Field operations weekly report, 2019 April 13

Field Operations
Weekly Report April 7 April 13 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)
CARROLL COUNTY April 9th Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray patrolled on Lake Carroll Lake Seaton and Lake Paradise. During the patrol ten fishing license were checked and one individual was issued a warning for fishing without a license.
HARALSON COUNTY April 13th Corporal Chad Cox Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray Game Warden Garrett Pownall and Game Warden Ryan Shorter patrolled on Watermill Creek for trout fishing activity. During the patrol 5 fishing license were checked and one warning was issued for fishing w/o trout license.
PAULDING COUNTY April 12th Corporal Chad Cox and Game Warden Garrett Pownall checked two people that were fishing on Paulding Forest WMA. One of the subjects was cited for fishing without a license. April 13th Corporal Chad Cox and Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray patrolled on Paulding Forest WMA. During the patrol two individuals were checked fishing. One individual was charge for littering and consuming alcohol on the WMA.
BARTOW COUNTY On April 7th SGT Jason Roberson CPL Bart Hendrix and Game Warden Frank Pucci were patrolling Allatoona Lake for boating and fishing activity. The Game Wardens observed a small center console boat near Bethany Bridge with a small child not wearing a PFD. The Game Wardens stopped the boat to speak to the operator about the violation. As they approached the boat from down-wind the officers could smell the distinct odor of marijuana coming from the boat. Game Warden Pucci then spoke to the operator about the violation and the marijuana. The man was found to be in possession of marijuana and marijuana oil in a vape pen. He was also found to be under the influence of marijuana and arrested. He was charged with operating vessel under the influence BUI child endangerment allowing underage child to ride moving vessel without wearing a PFD possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana oil. The child was released to his mother at the DNR boat house.
On April 11th Cpl. Byron Young and Warden Frank Pucci responded to a 911 call on Allatoona Lake. The call was in reference to fight in a cove. Emerson PD and Bartow County Fire and Rescue units arrived on scene before the Game Wardens. The parties had separated before any units arrived Emerson PD units located a pontoon with several young adults that were involved. After a brief investigation officers found that no one involved needed any medical treatment. The operator of the pontoon was found to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for BUI. A male subject onboard was arrested for an outstanding warrant in Cobb County. Two males and two females were issued citations for underage possession of alcohol.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
No activity to report.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
CLARKE COUNTY On April 12th Gwfc. Tim Butler patrolled the county for fishing and boating activity. Fishing without license violations were documented during the patrol.
GREENE COUNTY On April 13th 2019 Ranger Jason Harrison and CPL Derrel Worth Patrolled the Oconee River for fishing activity. Violations for fishing without a license were documented.

Between 8-14th Cpl. Derrell Worth cited two subjects for hunting turkey over bait and one subject for hunting turkeys without a big game license. During this time Cpl. Derrell Worth also completed a dumping investigation and cited one subject for unlawful dumping less than 500 lbs.
MORGAN COUNTY On April 13th Ranger Jason Harrison and CPL Ricky Boles Patrolled Hard Labor Creek Reservoir for fishing activity. Violations for fishing without a license and Failure to display Park Pass were documented.
WALTON COUNTY On April 12th Ranger Jason Harrison Patrolled Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Boat Ramp for fishing activity. A Violation for fishing without a license was documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BLECKLEY COUNTY On April 7th Game Warden Kevin Hurley was patrolling when decided to check Dykes Landing on the river. After checking the boat ramp he saw a group of people next to the pavilion. He then made contact and smelled the odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle. After investigating the matter with the assistance of the Bleckley County Sheriff s Office two arrest were made. One subject was cited with misdemeanor marijuana possession. A second subject was charged with two felony counts of Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.
CRAWFORD COUNTY On April 13th Game Warden David Fisher was patrolling an area where he had previously located baited turkey hunting locations. During the patrol Fisher located two hunters hunting over cracked corn a citation was issued for the offense.
PUTNAM COUNTY On April 14th Game Wardens Sgt. Bo Kelly and Cpl. Bubba Stanford patrolled Murder Creek in Putnam County by vessel. During the vessel patrol three fishing without a license citations were written as well as two warnings for boating without sufficient life jackets.
On April 13th Game Warden Josh Cockrell patrolled Cedar Creek WMA for turkey hunters. During the patrol one warning was issued for blocking an access road on a WMA.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DOOLY COUNTY On April 13th Warden Clint Martin located and cited two turkey hunters for hunting big game over bait.
MARION COUNTY On April 13th Warden Bryan Price located and cited a turkey hunter for hunting big game over bait.
CRISP COUNTY On April 13th while patrolling Georgia Veteran s State Park warden Jesse Harrison located and cited two subjects for consuming alcohol on a state park.
COLQUITT COUNTY On April 7th Warden Eric White was patrolling Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and noted that two subjects had signed in to hunt small game the previous day. The WMA is closed to any/all hunting at this time. Warden White made contact with both subjects who admitted that they had hunted turkeys the previous day. Both subjects were cited for hunting on a closed WMA.

