Field Operations 
Weekly Report January 21-27, 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) 
DADE COUNTY On January 27th, Game Wardens Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Shawn Elmore participated in Wes Hixon's Outdoor Travel Adventures Open House in Wildwood, Georgia. Over 500 people attended and discussed hunting opportunities with outfitters and had questions for the Game Wardens about hunting, fishing, and boating in Georgia. 
Game Wardens Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Shawn Elmore attended Wes Hixon's Open House. 
Cpl. Shawn Elmore prepares the DNR LED table for over 500 show participants. 
 
 GORDON COUNTY On January 21st, Game Wardens Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Travis Shrader responded to a complaint from a landowner of hunting without permission in the Plainville Community. The landowner had encountered a juvenile the morning before and told him not to return, however, he had returned and brought an adult and another juvenile. Charges were taken for the adult for hunting without permission. A wood duck hen was confiscated as illegally taken wildlife. 
Confiscated hen wood duck from the Plainville community 
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) 
BARROW COUNTY On January 27th, GWFC Chris Kernahan conducted a State Park patrol at Fort Yargo. During the patrol, GWFC Kernahan made contact with various subjects who were found to have operated a vessel with greater than a 10 horse power motor on a State Park watershed, operated a vessel without registration, illegally possessed alcohol, & operated a motor vehicle without a license. The violations were addressed. 
Region III- Thomson (East Central) 
MORGAN COUNTY On January 22nd, Ranger Schay patrolled Hard Labor Creek State Park for fishing activity. A violation of fishing without a license was documented. NEWTON COUNTY On January 27th, Ranger Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting activity. Violations of hunting without a license, hunting with an unplugged shotgun, operating a vessel without personal floatation devices, and operating an overloaded vessel were documented. On January 25th, Ranger Jason Harrison and John Rhodes patrolled Newton County for Fishing Activity. A Violation for Fishing Without a License was documented. WALTON COUNTY On January 23rd , Ranger Jason Harrison responded to a trapping complaint in Walton County. Violations for Trapping Without Permission and Trapping Without a License were documented. 
 
 On January 28th, Ranger Jason Harrison and RFC Tim Butler patrolled Walton County for Duck Hunting Activity. Violations for Hunting Waterfowl After Hours, Hunting Waterfowl without a Federal Duck Stamp, Hunting Waterfowl over Bait and Unplugged Shotgun were documented. 
On January 29th, Ranger Jason Harrison and RFC Tim Butler patrolled Walton County for fishing activity. A violation for insufficient PFD's was documented. 
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On the evening of January 27th Sgt. Brian Carter and Cpl. Mark Patterson made contact with two subjects that were trapping furbearers illegally. Violations documented included trapping without a license, failure to tag traps, failure to carry a choke stick, and trapping with an illegal device. 
WILKES COUNTY On the morning of January 27th Cpl. Mark Patterson made contact with two subjects involved with illegal trapping of furbearers. Violations documented included trapping without a license, failure to tag traps, and trapping without written permission. 
Region IV- Macon (West Central) 
BUTTS COUNTY On the afternoon of January 27th RFC Niki Spencer was patrolling along the Towaliga River in Butts County when she observed several vehicles parked near an access point of the river. RFC Spencer stopped and waited because sunset was approaching. After sunset, RFC Spencer began hearing gunshots along the river. With the assistance of Ranger Ken Lalumiere and Cpl. Wil Smith three individuals, hunting ducks, were checked. One was a juvenile but two adult hunters admitted to shooting after legal hours. The adults were cited for hunting waterfowl after hours, operating an overloaded vessel, and operating a vessel with unserviceable PFD. One duck was confiscated. 
COWETA COUNTY On January 21st Ranger Charlie Follin concluded an investigation into illegal trapping and hunting. He issued a citation for trapping without having a tag affixed to the trap and a warning for failure to check in harvested deer. 
CRAWFORD COUNTY On the morning of January 27th Corporal Josh Swain located several subjects shooting ducks over a baited pond. Eight subjects were charged with hunting waterfowl over bait. A total of 20 wood ducks were confiscated and given to a local family in need. 
HARRIS COUNTY On January 24th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver concluded an investigation that began back on December 4th, 2017. Cpl. Oliver received information in regards to a large buck being killed at a business in the county that was said to have been a mercy kill. Cpl. Oliver was able to learn the name of the individual involved and interviewed him by phone. During the course of the investigation, Cpl. Oliver learned that the subject was initially untruthful regarding the circumstances surrounding the killing of the deer and also was informed there was video of the incident. Cpl. Oliver prepared a search warrant for the business and was able to get a copy of the video. The video clearly showed the suspect causing serious injury to the deer, ultimately culminating in its death. Cpl. Oliver interviewed the suspect a second time and was able to get a full confession along with a written statement. Arrest warrants were taken on the individual for hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, and hunting with an illegal weapon. The processed deer meat was seized and donated to a local organization that assists people in need. The head and antlers of the deer were also seized as evidence. 
 
