Field operations weekly report, 2019 February 2

Field Operations
Weekly Report January 27 February 2, 2019
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)
HARALSON COUNTY On January 29th, Corporal Chad Cox and Game Warden Garrett Pownall responded to a missing person in Tallapoosa. They assisted Haralson County Fire and Rescue over the next several days. Corporal Casey Jones and Game Warden Tyler Lewis joined in the search and used a sector scan to search the bottom of the lake. They were able to locate the deceased subject on the third day of searching the lake.
DOUGLAS COUNTY On February 2nd, Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray and Game Warden Ryan Shorter patrolled Sweetwater Creek State Park. The game wardens checked eighteen fishing licenses and seven vessels. One individual received a warning for having an unregistered vessel.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
WHITE COUNTY On January 27th, GWFC Joe Hill responded to a complaint in reference to four subjects hunting ducks without permission. GWFC Hill found DNR did not have a landowner affidavit on file, but did find one subject hunting ducks without a federal waterfowl stamp. GWFC Hill issued a citation for the violation.
On January 27, GWFC David Webb and SGT Steve Seitz patrolled Smith Creek at Unicoi State Park for fishing activity. The Game Wardens checked multiple anglers and two anglers were issued written warnings for failing to check in at the park and fishing with unlawful bait in an artificial lure only stream.
On January 29th, Cpl. Anne Wiley and GWFC David Webb completed an investigation from a hunting complaint in December 2018. The game wardens had served a search warrant on a residence in Cleveland, GA and interviewed three adult males and one male juvenile. They found the four suspects had hunted deer at night approximately 10-15 times on Charlie Thomas Rd, Danny Palmer Rd., and Airport Rd. The game wardens confiscated one 7mm mag rifle, one seven point skull mount, one spike deer head, and packaged deer meat for evidence. Cpl. Wiley and GWFC Webb obtained and served nine arrest warrants on the three adults for hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road and hunting from a vehicle. They also completed a juvenile complaint form for the same violations on the juvenile.
On January 31, Cpl. Anne Wiley investigated a fishing without permission complaint off Chimney Lake Rd in Cleveland, GA. The landowners had told an adult male subject who they knew multiple times to not fish on the property. The landowners provided trail camera photographs of the adult male fishing in the lake after he was warned by them. The landowners signed an affidavit to prosecute the subject. Cpl. Wiley obtained and served an arrest warrant for fishing without permission for the adult male.
On February 2, Cpl. Anne Wiley patrolled the Yonah Preserves reservoir in White County. She checked one vessel near the dam with two people who were fishing. Cpl Wiley checked their fishing licenses, registration, and safety equipment. She warned one adult male for operating a vessel without PFD's and failure to display registration numbers.
Later that afternoon, Cpl. Wiley received a phone call from Game Management Technician Robert Dills. Dills told Cpl. Wiley he had seen three people riding horses on Buck Shoals Wildlife Management Area. Cpl. Wiley responded by ATV and located a Cleveland resident with his grandchildren riding horses on the WMA. The WMA is only open for "foot travel" only. No vehicles or horses are allowed on the area. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Cpl. Wiley warned the resident and asked them to leave the WMA.

