Field operations weekly report, 2019 February 9

Field Operations
Weekly Report February 3 February 9, 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)
PAULDING COUNTY On February 9th, Game Warden Garrett Pownall checked three hunters in their vehicles on Paulding Forest WMA. Citations were issued for having a loaded firearm in a vehicle on a WMA road.
DOUGLAS COUNTY On February 9th, Sargent Eric Brown and Corporal Chad Cox patrolled Sweetwater Creek State Park. They checked six fishermen and issued one citation for fishing without a license.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
STEPHENS COUNTY On February 9th, Game Warden Jonathan Segars patrolled Stephens County and Lake Russell WMA. During patrol, he checked a total of 18 fishing licenses and 10 hunting licenses. Two citations were issued: one for hunting without a license and one for hunting within 50 yards of a WMA road. Sergeant Derek Dillard joined GW Segars that evening. During this time, they made one arrest for a warrant out of Franklin County. Later that evening, they arrested another individual for possession of marijuana. Sgt. Dillard and GW Segars also that night responded to an injured owl call in Franklin County. The owl was taken to a local rehabilitator where it is undergoing a procedure to receive a rod to fix its injured wing.
HART COUNTY On February 9th, Corporal Craig Fulghum concluded an investigation that began back in November on Lake Hartwell. The complaint was in reference to a non-resident subject deer hunting by boat on private property near Corp of Engineers property on Lake Hartwell. After the investigation was over with the assistance of several South Carolina Game Wardens three cases were made. The violations consisted of one count of hunting without permission and two counts of not recording deer harvest. Two bucks were seized as evidence during the investigation.
HABERSHAM COUNTY On February 3rd, GWFC Joe Hill responded to a complaint in reference to two subjects fishing without permission on the Soque River. GWFC Hill issued warnings to two teenagers for fishing without permission. GWFC Hill then checked the public access area on the Soque River for fishing violations. He checked ten fishermen and found two of them fishing without licenses or trout licenses. GWFC Hill issued citations and warnings for the fishing without a license and fishing without a trout license violations. On February 9th, GWFC Joe Hill responded to a complaint in reference to three subjects fishing without permission on the Soque River. GWFC Hill issued each subject a citation for fishing without permission.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GREENE COUNTY Between February 8-10, SGT Garthright and GW Rhodes patrolled in the area of Lake Oconee for fishing activity. During these patrols, several violations of fishing without a license and operating a vessel without PFDs were documented.
NEWTON COUNTY Between February 6-8, GWFC Schay Patrolled Newton County for fishing activity. During these patrols, several violations of fishing without a license were documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On February 9th, Sgt. Jeremy Bolen and Game Warden Dean Gibson were patrolling Cooper Creek Park and Flat Rock Park for fishing activity. They located one subject fishing without a license and one person who was a nonresident fishing without a license. Both were issued a written warning for the violations.
On February 9th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver was checking fishing and boating activity along the Chattahoochee River in Columbus. Cpl. Oliver checked two subjects in a boat at Rotary Park and could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator's breath. There was an open container of alcohol at the driver's console as well as an open 12-pack of beer sitting in the floor of the boat. Cpl. Oliver administered field sobriety exercises to the boat operator and the subject failed. The operator was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence and transported to the Muscogee County Jail where he was booked in on the charge.
TROUP COUNTY On February 7th GW Charlie Follin checked licenses on West Point Lake; he issued one citation for fishing without a license.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No significant activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On February 3rd, Game Wardens Cpl. Dan Stiles and John Kennedy conducted a vessel patrol at Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area. Four vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment. Eleven anglers were also checked for fishing licenses and creel limit compliance. Violations documented were operating a vessel with insufficient personal floatation devices (life jackets), operating a vessel without registration, and entering a designated fee area without a GA Lands Pass.
On February 3rd, Game Wardens Corporal Dan Stiles and John Kennedy were patrolling fishing locations. A vehicle was located at a previous complaint location of fishing without permission. One person was found fishing under a bridge and cited for fishing without a license.
On February 8th, Cpl. Dan Stiles and Game Warden John Kennedy patrolled the River Bend Wildlife Management Area at night for illegal activity. No activity was detected.

On February 9th, Corporal Dan Stiles conducted a late evening and night patrol at the River Bend Wildlife Management Area. Eight hunters were checked for license and regulation compliance. After dark Cpl. Stiles waited at a vehicle with a hunter for his companions to return. When the hunter's companions failed to return within a reasonable amount of time, Cpl. Stiles and the hunter attempted to contact them without success. A short time later, Cpl. Stiles and the waiting hunter located the other two hunters who had become lost while returning to their vehicle.
WILCOX COUNTY On February 9, 2019 Game Warden John Kennedy, Corporal Dan Stiles, and Corporal John Stokes patrolled Wilcox County after receiving an anonymous tip about a large group of nonresident hunters coming to Georgia to hunt hogs. While on patrol, 21 hunters were contacted while hunting hogs with dogs. Three citations were issued for nonresident hunting without a license.
On February 9, 2019 Game Warden John Kennedy and Corporal John Stokes responded to a hunting without permission complaint in Wilcox County. The suspect was found to have been hunting hogs and crossed over the property line to retrieve one of the dogs. Upon landowner request the suspect was issued a written warning for hunting without permission.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On February 7th Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford received an anonymous tip that a person was holding a live coyote at a residence in Guyton. Warden Crawford and Effingham Animal Control investigated the claim and found the coyote being held in a pen behind the residence in question. After questioning the owner of the residence, it was found that she did not have any type of permit to hold or rehabilitate wildlife. The suspect was cited for holding wildlife without a permit and that coyote was turned over to DNR.
BULLOCH COUNTY On February 9th, Game Warden First Class Jason Miller, was able to conclude an investigation of illegal hunting on private property near Statesboro. In a joint effort between GWFC Miller and investigators in the Bulloch County Sheriff's Dept., two suspects were identified in criminal trespass violations and numerous hunting violations. Warrants were taken on the two adults by the BCSO for multiple criminal trespass issues that they were investigating. The two subjects were notified and turned themselves in to the jail on the morning of February 9th. GWFC Miller went to the jail and cited the two subjects. Violations cited were two counts of hunting w/o permission, 2 counts of hunting big game over bait, 2 counts of hunting deer without wearing hunter orange, 1 count of littering, and 1 count of possession of resident hunting license by a nonresident.
JENKINS COUNTY On February 3rd- 7th Corporal Mike Wilcox patrolled state owned properties. Cpl. Wilcox patrolled Jenkins County for small game hunting and fishing activity.
SCREVEN COUNTY On February 9th, Corporal Shaymus McNeely, Sergeant Brian Hobbins, Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford and Game Warden Ben Reese participated in a public safety day event at the Black Creek Boy Scout Camp. Game Wardens presented information on boating safety and tracking to the children in attendance.
On February 9th, Corporal Shaymus McNeely and Game Warden Ben Reese conducted a patrol of the Savannah River for commercial shad fishing and boating activity. A number of boaters were checked in the Stoney Bluff area.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No significant activity to report.