On April 13th Warden Eric White was conducting surveillance on an area where illegal hunting was taking place. White heard a shot fired near his location and located a subject who had just killed a turkey illegally in a baited area. Warden White cited the subject with hunting big game over bait and confiscated the turkey which was donated to a family within the community.
BROOKS COUNTY On April 7th Cpl. Greg Wade and Warden Kristie Carpenter were patrolling areas along the Little River. While at a sand bar along the river Cpl. Wade noticed an intoxicated subject having a difficult time walking. Cpl. Wade made contact with the subject to make sure he had transportation and identification. After checking the subjects identification it was discovered that he was wanted for Probation Violation. The subject was arrested and transported to the Brooks County Jail.
On April 13th Cpl. Greg Wade was patrolling the Little River when he observed a subject standing next to a truck with what appeared to be marijuana in his hands. As Wade approached the subject attempted to hide what he had behind the toolbox of the truck. A marijuana cigarette was recovered from behind the toolbox and a small bag of marijuana was located in the ashtray of the vehicle. Two subjects were cited for Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act.
On April 13th Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked several anglers at the Little River on the Brooks/Lowndes county line. One subject was cited for fishing without a license and arrested for an outstanding warrant. He was turned over to Brooks County authorities.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EFFINGHAM COUNTY/ SCREVEN COUNTY On April 13th CPL. Shaymus McNeely and GWFC Jordan Crawford finished up a two year long investigation that led to the dismantlement of a four suspect poaching ring. The group had poached a variety of game animals across Screven and Effingham counties. The investigation led to a total of 78 charges against the four suspects. Charges included hunting deer at night hunting from a motor vehicle hunting big game from a public road hunting out of season hunting without permission hunting without a license taking over the bag limit of antlered bucks and hunting after obtaining the bag limit. Seven racks and two turkey gobblers were also seized as evidence.

BEN HILL COUNTY On April 9th Game Warden Chris Thompson received an active hunting complaint about two subjects. Upon arrival and speaking to complainant Game Warden Thompson located two trucks on the property. The two subjects were found sitting in a tree stand with turkey hunting guns and gear while overlooking a feeder. The two claimed to be hunting hogs but were given citations for hunting turkeys over bait and warned about not venturing onto neighboring property without permission.
TELFAIR COUNTY On April 13th Corporal Dan Stiles and Game Warden John Kennedy were patrolling for turkey hunting activity. The officers located a hunter who was leaving a location with a freshly killed turkey. One violation was documented for violation of recording and reporting requirements for game animals and birds.
WHEELER COUNTY On April 7th Ranger First Class (RFC) Rodney Horne was patrolling for persons hunting turkeys over an area baited with corn and scratch feed. Three hunters were located hunting turkeys over the bait. Three violations were documented for hunting turkeys over bait and one violation for hunting without a big game license.
On April 8th Sergeant James McLaughlin and Ranger First Class (RFC) Rodney Horne responded to a fishing without permission complaint. Two adults and three juveniles were found fishing on private property. Two violations for fishing without permission were documented on the adults.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On April 7th Game Warden Cameron Dyal conducted a WMA patrol on Bullard Creek WMA in Jeff Davis County. During the patrols Dyal encountered a group of subjects riding ATV s on a closed road on the WMA. Four adults and two juveniles were found to be operating the ATV s and had driven around a closed gate to access the area. A total of eight violations were addressed with the adults for driving around closed gates on a WMA and illegal use of an ATV on a WMA. The juveniles were released to the adults with verbal guidance on the WMA regulations. During this same WMA patrol Dyal encountered four more subjects near the river landing on the WMA. Dyal observed one of the subjects consuming an alcoholic beverage. One violation was addressed for consuming an alcoholic beverage on a WMA as well as four violations of entering a designated WRD area without a valid lands pass.
TREUTLEN COUNTY On April 7 2019 Game Warden Randell Meeks was patrolling Treutlen County for fishing and boating activities. One violation for operating a vessel without proper registration was documented.
TATTNALL COUNTY

