Field operations weekly report, 2018 January 6

Field Operations
Weekly Report December 31 January 6, 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)
BARTOW COUNTY On January 2nd, Cpl. Ben Cunningham testified in the Superior Court of Bartow County on a probation violation. A man had been found hunting after the person's hunting privileges had been removed and was in violation of his probation. The probation violation was upheld and the person sentenced to 53 days in jail. Additional cases are pending for hunting after suspension of privileges in Floyd County.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On January 6th, GWFC Roger McConkey responded to a trapping complaint in Chattooga County. The Game Warden was contacted by a local rabbit hunter who had one of his beagles caught in a leg hold trap. Officer McConkey responded to the location and found that the land owner had placed one leg hold trap for coyote issues on the property. The land owner and the Game Warden discussed how to properly trap the nuisance animal. GWFC McConkey issued two warnings for trapping law violations.
DADE COUNTY On January 6th, Sgt. Mike Barr was on patrol in Dade County in the area of Mason Road. He had located a site baited with trophy rock mineral blocks at the beginning of gun season. The rocks were still present and visible. Although he did not find any vehicles in the area, he foot patrolled and found a hunter in a tree stand overlooking the bait. The hunter was wearing his required fluorescent orange to deer hunt. The hunter had been dropped off by his hunting partner. After discussion with the hunter, Sgt. Barr determined the man had also harvested a deer without properly recording the harvest. He was charged with hunting big game over bait and warned for recording and reporting requirements. The case is pending in the Probate Court of Dade County.
On January 6th, Sgt. Mike Barr was on patrol by ATV in Dade County on Robert Ryan Road south of Trenton. As he travelled through the main road of a 200 acre hunting club, he noticed fresh feed sacks discarded near hunting blinds. The feed sacks had been emptied but still contained some kernels of corn. Looking further, he discovered several feeders with corn located in fields with hunting box blinds overlooking the feeders. One site also contained a large hole with minerals and salt in addition to the corn. He did not locate any hunters on the club. Later that afternoon, he returned to the area and found a truck parked near one of the baited sites. He foot patrolled and found a man in a box blind. Sgt. Barr climbed the ladder to the blind, identified himself, and asked the man what he was doing. He stated he was deer hunting. Sgt. Barr saw several spent round cases (rifle shells) on the floor of the box blind and noticed the man was not wearing the required fluorescent orange to deer hunt. The man stated he didn't even have any orange. When asked about the spent rounds, the man admitted to killing two does in November and had not recorded their harvest as required by law. The does had been given to another person and was verified by Sgt. Barr. Due to the multiple violations and blatant disregard for the hunting laws, the person was arrested and transported to the Dade County Jail. He was charged with hunting big game over bait, hunting deer without wearing the required fluorescent orange, and two counts of recording and reporting requirements for game animals. The case is pending in the Probate Court of Dade County.
Feed sacks of corn discarded near box blinds on a hunting club off Robert Ryan Road.

A deer hunter was found in a box blind overlooking this site baited with corn and mineral salt. A trail camera was also monitoring the site. On January 7th, Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from a land owner about an unusual deer harvested on his farm. The 8 point buck was still in velvet. After checking, it was determined that the buck had never developed testicles. Several people in the area had trail camera pictures of the buck and had been hunting hard for the buck during this season. The buck was harvested by Nelson Hartline of Trenton. Nelson said he planned to have the deer mounted by local taxidermist Thomas Bearden. Congratulations to Nelson!
Nelson Hartline of Trenton harvested a buck in north Dade County still in velvet on January 7th, 2018.

