Field operations weekly report, 2018 October 27

Field Operations
Weekly Report October 21 October 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)
WHITFIELD COUNTY On October 27th, Game Warden Corporal Shawn Elmore was patrolling Johns Mountain Wildlife Management Area during a Specialty Hunt. The Specialty hunt is held for youth, ladies, Disability license holders, returning Georgia Veterans Honorary License holders, and hunters over the age of 65. Cpl. Elmore located a 47 year old Chatsworth man, who did not qualify to hunt the Specialty Hunt, hunting on the WMA. The Chatsworth man had also killed an antlerless deer. He was charged with violation of age restrictions on a WMA and his deer was confiscated. The deer was donated to a family in Gordon County.
Confiscated button buck killed illegally on Johns Mountain WMA
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FRANKLIN COUNTY On October 21, RFC Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Tim Vickery patrolled the county for any hunting/illegal activity. Numerous hunting licenses were checked. As a result, one citation and three warnings were issued. The violations consisted of hunting without a license, hunting without a big game license, and failure to record deer harvest. An eight point buck was confiscated as evidence. The buck was donated to a family in need.

BARROW COUNTY On October 22nd, Game Wardens Chris Kernahan and Kevin Goss completed an illegal hunting investigation which stemmed from the 2016, 17, & 18 deer seasons. The investigation concerned a subject who hunted without a license, hunted without a big game license, harvested multiple deer illegally, and failed to game-check any of the deer he harvested. The Game Wardens made contact with the subject at his place of employment, and confronted him with the evidence. The subject admitted to the violations. The violations were addressed. On October 27th, GWFC Kernahan completed multiple investigations regarding various hunters failing to record and report deer harvests during the 2018 deer hunting season. Those violations were addressed as well.
HALL COUNTY On October 25th, Game Warden Ryan Locke and Sargent Mike Burgamy concluded an investigation involving two individuals that were hunting deer at night. After speaking with the two individuals, it was determined that on multiple occasions the two had hunted deer at night, from a motor vehicle, and from a public roadway with a crossbow. It was also determined that on a separate occasion, one of the individuals did not have a big game license and had harvested deer earlier in the season. The violations were addressed and the crossbow and rack confiscated.
On October 28th, Game Warden Ryan Locke encountered a subject that had shot a 5 point buck. After speaking with the individual, it was determined that the subject had already harvested a 3 point buck the week prior. Also, it was determined that there was another hunter in the area. That hunter was located and found to not be wearing fluorescent orange while deer hunting. The violations were addressed and the buck was confiscated and meat donated.
WHITE COUNTY On October 27th, GWFC David Webb was patrolling the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area during the firearms buck only deer hunt. GWFC Webb received a complaint of Hispanic males fishing with a cast net in the Chattahoochee River on the WMA. GWFC Webb located two subjects and observed one Hispanic male trout fishing and one Hispanic male without a fishing pole. GWFC Webb checked the subjects fishing and trout license. The subjects fishing license had expired but he had a valid trout license. GWFC Webb interviewed the second subject and he admitted that he had been fishing for trout with a cast net and had hidden the net when GWFC Webb arrived. The subject had not caught any trout with the cast net and showed GWFC Webb where he had hidden the cast net. GWFC Webb issued citations for fishing for trout with unlawful equipment and a warning for fishing without a license.
On October 27th, CPL Kevin Dyer received a complaint of subjects shooting multiple rounds while target practicing on the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area during the firearms buck only deer hunt. CPL Dyer and United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Jason Arrowood responded to the area and located a subject that had been target practicing with a 22 caliber rim fire rifle. The subject had shot 4 times before the officer arrived. After the investigation CPL Dyer and USFS LEO Arrowood determined that the subject was not the person target practicing from the initial complaint. CPL Dyer issued a warning for target practicing on a WMA.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GREENE COUNTY On October 23rd, CPL Worth patrolled Greene County for hunting activity. During this patrol, violations of hunting without permission, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, hunting big game over bait without land owner's permission, and hunting without a big game license were documented.

On October 27, Cpl. Derrell Worth responded to the area of 4860 Farmington Road in reference to a subject falling from a deer stand. The 42 year old male subject was attempting to enter a manmade box stand that was elevated 7 ' off the ground. When the subject went to open the outward swinging door, he slipped and landed on his back onto the ground. The above subject was transported to Athens Regional by Greene County EMS.
HANCOCK COUNTY Between 10/26/18 and 10/28/18, CPL Worth and CPL Allen patrolled Hancock County for hunting activity. During these patrols multiple violations of hunting deer without fluorescent orange, and hunting without a license were documented.
NEWTON COUNTY On October 27, GWFC Schay and SGT Garthright patrolled Newton County for hunting activity. During this patrol a violation of the recording requirements for game and birds was documented.
WALTON COUNTY On October 28, GWFC Schay responded to a hunting complaint. After an investigation, violations of hunting without permission, hunting deer without fluorescent orange, and taking an antlerless deer were documented. The deer was confiscated.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On October 27th, Wardens Tony Cox and Ryan Cleveland were working complaints related to night deer hunting when they observed the occupants of a vehicle hunting a field. The vehicle was stopped and two subjects were charged for hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting from a motor vehicle.
WORTH COUNTY On the afternoon of October 21st, Cpl. Greg Wade and Cadet Kristie Carpenter were patrolling when they heard a rifle shot close to their location. The game wardens located a vehicle nearby and waited for the hunter to return. Upon returning to his vehicle, it was determined that the subject had missed the deer he shot at and he was also unlicensed. Citations were issued for hunting w/o hunting license and hunting big game without license.
BROOKS COUNTY On October 26th, Game Wardens Eric White and Ryan Cleveland observed a subject hunting from a public road. After making contact with the subject, it was discovered that he had an active warrant out of Brooks County. The subject was charged with hunting from a public road and hunting from a motor vehicle. He was then turned over to Brooks County Sheriff's Office to fulfill the warrant.
On October 27th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked two non-resident hunters and found neither was wearing the required fluorescent orange vest. It was also discovered that one of the subjects did not have a hunting license. Both subjects were charged with hunting deer without wearing fluorescent orange. The hunter with no license was also charged with non-resident hunting big game without a non-resident big game license and non-resident hunting without a non-resident hunting license.

