Field operations weekly report, 2019 April 6

Field Operations
Weekly Report March 31 April 6 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 On April 6th Game Warden Garrett Pownall was checking an area that he previous documented as being baited for turkey. Pownall located a vehicle nearby and found a hunter that was hunting next to a feeder that was filled with cracked corn. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait.
On April 6th Game Wardens Garrett Pownall and Ryan Shorter patrolled Lake Seaton for fishing and boating activity. The game wardens checked 32 fishing licenses and 16 boats which led to 8 citations and 3 warnings being issued.
POLK COUNTY On April 6th Cpl. Chad Cox and Cpl. Brooks Varnell was patrolling a piece of property in the western part of Polk County. The game wardens located two individuals hunting turkey over bait. Both hunters were cited for hunting big game over bait.
BARTOW COUNTY On April 2 GWFC Zack Hardy located an unlawfully dumped pile of trash off Stamp Creek Road near the Pine Log WMA. Upon investigating GWFC Hardy located names and addresses to a suspect in Ball Ground GA. GWFC Hardy went and interviewed the suspect and charged the suspect with unlawfully dumping of egregious litter less than 500 pounds.
On April 3 GWFC Zack Hardy and GWFC Mark Puig responded to a complaint of a subject shooting turkeys from the road off Mission Road. The Wardens were able to gather a tag number to the suspected vehicle. Upon investigating the incident the Wardens were able to locate the suspect at his place of work. The suspect denied anything regarding shooting at turkeys from his vehicle and the road. The Wardens were able to locate the suspected .22 caliber rifle used in the crime hid in a co-worker s vehicle. The suspect was charged with hunting from a public road hunting from a vehicle hunting with illegal weapon/ammo possession of firearm by convicted felon and VGCSA marijuana less than an ounce. More charges are pending after completion of the search warrant for the suspect s cell phone.
On April 6 SGT Jason Roberson CPL Bart Hendrix and Game Warden Frank Pucci were patrolling Allatoona Lake for boating hunting and fishing activity. The Game Wardens were near the area of Allatoona Landing when they were passed by a PWC travelling over 80 mph on the wrong side of the channel and in close proximity to an inflatable raft. The PWC was stopped near the railroad trestle and informed of his violations. While GW Pucci spoke to the operator he noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the operator. The male submitted to field sobriety tests and was found to be under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with operating vessel under the influence and violation of rules of the road. The trio also issued several citations and warnings earlier in the day for fishing and boating violations.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On March 31 SGT Jason Roberson and CPL Bart Hendrix were patrolling a large tract of private property at the end of Rampley Trail for hunting without permission. The Game Wardens found a fresh set of ATV and foot tracks going through the property. After following the tracks for over one mile and a half they discovered a campsite with a man and woman. The couple claimed to only being there for about a week but the amount of accumulated property suggested the couple had been living in the wooded area for over a month. This area is a known high crime area and CPL Hendrix called Cherokee S/O to check for warrants on the couple. The male ran from the Game Wardens at this time because he "thought" he had an active warrant. CPL Hendrix chased the male suspect down and informed him he was only on probation. The male was charged with misdemeanor obstruction and littering as well as warned for criminal trespass. The female was released and began cleaning up their belongings.

COBB COUNTY On April 5 Game Warden Tyler Lewis was patrolling Cobb County for fishing activity. He issued several citations for fishing without licenses.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
STEPHENS COUNTY On April 5th Game Warden Jonathan Segars and Sergeant Derek Dillard patrolled Stephens County Recreation Area and Panther Creek. During their patrol they checked 35 fishing license and one vessel. Two citations were issued for fishing without a license. A warning was also issued for fishing without a trout license.
HART COUNTY On April 6th Sergeant Derek Dillard and Corporal Craig Fulghum patrolled Lake Hartwell for boating violations. During their patrol they documented 9 violations. The violations consisted of allowing a child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a PFD failure to obey regulatory maker operating vessel without PFD s on board and criminal trespass on a State Park.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
HANCOCK COUNTY On March 31st 2019 GW Rhodes conducted an illegal dumping investigation. A violation of unlawful dumping of egregious litter (less than 500 lbs) was documented as a result of the investigation. On April 6th 2019 GW Rhodes and SGT Garthright patrolled Hancock County for hunting and fishing violations. During this patrol violations of fishing without a license and hunting big game over bait (turkey) were documented.
TALIAFERRO COUNTY On April 4th Game Warden Nolan Calloway located a turkey hunter in an area previously determined to be baited. The hunter was cited for hunting big game over bait.
WALTON COUNTY On March 31st GWFC Harrison patrolled Walton County for hunting and fishing activity. During this patrol violations of fishing without a license and operating a vessel without PFDs were documented.
NEWTON COUNTY On March 31st GWFC Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting and fishing activity. During this patrol a violation of operating a vessel without PFDs was documented.
Between April 1-4 GWFC Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting and fishing violations. During these patrols violations of fishing without a license and hunting big game over bait (turkey) were documented.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On March 31st Game Warden Dean Gibson was patrolling for turkey hunting activity when he located a truck parked near an open gate - cracked corn and a turkey blind had previously been located on the property. While approaching the blind Gibson heard the subject calling for turkeys. The subject and his son were in the blind hunting directly over spread cracked corn and several decoys. The subject was issued a citation for hunting turkey over bait.

