Field operations weekly report, 2018 April 7

Field Operations
Weekly Report April 1 April 7, 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)
FULTON COUNTY April 4th, RFC Daniel Gray continued working on multiple illegal dumping cases from the HWY 166 boat ramp. During the investigation two individuals were cited for unlawful dumping of litter less than 500 lbs.
POLK COUNTY On April 2, Cpl. Chad Cox conducted a water and boating safety program for a local Boy Scout group in Cedartown. Cpl. Cox showed them PFD's and the let each one of them pick out the size that fit them and try it on.
DOUGLAS COUNTY On April 7, Sgt. Eric Brown, Cpl. Chad Cox, and Cadet Garrett Pownall patrolled Sweetwater Creek State Park. They checked 17 fishing licenses and issued 3 citation and 1 warning for fishing w/o license.
CARROLL COUNTY On April 7, Sgt. Eric Brown, Cpl. Chad Cox, and Cadet Garrett Pownall checked Lake Paradise in Villa Rica. The game wardens checked 7 fishing licenses and issued 1 citation and 1 warning for fishing w/o a license.
PAULDING COUNTY On April 8, Cpl. Chad Cox and Cadet Garrett Pownall patrolled Paulding Forest and Sheffield WMAs. The game wardens checked several turkey hunters and everyone was in compliance.
MURRAY COUNTY On April 6th, Sgt. James Keener and Cadet William Smith were patrolling the area of Peeples Lake when they encountered an individual digging on USFS lands. A subsequent investigation revealed that subject to be in possession of marijuana. The investigation also revealed that a person that accompanied him had an outstanding warrant for burglary in Cobb County. The subject with the warrant was placed under arrest and transported to the Murray County Jail by both Wardens. The other subject was issued a citation for possession of marijuana, less than 1 oz. The information of the subject who was digging was also passed on to the US Forest Service. On the same patrol, Sgt. Keener and Cadet Smith also issued a warning to an individual for operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's.
On April 7th, Cpl. Casey Jones and Cadet William Smith were patrolling the area of Holly Creek on Cohutta WMA when they encountered another individual with marijuana. That subject was also issued a citation for possession of marijuana, less than 1 oz., as well as a citation for possessing alcohol in a restricted area (violation of US Forest Service rule on WMA). Two other subjects were issued warnings for not having fishing license on person in the same area.
FLOYD COUNTY On April 6th, Corporal Ben Cunningham and Cadet Gann received a complaint in reference to hunting turkeys without permission on Silver Hill Road. The complainant was driving down the road, saw a flock of turkeys in a field, and just past the field was a parked white Ford F-150 with the hood up. The complainant realized the possibility that someone might be hunting the turkeys without permission. The complainant drove in the field to run the turkeys off and heard a shot and saw two suspects ran toward the white Ford F-150. Through investigation, the Game Wardens were able to find and charge both subjects for hunting without permission.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
BARROW COUNTY On April 2nd, GWFC Chris Kernahan conducted a State Park patrol at Fort Yargo. While on patrol, he made contact with multiple subjects who illegally operated ATVs on the trail system. The violations were addressed.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
NEWTON COUNTY On April 6th and April 7th, Game Warden Dan Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting and fishing activity. During this time violations of fishing without a license were documented.
HANCOCK COUNTY On April 7th and April 8th, Game Warden Derrell Worth and Cadet John Rhodes patrolled Hancock County for hunting and fishing activity. During this time violations for Unlawful Enticement of Game, Hunting Big Game over Bait (Turkey), Failure to wear PFD in hazardous area and Failure to obey regulatory marker were documented.
GREENE COUNTY On April 6th, Game Warden Derrell Worth patrolled Greene County for Hunting and Fishing Activity. Violations for Hunting Big Game Over Bait and Unlawful Dumping were documented.
PUTNAM COUNTY On April 8th, Game Warden Derrell Worth and Cadet John Rhodes patrolled Putnam County for Hunting and Fishing Activity. A Violation of littering was documented.
WALTON COUNTY On April 7th and 8th, Game Warden Jason Harrison patrolled Walton County for Hunting and Fishing Activity. During this time violations for Hunting without a License, Hunting Big Game without a License, Hunting with an Unplugged Shotgun, and Fishing without a License were documented.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On April 6th RFC. Tim Butler and Rgr. Trey Paulk documented violations of trapping furbearers out of season, trapping without a license, failure to check traps within 24 hours, failure to tag traps, and hunting turkey without a big game license.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
PUTNAM COUNTY On the afternoon of April 4th Game Warden Jon Segars checked fishermen along the banks of Lake Sinclair. One subject was charged with fishing without a license.
On the afternoon of April 6th Corporal Bubba Stanford and Game Warden Josh Cockrell checked a turkey hunter on Cedar Creek WMA. Further investigation led to the hunter being arrested for hunting under the influence and possession of misdemeanor marijuana.

