Field operations weekly report, 2019 April 20

Field Operations
Weekly Report April 14 April 20 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)
POLK COUNTY April 17th Cpl. Chad Cox was conducting a foot patrol on some property when he located a hunter that had killed a male turkey. After inspecting the area Cpl. Cox located wheat and cracked corn that had been put out by the hunter. He issued the hunter a citation for hunting over bait and confiscated the turkey. The turkey was given to a needy family.
April 19th GWFC Daniel Gray was patrolling for turkey hunting activity. During the patrol GWFC Gray issued one hunter a warning for hunting without a big game license.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
No activity to report.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
NEWTON COUNTY Between 8-14th GWFC Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting and fishing activity. During these patrols violations of fishing without a license fishing without permission and hunting big game over bait (turkey) were documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY On April 19th 2019 Game Wardens Kevin Hurley and Nolan Callaway were passing by Little River Marina on Lake Sinclair where they spotted two jet skis creating a wake in a no wake zone. The two jet skis docked and the Game Wardens made contact with the operators. Two citations for creating a wake in a no wake zone were issued as well as two warnings for the drivers not obtaining the boating education course.
HOUSTON COUNTY On April 20th Game Wardens Kevin Hurley and Josh Cockrell patrolled Oaky Woods WMA due to numerous complaints having been reported of people tearing up the roads on ATV s as well as vehicles. While on patrol the officers could see where an ATV had been hitting mud holes and fish tailing in the roads. They then contacted two ATV s headed back to their trailer to load up. Three citations were issued for Damage of Department Property and two warnings were given for not obtaining a land pass to be on the WMA.
On April 20th Cpl. Robert Stillwell patrolled Flat Creek PFA and checked numerous licenses. One fishing without a license citation was written.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On April 14th Cpl. Mitch Oliver was checking fishing licenses at Lake Oliver Marina when he encountered two subjects fishing from the bank. Cpl. Oliver observed the anglers before they saw him but when the male subject saw Cpl. Oliver approaching he threw his fishing pole in the bushes. Cpl. Oliver approached the individuals and asked the man if he wanted to retrieve his pole. The female subject also went and retrieved her pole that she dropped. Neither subject had identification on their person and said their ID s were in the car. Cpl. Oliver followed the anglers back to the car where the male subject opened the door of the car to retrieve his wallet. Cpl. Oliver could smell the strong odor of suspected marijuana coming from the car and asked the subjects where the marijuana was. The female claimed ownership of the marijuana and told Cpl. Oliver where it could be located in the vehicle. Cpl. Oliver located a small plastic bag of marijuana a rolled "blunt" and 41 smoked "blunts" in and

around the center console of the car. The male was issued a citation for fishing without a license and the female was issued citations for fishing without a license and possession of marijuana.
SPALDING COUNTY Cpl. Keith Page responded to a delayed call about a hunting incident in Spalding County. An elderly male was shooting at some geese in his yard because of the damage to his lawn. One of the shots hit a juvenile fishing in a nearby lake. The juvenile was transported to the hospital and was later released after treatment. The shooter was arrested at the scene by Spalding County Deputies and charged with Reckless Conduct.
TAYLOR COUNTY On April 20th Cpl. Josh Swain and Sgt. Jeremy Bolen were checking hunting properties that had been previously identified as being baited for turkeys. While checking one of the properties the officers encountered an individual who was turkey hunting. The subject was not hunting the baited area at the time of the encounter however the subject did not have a hunting license nor a big game license. The subject was charged accordingly.
TROUP COUNTY On April 20th Cpl. Keith Page and Sgt. Brent Railey responded to a possible hunting without permission complaint at some property bordering West Point Lake. The landowner had been having problems with people accessing his property via US Army Corps of Engineers property that bordered his land. Sgt. Railey was able to locate the hunters and determined that these two were in fact hunting on Corps property at this time. Cpl Keith Page issued both of the hunters warnings for license violations.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BULLOCH COUNTY On the evening of April 18th Game Warden First Class Jason Miller received information of two individuals that were in possession of a Canada Goose that was illegally captured in a pond on the Georgia Southern University campus. The complainant sent GWFC Miller pictures that the two posted on Instagram and Snapchat. GWFC Miller responded to the area and located the subjects. The two individuals were questioned and later admitted to the violations. GWFC Miller cited the two subjects for unlawful possession of birds or parts and were educated on laws pertaining to the offenses.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On April 20th Game Warden First Class Jordan Crawford patrolled the Ebenezer Creek area for boating and fishing activity. During the patrol three violations for operating a vessel without a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device were documented.
LOWNDES COUNTY On Monday April 15th around 8 30PM Game Warden Thomas Sibley responded to a call of five vehicles that had failed to exit the area prior to the automatic gate closing and being locked behind the gate at Grand Bay WMA. There are signs present instructing them to exit the area prior to 8 00 P.M. Upon arrival Game Warden Thomas Sibley located the vehicles as well as an additional vehicle located at the check station. There were nine individuals located on the property and ultimately sixteen citations were issued for entering into a WRD property without a lands pass and illegal recreational use on a WMA.