TOWNS COUNTY On January 27, GWFC David Webb was checking evening waterfowl hunters on Lake Chatuge and was informed by some hunters that a pontoon boat with no front seats was riding around flying ducks up to shoot them. GWFC Webb was also told by some anglers that they observed the same pontoon boat waterfowl hunting in North Carolina and that they recognized one of the hunters. GWFC Webb contacted one of the illegal hunters by phone and met with him and his hunting partner in Hiawassee, GA to interview them about the violations. The two hunters denied flushing ducks up with the boat but admitted to hunting waterfowl inside North Carolina. The hunters did not have NC hunting licenses so GWFC Webb contacted N.C. Wildlife Officer Don LaTulipe who said there's no hunting allowed on Sunday in North Carolina, therefore the season was closed. GWFC Webb then followed the hunters to a location just inside the Clay County, North Carolina state line and met with LaTulipe and another N.C. Wildlife officer. The NC Officers issued citations to both duck hunters for hunting waterfowl on Sunday, hunting waterfowl out of season, non-resident hunting without a license and non-resident hunting without a waterfowl license.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On January 27th Gwfc. Phillip Nelson was on patrol for duck hunting activity when he heard gun shots coming from an area known for duck hunting. Officer Nelson called Sgt. Brian Carter and Cpl. Mark Patterson for assistance. The officers located 10 subjects hunting waterfowl after hours. Violations documented were hunting waterfowl after hours. One wood duck, one Merganser, and one goose were confiscated.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY On the afternoon of February 2nd, 2019 Game Warden Kevin Hurley and Sgt. Bo Kelly patrolled Lake Sinclair for Crappie fishermen. After checking numerous boats there were 4 contacts written for license violations as well as boating equipment violations.
BIBB COUNTY On January 27th, Sgt. Jeremy Bolen and Game Warden David Fisher were patrolling area's that had previously been determined to be baited with corn. The officers located two subjects duck hunting one of the baited swamps. Both individuals were issued citations for hunting ducks over bait.
BUTTS COUNTY On January 27th, Game Warden Niki Spencer was patrolling the Worthville area for duck hunting activity when she located seven individuals hunting without permission; the hunters were cited for the offense.
TROUP COUNTY On February 1st Cpl. Keith Waddell and GW Steven Martinez checked several boats at Georgia Access on West Point Lake. They found two fishermen that had 31 crappie each, which is one crappie over the limit of 30. The fishermen were issued written warnings for possession of over the daily limit of crappie.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No significant activity to report.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
IRWIN COUNTY On January 31st, Game Wardens Stiles and Kennedy patrolled the Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area (ARWMA) for hunting activity. No violations were detected.
On February 1st, Cpl. Stiles and Game Warden Kennedy conducted a night patrol on the ARWMA. No violations were detected.
DODGE COUNTY On February 1st, Corporal Stiles and Game Warden Kennedy concluded an investigation at the Dodge County Public Fishing Area (DCPFA) that began in January with abandoned property found at the DCPFA. A suspect was identified and interviewed. One violation for entering into designated Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) area without WRD Land Pass and one violation for unlawful camping on a Public Fishing Area were documented. The property that was left at the Public Fishing Area was returned to the individual.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On January 27th Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford patrolled Abercorn Landing and Abercorn Creek area for duck hunting activity. During the patrol several hunters were checked with one violation for operating a vessel with an expired registration documented.
BULLOCH COUNTY On February 2nd, Game Warden First Class Jason Miller responded to a complaint of night hunting at a convenience store near I-16 and Hwy 67. GWFC Miller arrived to find two suspects at the convenient store. It was determined that two suspects were shooting at rabbits near the front of the store with a .22 caliber rifle. The rabbits were in the parking lot and they were shooting directly towards traffic on Interstate 16. One rabbit was confiscated as evidence and the subjects were charged for hunting at night and hunting w/o permission.
JENKINS COUNTY On February 2nd, Corporal Mike Wilcox assisted Jenkins County Deputies with a group of people who were drag racing four wheelers on a county road. Deputies charged six people with drag racing. They towed three vehicles and two four wheelers. The group that was racing has been warned in recent times that their activity was illegal.
SCREVEN COUNTY On February 2nd, Corporal Shaymus McNeely and Game Warden Ben Reese conducted a patrol of Tuckahoe WMA. While on patrol, the Game Wardens responded to an area where they heard a lot of shooting. Four suspects were encountered shooting at song birds. Violations for taking non-game animals were documented on the group.
CLINCH COUNTY On January 27th, Corporal Jason Shipes completed an investigation related to hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle and hunting big game from a public roadway. The incident occurred during the month of October at around 2:00 AM. The complaint was received through the Department's Ranger Hotline. As a result, one subject was contacted, interviewed, and admitted to shooting a deer from a motor vehicle, from a county roadway and at night.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No significant activity to report.