TERRELL COUNTY On October 28th, Game Wardens Scott Carroll, Quinn Fogle, Clayvin Pickard located two individuals poaching a neighboring property. One of the individuals had illegally killed a deer over bait while the other individual fired shots at a group of pigs. One of the subjects was arrested for HUI and was determined to be under the influence of alcohol by twice the legal limit. A total of twelve violations including multiple counts of Hunting Without Permission were filed against the two hunters. A brief investigation lead to more wildlife previously killed on the property illegally which was being stored at a local processor.
DOOLY COUNTY On October 26th, Game Wardens Jesse Harrison and Logan South located three subjects in hunting deer illegally. The subjects were non-residents and deer hunting without licenses or florescent orange. The subjects were issued citations for non-resident hunting without a big game license and hunting deer without fluorescent orange and warnings were given for non-resident hunting without a license.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
CLINCH COUNTY On October 21st, Corporal Jason Shipes and Sergeant Patrick Dupree contacted several hunters on Tharpe Road in northern Clinch County. As the officers arrived, Sgt. Dupree located a spent shell and some buckshot in the roadway. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the hunters were involved in an active deer dog hunt and a juvenile had just shot down the county roadway at a passing deer. Cpl. Shipes checked licenses and permit requirements of each hunter. It was determined that a couple of the hunters failed to properly display the club's permit numbers on their vehicles and each were documented by Cpl. Shipes.
CHARLTON COUNTY On October 21st, Game Warden Joseph Cowart, Game Warden First Class Judd Sears, and GWFC Sam Williams responded to a complaint of dog deer hunters pursuing hounds on an adjacent lease. While patrolling the area. The officers observed several dog hunters enter the adjacent hunting club. The officers contacted the hunters while they were actively deer dog hunting. After all dogs were caught, the officers located the subjects that owned the dogs and violations for failure to keep hunting dogs on permitted property were documented.
On October 26th, Game Warden First Class Sam Williams and GWFC Daniel North met with a member of a hunting clubs that had discovered photos of an unknown subject on a game camera. The officers obtained the photos and began speaking with members of a nearby club attempting to identify the subject. An identity was obtained, along with contact information. The following morning, GWFC Williams met the subject and interviewed him. With information obtained by the officer, a violation of entering/exiting property without written permission was documented.
CLINCH COUNTY On October 27th, Corporal Mark Pool, Game Warden First Class Daniel North, and Game Warden Joseph Cowart responded to a complaint of deer dogs off permitted property. The owner of the dogs was contacted and failure to keep dogs on permitted property was documented.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On October 21st Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford conducted a patrol looking for hunting activity. During the patrol many hunters were checked with three violations documented for failure to wear the required florescent orange vest while deer hunting. Two violations for hunting without a license were also documented.

EMANUEL COUNTY On October 26th, Ranger First Class Jason Miller, responded to a hunting complaint in Emanuel County. The complainant stated that a nearby deer dogging club had dogs off the permitted property. RFC Miller located the hunters from the deer dogging club. During the investigation, RFC Miller confirmed the complaint to be founded. One hunter was cited for failure to maintain deer dogs on permitted property and non-resident hunting with resident license. Another hunter was cited for failure to display permit number on vehicle. Several other violations were detected and RFC Miller decided that verbal guidance was the appropriate measure.
BULLOCH COUNTY On October 27th, Ranger First Class Jason Miller, responded to a hunting complaint in Bulloch County concerning unlawful hunting of a deer dogging club. Upon arrival, RFC Miller discovered that Bulloch County Sheriff's Office was also on scene due to numerous traffic violations that had been part of another complaint on the same hunting club. The officers located the subjects and numerous issues were discussed with all the hunters at one time. RFC Miller was unable to locate any deer dogs off the permitted property but did see evidence that it had occurred. This was determined to be a founded complaint. RFC Miller cited one hunter for recording and reporting requirements for game animals. A report was also taken.
On October 21st Sgt. Brian Hobbins and Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford patrolled Oliver Bridge WMA. During the patrol several hunters were checked with three violations documented. Violations included hunting without a license and hunting without a big game permit.
DODGE COUNTY On October 24th, Game Wardens Dan Stiles and John Kennedy checked three anglers for fishing licenses and creel limit compliance. None of the individuals possessed fishing licenses. Three violations were documented for fishing without a fishing license. One subject was detained and transported for two outstanding arrest warrants.
IRWIN COUNTY On Saturday October 27th, Game Warden Chris Thompson patrolled the Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area during a firearm deer hunt. While on patrol, thirteen hunters were checked for licenses and one warning was issued for hunting without hunter safety orange.
TELFAIR COUNTY On October 21st, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne was on patrol investigating an illegal hunting compliant in Telfair County. RFC Horne checked two nonresident hunters hunting on the property. Two violations were documented for hunting deer without wearing a fluorescent orange vest.
WILCOX COUNTY On October 21st, Game Wardens Dan Stiles and John Kennedy were patrolling for deer hunting activity. One hunter was located hunting without wearing daylight fluorescent orange while hunting. One violation was documented for hunting without orange.
WHEELER COUNTY On October 21st, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne apprehended two persons hunting illegally in Wheeler County. RFC Horne charged each poacher with hunting from a motor vehicle and hunting from a public road.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.