 HEARD COUNTY On January 27th RFC Russell Epps checked three duck hunters. While checking them he discovered they were hunting over bait. All three were cited for hunting over bait. 
TROUP COUNTY On January 27th RFC Russell Epps patrolled the dam area of West Point Lake. He issued one citation for fishing without a license. 
WILKINSON COUNTY On the morning of January 27th Game Warden Josh Cockrell responded to a hunting without permission complaint. Once on scene Game Warden Cockrell located three waterfowl hunters actively hunting waterfowl. Further investigation led to charges of hunting without permission. 
Region V- Albany (Southwest) 
DECATUR COUNTY On January 21st, Game Warden Steve Thomas responded to a Ranger Hotline complaint for hunting from a vehicle and a public road. The vehicle was observed by Thomas spot lighting a field and after stopping the vehicle, it was determined the subjects were predator hunting. A fox and a raccoon were located in the rear of the vehicle. Two subjects were charged for hunting from a public road and hunting from a vehicle. 
On January 21st, Cpl. Tony Cox and Cpl. Jon Penuel were patrolling Lake Seminole when they encountered two subjects gill netting. As they approached the vessel, they observed one of the subjects dumping fish back into the water. After a brief investigation it was determined that the netters dumped catfish from the vessel. Both subjects were cited for taking game fish by illegal methods and one subject was cited for failure to allow inspection. 
On January 25th, Cpl. Tony Cox located two subjects shooting ducks after hours in. Both subjects were charged for hunting waterfowl after hours and one subject was charged for hunting without a federal duck stamp. Three wood ducks were confiscated as evidence. 
Region VI- Metter (Southeast) 
DODGE COUNTY On January 24th, Corporal Dan Stiles assisted the Oconee Drug Task Force with a search warrant. One person was arrested for convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Cpl. Stiles interviewed the individual and evidence was located indicating possible hunting violations. Charges are pending. 
On January 27th, Corporal Dan Stiles and Ranger First Class Allen Mills assisted the Dodge County Sheriff's Department with attempting to locate an individual who ran from the yard of a rural residence after the homeowner fired shots at the suspected prowler. The individual was not located after an intensive effort involving multiple agencies. 
LAURENS COUNTY On January 25th, Corporal Dan Stiles presented the Hunting and Firearms Safety portion of the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety (C.H.A.M.P.S.) program administered by the Laurens County Sheriff's Department to 74 fifth grade students at the East Laurens Elementary School. 
On January 27th, Corporal Dan Stiles was patrolling for morning waterfowl hunting activity. Three individuals were found hunting waterfowl over a location baited with corn. Three violations were documented for hunting ducks over bait. 
 
 ECHOLS COUNTY On January 25th, Corporal Tim Hutto and Game Warden Daniel North attended a Career Day that was hosted at the Department of Labor building in Valdosta. Approximately three hundred high school students from Echols, Brooks, Berrien counties and Valdosta High School attended to speak with potential future employers. Later, the event was opened to the public where about one hundred more people arrived and made contact with businesses and colleges that were accepting applications. Throughout the event, Wardens Hutto and North answered many questions about their job and spoke with those interested in a career with Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division. 
Wardens Hutto and North at Career Day 
On January 28th, Game Warden Daniel North was patrolling for early morning duck hunting activity in northwest Echols County when he located four duck hunters. After inspecting all their licenses, guns and limits it was found that everyone had everything needed except for one hunter who did not have any hunting licenses, had an unplugged shotgun and was in possession of lead shot. Violations of hunting without license, hunting without Georgia migratory bird stamp, hunting without a federal migratory bird stamp, hunting with unplugged shotgun, and hunting with lead shot were documented. 
Ducks harvested in duck hunt. 
 
 WARE COUNTY On January 27th, Wardens Daniel North and Judd Sears were patrolling for boating and fishing activity in Ware County when they encountered this angler loading up his boat. Upon checking all of his licenses and equipment he was found to be in compliance and had a successful day fishing. 
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) 
OFFSHORE WATERS On Sunday, January 21st, Game Wardens RFC Toney, Cpl. Morgan, and Sgt. Scott patrolled the salt water areas of Bryan and Liberty Counties. Boats were checked inshore and offshore for boating and fishing violations. While offshore of Ossabaw Island a vessel with several people on board was found to have 11 undersized black sea bass. The federal size limit for black sea bass is 13 inches. A second vessel was boarded and found to have several legal fish caught offshore and a red drum also caught offshore. Red drum are illegal to possess in federal waters. Another vessel the Game Wardens boarded had primarily caught black sea bass. Most of the fish were of legal size except for two that were well under the 13 inch size limit. These cases were turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Officer for prosecution.