On April 11th Game Warden Randell Meeks was patrolling Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park. One violation of fishing without a license was documented. TATTNALL COUNTY On April 7th Corporal Chase Altman patrolled Big Hammock WMA which resulted in 6 violations for not obtaining a Land Pass for access to the WMA. TOOMBS COUNTY On April 13th Game Wardens Cameron Dyal and Bobby Sanders performed a vessel patrol on the Altamaha River targeting fishing activity. During the patrol six violations were documented including fishing without a license fishing without license on person and improper vessel registration.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Friday April 12 2019 Corporal Kate Hargrove met with DNR Chaplains from across the state at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth Ga. The Chaplains received training on performing CPR using the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and in giving first aid to victims with a variety of injuries.
On Saturday April 13 2019 RFC Thain and Sgt. Scott met with the public at J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill. The event was sponsored by the Richmond Hill Fire Department and had many vendors there. Game Wardens Scott and Thain discussed boating and hunting laws and answered questions about fishing boating and hunting laws. RFC Thain is a K9 handler and had Case with him. Case was able to meet and make friends with many people. He did not however respond to any questions. Pictured below is the Musgrove family with RFC Thain and K9 Case.

LIBERTY COUNTY On Sunday April 7 2019 Game Warden Cpl. Bill Bryson investigated a complaint of illegal burning in Liberty County. The staff of the Liberty County Fire Services reported to Cpl. Bryson that the fire department responded to an illegal burn Saturday night in the area of Limerick Road. A man there ignited a fire to burn trash in a dumpster. As a part of his burn he included a couch oil filters and treated lumber. Cpl. Bryson interviewed the man and investigated the burn area and dumpster. The man was cited for illegal burning.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On April 9th Game Warden Cassidy Gerstorff was patrolling the Satilla River at the Atkinson Boat Ramp when he observed a pick-up truck parked off to the side of a nearby pond at the ramp. Gerstorff made contact with a woman that was next to the truck only to find a subject sleeping in the truck as well. Further investigation revealed that the male subject in the truck was in possession of a glass pipe a bag that contained a white substance and a box containing drug paraphernalia inside as well. After being searched the male subject also had methamphetamine in his pocket. Further search of the vehicle revealed a pistol that was also buried inside the vehicle. The subject was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and transported to the Brantley County Jail.
On April 13th Game Wardens Cassidy Gerstorff and John Evans were patrolling the Satilla River near the Atkinson boat ramp checking several vessels during the patrol. During one of the vessel stops the Game Wardens conducted a BUI screening of the vessel operator and the operator was subsequently arrested and charged for Boating under the influence of drugs. The subject was transported to the Brantley County Jail for booking.
GLYNN COUNTY On April 10th GWFC Colte Shaske and CPL John Evans began an investigation on the illegal use of ATVs on Paulk s Pasture WMA. Multiple cameras that were owned by the Game Management Division and surrounding landowners were stolen. Wardens were able to locate 3 juveniles from pictures taken in the area surrounding Paulk s Pasture WMA. During the investigation it was found that the juveniles were also using drugs and destroyed the gate near their homes. All 3 suspects were cited for 5 counts of Theft by Taking 3 counts of Interference with Government Property and Criminal Trespass.