden Ryan Locke encountered a subject that was hunting over bait. After speaking with the individual it was determined that, the subject did not have a hunting license, no big game license, no harvest record, and was hunting deer without fluorescent orange. The violations were dealt with accordingly.
JACKSON COUNTY On January 7th, Game Warden Cpl. Eric Isom responded to a Hunting without orange complaint. Warden Isom utilized his K9 partner Colt to locate two subjects hunting without orange. The violations were documented. On January 13th, Wardens Ryan Locke and Cpl. Isom located three subjects duck hunting without permission and over bait. The violations were document and subjects released from the scene.

MADISON COUNTY On January 12th, RFC Shane Sartor was off duty when he observed a vehicle on a power-line off Highway 172 at approximately 7:30 p.m. RFC Sartor turned back around and pulled off the road and observed spotlights being used from the vehicle. RFC Sartor exited his vehicle and heard a shot from the vehicle and observed two subjects approach the wood-line. RFC Sartor proceeded down the power-line and made contact with two adult males and two juveniles in a side by side vehicle. The subjects were found to be hunting rabbits at night and from a vehicle. The adults will be receiving citations for their violations.
FRANKLIN COUNTY On January 10th, Cpl. Craig Fulghum concluded an unlawful dumping investigation on private land in the Gumlog area of Franklin County. Cpl. Fulghum had received information from a landowner that a large amount of building material had been dumped on some hunting land that his family owned. Cpl. Fulghum found a box with one name and address located inside and began interviewing subjects in reference to the dump site. After interviewing 4 subjects Cpl. Fulghum tracked down the individual that had dumped the materials and got a confession. The subject was issued a citation for unlawful dumping of waste over 500 lbs.
UNION COUNTY On January 13th, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Cpl. Kevin Dyer, and Cpl. Anne Wiley patrolled Cooper's Creek WMA to check night time activity on the WMA. The officers checked several different vehicles on this night and issued citations and warnings for violations such as: transporting loaded firearm in a vehicle, reckless driving, open container, and raccoon hunters failing to sign in on the WMA for the hunt.
WHITE COUNTY On January 14th, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Cpl. Anne Wiley, RFC Chad Chambers, Ranger Tommy Crabb, and USFS LEO Jeff Angel held a road check on Tray Mountain at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and Swallow Creek WMA. The officers checked several hikers using the trail and a lot of off road vehicles that were riding through the area on this bitterly cold day. The officers found one unlicensed driver wanted out of Florida for felony drug violations. The officers contacted GSP Gainesville to check the status of the arrest warrant and the warrant was confirmed, but the issuing agency did not want to extradite the suspect back to Florida. USFS LEO Angel issued the suspect a federal citation for driving without a license and let a licensed driver take control of the vehicle. The officers found another vehicle with a small child sitting in a drivers lap helping them drive. USFS Angel issued this driver a citation for not having the child in a safety seat.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
CLARKE COUNTY On January 8th RFC Phillip Nelson responded to a deer hunting complaint. Violations documented were hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, and hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange.
ELBERT COUNTY On January 12th Cpl. Mark Patterson assisted Cpl. Julian Wilkins with a complaint of illegal trapping. Violations documented were trapping without a license, failure to inspect traps in 24 hours, and failure to tag traps.
WILKES COUNTY On January 13th Cpl. Mark Patterson conducted a patrol of the Fishing Creek WMA for waterfowl hunting activity. Violations documented during this patrol included hunting without a license, hunting without a Georgia waterfowl and migratory bird license and hunting without a federal waterfowl stamp.
GREENE COUNTY On January 9th, Cpl. Derrell Worth cited one subject for hunting deer over bait, hunting without permission, and hunting without fluorescent orange.

On January 13th, Cpl. Derrell Worth and Cadet John Rhodes cited one subject for hunting ducks without a license, cited one subject for failure to record an 8 point buck and arrested one subject on a parole warrant.
WALTON COUNTY On January 7th, Ranger Jason Harrison patrolled Walton County for Duck Hunting Activity. Violations for Hunting Without a License, Hunting Waterfowl without a Federal Waterfowl Stamp, and Hunting with unplugged Shotgun were Documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
MACON COUNTY On January 12th, Game Warden Jesse Harrison checked a hunting without permission complaint. While checking the complaint, Harrison encountered two subjects hunting on the property. The subjects were issued citations for hunting without permission.
WORTH COUNTY On January 7th, Cpl. Greg Wade received information about a subject dumping a deer carcass in a local creek. The complainant was able to get a tag number and vehicle description, which assisted Cpl. Wade in locating the subject. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the subject had not only dumped the carcass illegally, he had also taken his second undersized buck. The subject was charged with littering and taking over the bag limit.
STEWART/RANDOLPH/QUITMAN COUNTY On January 13th, RFC. Quinn Fogle and Cpl. Scott Carroll patrolled Randolph/Stewart/Quitman county's for deer and duck hunting activity. Game Wardens Fogle Carroll and Cpl. Steve Robinson responded to assist Stewart County EMS with a unresponsive subject in the woods.
Later this day Cpl. Robinson was patrolling Stewart County when he encountered a subject hunting deer without a valid hunting license and no big game license. The subject was issued citations.
Later in the afternoon while patrolling Quitman County Cpl. Robinson encountered another subject hunting deer without license .
CLAY COUNTY On January 13th, Game Wardens Fogle and Carroll responded to a complaint at George T Bagby State Park in reference to duck hunters hunting on State Park property. The Game Wardens located the subjects and appropriate action was taken to have the subjects leave the property.
Fogle and Carroll then responded to a hunting without permission complaint in Clay County the Game Wardens were able to locate those subjects as well and an agreement was reached with the landowner.
STEWART COUNTY On Saturday 01/13/18 Game Warden Cpl. Steve Robinson was patrolling Stewart County when he encountered a subject hunting deer without a valid hunting license and no big game license. The subject was issued citations. Later in the afternoon while patrolling Quitman County Cpl. Robinson encountered another subject hunting deer without license .