FULTON COUNTY On January 4th, Sgt. Mike Barr attended a swearing in ceremony at the DNR Commissioner's Office in Atlanta. Newly hired POST certified officers took their DNR oath of office as they begin their career. One officer, Jeffery Turner (second from right), will join Sgt. Barr's work section and will be assigned to the Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area after he completes his academy and field training.
DNR Commissioner Mark Williams (left) gives the oath of office to newly hired POST certified game wardens. They will also complete the DNR academy and field training.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
No activity to report.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
No activity to report.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On January 5th, Game Warden Ethan Franklin was patrolling for duck hunting activity near Whitesville Road. Cpl. Jeremy Bolen was also out patrolling for duck hunting activity in the area. Cpl. Bolen heard shots coming from a baited pond where two days prior corn was located by both officers. Game Warden Franklin met Cpl. Bolen at the pond where five individuals were located. Only four of the individuals were hunting. The four were given citations for hunting ducks over bait. Three out of the four were given citations for hunting waterfowl with illegal ammunition. One hunter was given a citation for hunting without a license, as well as written warnings for hunting without a federal duck stamp and hunting without a Georgia Waterfowl and Migratory Bird Stamp. Another of the individuals was also given a written warning for not having his federal duck stamp on person. Nine wood ducks were confiscated for evidence.
MARION COUNTY On January 6th, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen was patrolling for duck hunting activity. An evening duck shoot was heard off in the distance. Cpl. Bolen was able to locate the area and observed 2 hunters shooting ducks approximately 30 minutes after legal hours. A search of the pond revealed that the area was baited with corn. The hunters were issued citations for hunting waterfowl after hours and a written warning for hunting ducks over bait. Two wood ducks were confiscated as evidence.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On December 31st, Game Wardens Cpl. Tony Cox and David Jones were patrolling for deer and duck hunting activity when they encountered approximately eleven subjects duck hunting in a planted pond. After a brief investigation one subject was cited for hunting waterfowl without a federal duck stamp and hunting waterfowl with lead shot.
On December 31st, Cpl. Tony Cox and David Jones were patrolling Silver Lake WMA when they observed a subject hunting on the property. The wardens knew from previous encounters with this subject that he had harvested an 8 point buck on Mayhaw WMA earlier in the season, which he had not checked in through the game check system. The subject had checked a buck in for Irwin County earlier in the season. A current check of his harvest record revealed he had not recorded the harvest for the 8 point buck from Mayhaw WMA. The subject was cited for hunting after obtaining the bag limit and reporting and recording requirements for game animals and birds.
On January 6th, Sgt. Bob Holley and Cpl. Tony Cox patrolled Lake Seminole for waterfowl activity. During the patrol nine citations were issued for hunting without licenses, hunting without federal duck stamps, hunting without Georgia migratory bird license and hunting from a vessel.
COLQUITT COUNTY On January 6th, Game Warden Eric White encountered six adult subjects and a juvenile hunting dove. While Warden White inspected the subjects' equipment and licenses, he discovered the field baited with wheat seed. The six adults were cited for hunting over bait, and the doves were confiscated and donated to a less-fortunate family in the community.
TIFT COUNTY On January 6th, Game Wardens Tommy Daughtrey and David Jones checked a dove shoot and found it to be baited. One violation of unlawful enticement of game and numerous violations of hunting dove over bait were documented.

While Daughtrey and Jones were checking this shoot, Game Warden Greg Wade was checking another shoot in north Tift County. As Wade was checking licenses he observed cracked corn and sorghum spread on the field. Eight hunters were charged with hunting dove over bait.
After issuing citations to the hunters on this field, Wade moved to an adjacent field where three other hunters were hunting. This field was also found to be baited and these three hunters were charged with hunting dove over bait.
That afternoon, shortly before sunset, Warden Wade heard several shots coming from an area north of his location. Assuming this could be an afterhours duck hunt starting, Wade requested the assistance of Game Warden David Jones. The Wardens located the shoot in a swamp and as the hunters exited, the wardens apprehended them. The hunters were charged with hunting waterfowl after hours and twenty-one wood ducks were confiscated.
WORTH COUNTY On the morning of January 6th, Game Warden Greg Wade was conducting a patrol when he heard several volleys of shots nearby. Wade tracked the shots to a field, where he cited thirteen hunters hunting dove over a field baited with peanuts.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
No activity to report.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRANTLEY COUNTY On December 31st, while looking for deer dog activity, SGT Chris Ridley and RFC Colte Shaske found 2 hunters trying to catch dogs. The wardens checked for hunting licenses. 1 of the subjects stated that he did not have any licenses. The subject was cited for hunting without a license and hunting big game without a license.
LONG COUNTY On December 31, 2017 Game Warden Patrick Gibbs responded to a residence where a homeowner was complaining about birdshot hitting her house. When he arrived on scene Gibbs found 4 subjects hunting doves in a field. While walking the field to check license, Gibbs located an area where corn had been dumped out of a bucket or a bag. Gibbs also found corn that had been recently spread across the field. Violations were addressed for hunting dove over bait, hunting without a license, and hunting without a migratory bird stamp.
BRYAN COUNTY On Sunday December 31st, Game Warden RFC Thain was dispatched to assist Bryan County traffic officers with a six car pile-up on I-16 west bound neat the 146 mile marker. A deer dog going outside of permitted areas ran into the traffic on I-16 and the result was the six cars being involved in a crash. The hunter was cited for having dogs off of permitted property.
On Saturday January 06, 2018 Game Warden K. Toney conducted patrols of Bryan County checking waterfowl and deer hunters. One deer hunter did not have any of the required licenses for hunting big game. The hunter was cited for the violations.
LIBERTY COUNTY On Saturday January 06, 2018 Game Wardens T. Morris and Morgan patrolled Liberty County checking deer hunters. Two deer hunters were cited for hunting deer with un-marked dogs.