On April 20th Corporal Jon Penuel responded to a call at Grand Bay WMA in reference to subjects being locked behind a closed gate. Once on scene Corporal Penuel found five vehicles and their passengers that had failed to exit the area prior to the automatic gate closing even though there are signs present instructing them to do so. Each subject was charged with illegal recreational use on a WMA and released. ATKINSON COUNTY On Thursday April 18 2019 Game Warden Thomas Sibley and Game Warden Johnny Robinette attended the Atkinson County Farm Day located at Pearson Elementary School. During the farm day Game Warden Sibley and Game Warden Robinette spoke with all age groups in the elementary school about what Game Wardens do on a daily basis and answered questions from the children. COFFEE COUNTY On Saturday April 20th Corporal Tim Hutto Corporal Jon Penuel and Game Warden Chris Thompson responded to General Coffee State Park after receiving information from the Coffee County Sheriff Office that a child had possibly drowned in the pond located on the park. After their arrival it was confirmed that an 18-month-old child had been located in the pond and believed to have drowned. The investigation into the death is still ongoing at this time.
DODGE COUNTY On April 20th Game Warden Allen Mills was patrolling landings along the Ocmulgee River. When a pickup truck pulled into McCrannie s landing GW Mills spoke with the driver. GW Mills noticed a pungent odor coming from the vehicle and saw a pipe stuck down beside the driver s seat. GW Mills also located a small amount of marijuana in the driver s sun visor. One violation of V.C.G.S.A. marijuana less than one ounce was documented.
IRWIN COUNTY On April 14th Game Warden Chris Thompson and Game Warden John Kennedy patrolled Alapaha River WMA for hunting and fishing activity. Two subjects fishing were checked for license and regulation compliance. Two contacts were made for operating vessel without sufficient PFD s (Life Jackets) and operating a vessel without registration.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On Monday April 15 2019 RFC Thain talked with the 1st grade at Lanier Primary School near Pembroke. RFC Thain discussed the benefits of the DNR LED K9 program. Earlier that day before the program RFC Thain and Case ran a track for the Bryan County Sheriff s Office. The track led from a burglarized residence through a wooded area to another trailer. The sheriff s office watched the residence and sought search warrants for the residence. With no further tracking needed RFC Thain left the scene and was able to talk with the kids at the school. The students in the photo are from Ms. Baggett Ms. Mewborn and Ms. Williams classes.
LIBERTY COUNTY On Sunday April 14 2019 Game Wardens Thain Hargrove and Scott conducted a Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) patrol to check commercial shrimp trawlers for compliance. The Game Wardens were looking specifically to check compliance with the turtle excluder device (TED) and by catch reduction devices that are required in shrimp trawl nets. The shrimping vessel "Papa T" was checked in the Medway River after coming in from offshore shrimping. The "Papa T" had a good catch of shrimp and was in compliance with all items checked.

CHATHAM COUNTY On Saturday April 20 2019 Game Wardens Barry Britt Kate Hargrove Matt Tsiklistas and Cassidy Gerstorff assisted the Tybee Island Police Department with security and public safety on Tybee Beach. The additional patrols from DNR LED were in anticipation of possible activity from an event known as "Orange Crush". Since this event is not organized by any party working with the city of Tybee Island it is difficult to pinpoint the weekend that will have the most activity. The event is often associated with the weekend of April 20th because 420 is associated with marijuana use.