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On January 7th, Game Wardens, Jon Barnard, Kevin Joyce, Bobby Sanders, Clint Jarriel, and Cameron Dyal worked an organized waterfowl detail. One shoot was located and a total of six hunters were checked for compliance. Violations were documented for hunting without a Federal waterfowl stamp, Without a Migratory Bird License, and hunting without a license.
APPLING COUNTY On the night of January 11th, Corporal Altman responded to two lost hunters that were trailing a deer they had shot that evening. The two hunters were found around 10:00 pm that night in their hunting club, with the help of Appling Deputies.
On January 12th, Corporal Kevin Joyce responded to a trapping complaint just outside the city of Baxley. After a brief investigation of the complaint area, three unmarked traps were located and removed from the area. Corporal Joyce began searching for the owner of the traps and successfully located the individual the following day. The individual did not possess a commercial trapping license, therefore, he was cited for trapping without a license, and failure to affix a tag to the traps.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY On January 12, Corporal Kevin Joyce was working an on-going hunting without permission complaint near the Alston area. Cpl. Joyce conducted multiple interviews about past hunting activity of the area. One witness was able to identify the individual responsible for the illegal activity. Cpl. Joyce interviewed the person identified by the witness who admitted to hunting the property and killing a deer. After a check of the individual's licenses resulted in violations for hunting without permission, hunting without a big game license, and hunting without a license.
LAURENS COUNTY On January 7th, Corporal Dan Stiles was patrolling for waterfowl hunting activity. Cpl. Stiles located three individuals hunting ducks near a pond. It was determined that two of the hunters did not possess Federal Duck Stamps. Two citations were issued for hunting waterfowl without a Federal Duck Stamp.
WILCOX COUNTY On January 13th, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled for deer hunting activity. One individual was charged for nonresident without a hunting license and hunting big game without a big game license.
BEN HILL COUNTY On January 13th, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled for deer hunting activity. One hunter was found hunting deer w/o fluorescent orange.
IRWIN COUNTY On January 8th, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled for deer hunting activity. One violator was found hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting big game without a big game license and hunting without a license.
CLINCH COUNTY On January 13th, Corporal Jason Shipes completed an investigation related to taking over the limit of antlered deer and failing to properly report or record any harvests for the 2017-2018 deer season. This investigation started from an anonymous complaint received through the Ranger Hotline several months earlier. As a result, citations were issued for seven different violations.

On January 13th, Corporal Jason Shipes encountered a number of subjects hunting deer with dogs in the area of Hwy 187. During his patrol, Cpl. Shipes found several subjects hunting from the public roadway along with numerous license violations resulting in six citations.
CHARLTON COUNTY On January 13th, Game Warden Sam Williams patrolled the St. George area for deer hunting activity. While checking the licenses of a group of deer hunters, it was discovered that one of the hunters did not have any of the required licenses. The violations for non-resident hunting without a license and non-resident hunting without a big game license were documented.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On January 13th RFC Jordan Crawford, RFC Jason Miller and SGT Brian Hobbins conducted a patrol of central Effingham County looking for hunting violations. During the patrol a total of five violations were documented by the Game Wardens. Violations included hunting deer without wearing florescent orange and failure to display deer dog permit numbers on motor vehicle.
JENKINS COUNTY On January 13th, Corporal Mike Wilcox located traps set for beaver in a creek off of a County Road. During his normal patrol Cpl. Wilcox encounter the trapper checking his traps. The trapper did not have written permission from the property owner. A local farmer asked the trapper to trap the beavers, but he was not the owner of the property. After looking into the situation farther, Cpl. Wilcox addressed a violation for trapping without written permission.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On January 13th, 2018, Game Warden Morris patrolled Bryan County checking deer hunters. During his checks he found two hunters taking part in deer dog hunting without having permit numbers displayed on the vehicle. The hunters were cited for the offense.
On January 13th, 2018, Game Wardens Morris and Scott patrolled Bryan County checking deer hunters. While patrolling one of the public roads near a hunting club, the Game Wardens noticed a man standing in the roadway with a long gun in his hands. The man was not too far from his truck. After checking the hunters' license and firearm it was found that the shotgun was loaded with buckshot. The hunter was cited for hunting big game from a public road.
LIBERTY COUNTY On January 11, 2018 Game Wardens Thain and Scott investigated a dumping complaint in Liberty County. The investigation was started by Game Warden Morgan and turned over to Thain. Game Warden Morgan responded to a complaint earlier of a vessel being dumped out on a county road. Upon investigation he determined who the owner was. The owner agreed to take the vessel to a place where it is legal to dispose of the vessel. Later, a vessel was reported to be dumped out on a different county road in Liberty County. Game Warden Morgan investigated this also determining that it was the same vessel. However, the Hull Identification Number (HIN) had been removed. Game Wardens Thain and Scott met with the boat owner who said that he paid an unknown person seventy dollars to take the boat off and burn it. The boat owner said that he paid this person cash and had no way of finding him again. He further said that there was no receipt for the exchange on cash. The boat owner was cited for unlawful dumping and for removing the vessel HIN.