TROUP COUNTY On April 1st Game Warden Charlie Follin and Cpl. Keith Waddell were on lake patrol on West Point Lake. As they were launching their patrol boat, they noticed a personal watercraft (PWC) being operated recklessly and, shortly thereafter, received a complaint about the same PWC violating a nearby no-wake zone. They made a stop of the vessel and subsequently determined the operator was under the influence. He was placed into custody, transported to the Troup County Jail, and charged with Operating a Vessel Under the Influence as well as several other violations
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
THOMAS COUNTY On April 7th, Game Warden David Jones assisted with the Youth Mentor hunt through partnership with the NWTF, at Wild Ridge Plantation. 14-year-old Mack Yancey was able to harvest his first turkey.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EVANS COUNTY On April 7, Game Warden Patrick Gibbs and Cadet Cameron Dyal located a truck parked in the woods containing turkey hunting gear and a fresh opened bag of wildlife feed. There was also wildlife feed spilled in the bed of the truck. They followed foot tracks to the base of a tree where they found a hunting vest with turkey calls on each side and a decoy set up about 20 yards in front of it. There was also a feeder with wildlife feed/corn 50 yards from where the hunter was set up. They later located a hunter who admitted to hunting over the bait and leaving his hunting vest, calls, and decoy behind. Violations were addressed for hunting big game over bait, hunting without a license, and hunting without a big game license.
TATTNALL COUNTY On April 1, Sergeant Jon Barnard and Game Warden Patrick Gibbs checked boats and fishermen at the Tattnall County Landing. A total of 4 boats, 6 jet skis, and 6 fishing licenses were checked. One subject was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On April 6th Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford conducted an interview with the local TV news media. Warden Crawford took the local reporter out on patrol of the Savannah River to show the importance of practicing good boating safety while on Georgia's waterways. The interview highlighted Georgia's 100-foot law, BUI enforcement, life jacket wear, and the SPLASH campaign.
EMANUEL COUNTY On April 7th Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford conducted a patrol in Emanuel county looking for turkey hunting activity. During the patrol several hunters were checked. Two of the hunters were found to be hunting turkeys over bait. Upon investigation a total of six violations were documented. Violations included hunting big game over bait, hunting without a big game license, and hunting without a license.

WARE COUNTY On March 31st, Sgt. Patrick Dupree and Corporal Mark Pool encountered two people fishing without licenses in a creek along Swamp Road. Both were issued written warnings for the violation.
CHARLTON COUNTY On April 7th, Game Warden Joseph Cowart and Game Warden First Class Sam Williams responded to Stephen Foster State Park in reference to a report of a juvenile female that had been sexually assaulted by an adult male. Once on scene, the officers located the victim and the suspect with the help of park's staff. Charlton County Sheriff's Department was contacted and arrived to conduct a preliminary investigation. The victim was transported to an area hospital for evaluation and the suspect was arrested and taken to Charlton County Jail.
BACON COUNTY On April 6th, Game Warden First Class Judd Sears received a call from Bacon County Sheriff's Office about an illegal burn. Game Warden First Class Sears responded to the area and Bacon Sheriff's Office and Fire Department were already on scene. A subject was burning tires beside his residence. The fire was put out and the subject was made aware of what can be legally burned. The violation of burning of egregious litter was documented.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.