Field Operations 
Weekly Report January 28  February 3, 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) 
FLOYD COUNTY On January 28th, Game Wardens Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Cpl. Ben Cunningham were patrolling the Coosa area along the Coosa River for waterfowl hunters. Just before sunset the wardens located several vehicles in an area known for waterfowl hunting. Shortly after sunset, the wardens heard shots coming from the swamp. The wardens heard and counted 26 shots fired after legal shooting hours. Eight hunters were located and the Game Wardens addressed the hunting after legal hours violations. One of the hunters said his Federal Waterfowl Stamp was at his truck. Upon arrival at the truck, this particular hunter showed the game wardens his phone where he had purchased his Federal Waterfowl Stamp. The game wardens noticed the purchase date was January 28, 2018. A check on the Go Outdoors Georgia System showed the hunter had actually purchased the stamp online between the swamp and the truck. He was issued a citation for hunting without a Federal Waterfowl Stamp. Three Green Wing Teal were confiscated as illegally taken wildlife. The case in pending in the Probate Court of Floyd County. 
Three Green Wing Teal shot after hours in the Coosa community 
On January 31st, Game Warden Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from the Region office that an in-progress hunting complaint was reported near Rome, Georgia. He contacted the complainant who reported seeing two men in a clear-cut area adjacent to her home wearing fluorescent orange and suspected they were deer hunting after season. She reported that the subdivision had a history of having issues with hunters on the clear-cut area. Sgt. Barr asked if she could hear dogs and she stated she could not. On arrival, Sgt. Barr met with an adjacent land owner who 
had a key for a gate and road entering the clear-cut. Sgt. Barr began foot patrolling, could hear beagles, and found two men rabbit hunting. The men had entered from an adjacent hunting club and admitted they did not have permission to hunt the property. The land owner was contacted and agreed the best course of action was to warn the two hunters. Two warnings were issued for hunting without permission. The hunters gathered their beagles and returned to their adjacent hunting club. 
Although two rabbit hunters knew who the land owner was, they had not obtained permission to hunt and were warned for hunting without permission. 
 
 WALKER COUNTY On February 3rd, GWFC McConkey and GW Turner completed an investigation on people possibly hunting deer over bait in Walker County. The area had been patrolled throughout the 2017-18 deer season with signs of multiple hunting locations being used by the subjects to hunt the baited areas. At this time, sufficient evidence to take charges for the possible violations has not been collected. The area will be patrolled during future hunting seasons for possible violations. 
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) 
BARROW COUNTY On January 28th, GWFC II Mark Stephens, & GWFC I Chris Kernahan conducted an area on the Mulberry River. During the area check, the Game Wardens made contact with several waterfowl hunters who were found to have hunted waterfowl with unplugged shotguns, without GA waterfowl licenses, without federal waterfowl licenses, & without hunter education. The violations were addressed. 
JACKSON COUNTY On January 28th, Cpl. Eric Isom and K9, Colt located two subjects duck hunting without permission. They were also found to be hunting ducks over bait. Cpl. Isom allowed the subjects to walk back to a nearby residence and where he addressed the violations. 
MADISON COUNTY On February 3rd, Cpl. Eric Isom, & GWFC Chris Kernahan initiated an investigation reference an antlered deer that had been taken during the 2017-18 deer season. Preliminary information indicated that the deer may have been taken in Barrow Co., however after the Game Wardens interviewed multiple suspects, it was determined that the deer was taken in Madison Co. One suspect was found to have violated the recording & reporting requirements for game animals. The violation was addressed. 
Region III- Thomson (East Central) 
NEWTON COUNTY On February 1st, Ranger Dan Schay patrolled Newton county for fishing activity. A violation of fishing without a license was documented. 
WALTON COUNTY On February 3rd, Ranger Jason Harrison patrolled Walton County for Hunting Activity. A violation for Hunting Without a License was documented. 
Region IV- Macon (West Central) 
No activity to report. 
Region V- Albany (Southwest) 
No activity to report. 
 
 Region VI- Metter (Southeast) 
DODGE COUNTY On January 28th while assisting the Dodge County Sheriff's Office with another incident Corporal Dan Stiles and Ranger First Class Allen Mills were traveling to assist a Georgia State Patrol Trooper with a traffic stop. While in route to the Trooper's location the vehicle fled and Trooper Screws utilized a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the fleeing vehicle. Cpl. Stiles and RFC Mills arrived on scene and assisted the Trooper with the arrest. A quantity of suspected cocaine was also located in the vehicle. 
On January 26th, Game Warden Allen Mills located a known waterfowl hunting area freshly baited with corn. Based on past experiences, Game Warden Mills knew the area would be hunted on Sunday morning. On January 28th (Sunday) Game Warden Mills recruited assistance from Corporal Dan Stiles and Sergeant James McLaughlin with working the area. Shortly after daylight, several shots were heard coming from that location. Cpl. Stiles and Game Warden Mills conducted a foot patrol and located 7 suspects hunting waterfowl. Violations for hunting ducks over bait were documented. Also, violations for hunting without a license and hunting without a Georgia migratory bird stamp were documented. Nine ducks were confiscated. 
LAURENS COUNTY On January 29th and February 1st, 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 to eight classes of 5th grade students at Southwest Laurens Elementary and East Laurens Elementary School. A total of 127 students received the program. 
WHEELER COUNTY On February 3rd, Ranger First Class (RFC) Rodney Horne conducted a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) patrol on Alligator Creek WMA. During that patrol five hunters were observed hunting bobcats. Two violations were documented on two different hunters. One violation for hunting without a license and one violation for carrying a loaded firearm on a WMA road. 
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) 
GLYNN COUNTY On February 2, Game Warden David Brady was working an ongoing commercial bait shrimping investigation when he conducted an inspection of a commercial bait boat in Brunswick. After inspecting the bait shrimp on board the vessel he determined that the fisherman was over the 50 quart limit of shrimp. Both the captain and the striker were issued citations for possession of over 50 quarts of bait shrimp and the shrimp were seized as evidence. A total of 94 quarts of shrimp were seized.