Field operations weekly report, 2018 February 17

Field Operations
Weekly Report February 11 February 17, 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)
MURRAY COUNTY On February 15th, RFC Mark Moyer and Cpl. Cody Jones worked a surveillance detail overlooking Holly Creek on Cohutta WMA. RFC Moyer observed two suspects drive into the area, catch several fish, and then leave on three different occasions. Game Wardens checked the suspect on their third trip and determined that one suspect had kept 16 trout while the other suspect kept 18 trout. The limit for mountain trout is 8 per person. Each suspect was issued citations for possession of over the daily creel limit and fishing after obtaining creel limit. One suspect was issued two warnings for fishing without a fishing license and trout license. The trout were seized.
FULTON COUNTY On February 15th, Game Warden Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Game Warden Cadet Jeffery Turner responded to the Chattahoochee River in Fulton County with other Game Wardens from Region 1 to search for a missing 78 year old man. Game Wardens searched using side scan sonar and body drags with no success. Game wardens continued searching throughout the weekend.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
No activity to report.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
MORGAN COUNTY On Friday, February 16, Game Wardens Sgt. Matt Garthright and Cadet John Rhodes patrolled the area of Swords Road for fishing activity. While on patrol, they encountered one subject in possession of methamphetamine and Percocet pills. After the investigation, subject was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Related Objects, Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic, and Possession of Drugs not in their Original Container.
Game Wardens Garthright and Rhodes later came in contact with two fishermen on USFS property. After checking the two license, Garthright observed a pipe and a small bag of marijuana in a stump hole near where one of the men where fishing. Subject admitted that the marijuana was his. Garthright issued subject an appearance ticket for Violation of Georgia's Controlled Substance Act, Possession of Marijuana Less than One Ounce.
GREENE COUNTY On Friday, February 16 Game Wardens Sgt. Matt Garthright and Cadet John Rhodes patrolled the area of Swords Road for fishing activity. Early on, they encountered one individual fishing without a license. This subject had several crappie in his possession. Subject was charged with fishing without a license. Later, that night around midnight, Game Wardens checked the same area again and located five individuals fishing. Three of the subjects were found to be fishing without a license. All three were charged with fishing without a license.
NEWTON COUNTY On February 12th, Game Wardens Dan Schay and Cadet John Rhodes completed an illegal hunting investigation. During the course of the investigation, a violation of the recording requirements for game animals and birds was documented.
On February 16th, Game Warden Dan Schay patrolled Newton County for fishing activity. A violation of fishing without a license was documented.
On February 18th, Game Warden Dan Schay patrolled Newton County for fishing activity. Violations for operating a vessel without Coast Guard Approved PFD's and fishing without permission were documented.

LAKE OCONEE On February 17, Cpl. David Allen patrolled Lake Oconee for fishing activity. Violations for fishing without a license and insufficient PFDs were documented.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
CRAWFORD COUNTY On February 16th Cpl. Josh Swain responded to a complaint of trapping without permission. Investigation led Swain to the identity of the trapper, who later admitted to using snares to trap foxes. The individual was charged with trapping without permission, trapping without a license, and use of an unlawful device.

TROUP COUNTY On February 15th at about 6 P.M. Ranger Charlie Follin and Cpl. Keith Waddell responded to a missing person complaint on West Point Lake. A male in his 70's was supposed to have gotten off the lake earlier that afternoon but had not returned home. His boat trailer and truck were still at the boat ramp at Clark Access. Shortly after the call was made to emergency services friends of the man found his unoccupied boat on the lake. Shortly thereafter they located the body of the man in the water. The Game Wardens worked the boat incident and recovered the man's boat and turned it over to his family. On February 17th RFC Russell Epps, Cpl. Travis Sweat and Sgt. Brent Railey participated in a SPLASH event at West Georgia Boat Center in LaGrange.

TWIGGS COUNTY On the morning of February 17th Corporal Robert Stilwell investigated a night hunting complaint on a large
hunting club. Two individuals were identified and charges of hunting without permission, hunting from a motor
vehicle and hunting deer at night were issued.

WILKINSON COUNTY

On

the evening of February 16th Game Wardens Josh Cockrell, Jonathan Segars and Corporal Bubba Stanford

investigated a trapping complaint. The officers located numerous traps on private property that were not tagged

properly. The officers located the owner of the traps and verified that he did not possess a non-resident trapping

license. Further investigation led to 3 citations and 3 warnings issued for unlawful burning and various trapping

offenses.

On February 17th numerous Game Wardens with DNR LED assisted with the 21st annual Quail Hunt for Kids. Nine kids enjoyed a day of archery shooting, skeet shooting as well as quail hunting hosted by the Wall family and several local sponsors.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On February 15th, Game Wardens Dan Stiles and Rodney Horne responded to a in progress complaint of individuals killing a gopher tortoise in a residential area in Dublin. The officers located the complainant and took possession of a common snapping turtle. The turtle was released at the River Bend Wildlife Management Area. No violations were documented.
On February 17th, Game Warden Allen Mills and Game Warden Rodney Horne responded to a call at the Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area (HGPFA). Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies pursued an individual into Laurens County in reference to a possible Driving under the influence (DUI) in progress. The suspect ended up at HGPFA where he stated he was going to commit suicide. Game Wardens Horne and Mills evacuated the public and all non-essential personnel from the area. After several hours of negotiation, the suspect surrender without incident and was transported to a local hospital.
Later that evening, Game Warden Mills was checking bridges and creeks for fishing activity. Five anglers were checked for license and creel compliance. One violation for fishing without a license was documented.
DODGE COUNTY On February 16th, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled the Dodge County Public Fishing Area for fishing and other violations, one violation was found for fishing without a license.
ATKINSON COUNTY On Friday, February 16th, Corporal Tim Hutto patrolled a complaint area for hog hunting activity. At around 10:30 p.m. Corporal Hutto located a group of hog hunters in what's known as Roundabout Swamp. The hunters had permission to be on the property but did not possess any hunting licenses. Violations were documented for hunting without a license on person and hunting without a license.
BULLOCH COUNTY On February 17th Game Warden Jordan Crawford and Sergeant Brian Hobbins patrolled river landings along the Ogeechee River in Bulloch County. During the patrol several boaters and fisherman were checked with one violation for fishing without a license documented.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
WAYNE COUNTY On the weekend of February 17-18, Game Wardens Bob Lynn, Damon Winters, Randy Aspinwall, Patrick Gibbs and Mark Day attended the annual Hog Jam event. Cpl Randy Aspinwall sponsored a group of 10 wounded warriors who traveled from as far away as Virginia and Kentucky to participate in the event. This group killed 13 hogs. During the weekend, all meals lodging, and other expenses were taken care of by Aspinwall and other sponsors. There were several big hogs taken throughout the hunt including a 427 pound boar hog pictured below.

GLYNN COUNTY On February 16th, Game Wardens David Brady, Cpl. John Evans and Sgt. Chris Ridley responded to a call of an overturned vessel and subjects in the water around Quarantine Island. Once the Game Wardens arrived they found an elderly male subject and a female subject that were in a very small vessel and taking on water due to the strong wind that was blowing against the tide. Both subjects were recovered and brought into the patrol vessel. Using some Game Warden ingenuity, the boat was also recovered and taken to the ramp.
On February 17, Game Wardens David Brady and Sgt. Chris Ridley provided a safety and security vessel for the annual Bridge Run that is held on the Sydney Lanier Bridge. Approximately 1000 participants completed the feat of conquering the Lanier Bridge.