JASPER COUNTY On April 6th Game Warden Zachary Griffis was helping a mother and her child locate their group that was fishing on Clybel WMA during a youth only hunt. While looking for the whereabouts of their group Griffis noticed an adult by himself who appeared to be turkey hunting. After reuniting the child with his group Griffis went back to question the hunter. At this point the hunter had already gone into the woods to hunt. After waiting the individual out three adult males came out of the hunter access trail without children. After questioning and locating the individual s rifles all three men were charged with hunting on a closed WMA hunting without a big game license hunting turkey with illegal ammunition and hunting without a harvest record.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
RANDOLPH COUNTY On April 6th Wardens Steve Robinson and Brock Hoyt located an individual unlawfully collecting artifacts without permission. The wardens also discovered methamphetamine on his person and marijuana and an illegally suppressed rifle in his vehicle. The owner of the rifle was located nearby and subsequently arrested.
DECATUR COUNTY On April 4th wardens Quinn Fogle and Ryan Cleveland were patrolling Silver Lake WMA near the Panic Pond (a managed trophy bass pond) and located a vehicle parked at the boat ramp. They then located two individuals fishing the pond which was closed. Both subjects were cited for fishing on a closed WMA.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TOOMBS COUNTY On April 3rd Game Warden First Class Bobby Sanders was patrolling boat landings along the Altamaha River when at Dead River Landing several individuals were encountered setting limb lines for catfish. Violations were documented and guidance given for fishing without a license operating a vessel without life jackets operating a vessel without registration and operating a vessel without boating safety course.
APPLING COUNTY On April 4th Corporal Chase Altman patrolled the county for boating safety. One violation was documented for pulling a skier on a PWC without an observer onboard.
TREUTLEN COUNTY On April 6th 2019 Game Warden Randell Meeks was patrolling Treutlen County for fishing and boating activities. After checking numerous people fishing and several boating safety checks one violation for fishing without a license was documented.
TATTNALL COUNTY On April 7th Game Warden First Class Clint Jarriel patrolled for turkey hunting activity. Several hunters were checked and three violations were documented for hunting without a license hunting without a big game license and hunting without a harvest record.
DODGE COUNTY On March 31st Corporal Dan Stiles and Game Warden Allen Mills responded to an in-progress complaint in reference to hunting without permission. The officers arrived on scene and located the suspect. After collecting evidence and interviewing the suspect violations for hunting without permission hunting from a vehicle hunting without a license and hunting without a big game license were documented. The turkey was also confiscated and donated to the FFA wildlife club.

Suspect showing officers violation location.
Turkey donated to FFA teacher.
CLINCH COUNTY On March 31st Corporal Jason Shipes and Sergeant Patrick Dupree responded to a complaint related to someone placing bait on the DuPont VPA land. Cpl. Shipes and Sgt. Dupree located a side-by-side UTV and started to track the individuals. They tracked the individuals straight to an area baited with cracked corn but were unable to locate the subjects. Sgt. Dupree did however find were they exited that property and entered onto private property. Officers eventually contacted the subjects who had set up on the edge of a cow pasture. A quick check on the area found even more bait placed out by one of the subjects. When questioned about the property they were hunting none of the hunters could say who gave them permission to hunt. Citations for hunting big game over bait license violations and failure to report were issued. Upon further investigation by officers it was determined that the landowner did not give anyone permission to hunt their property and an intent to prosecute was signed. Each subject was contacted and an additional charge of hunting without permission was issued. On April 6th Game Wardens Daniel North and Joseph Cowart received information from 911 dispatch that three juveniles had become lost on the Suwannee River. Warden North and Cowart searched the river from where they had launched at Griffis Camp and located the three kayakers approximately three miles downstream. The kayakers were loaded into the Warden s boat and the kayaks were pulled back to the landing and reunited with the rest of their group.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On 4/6/2019 Corporals Bill Bryson and Kate Hargrove instructed a boater safety certification course for Bryan County Emergency Services. This was the first of three courses that will be offered to Bryan County Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel 18 students were certified.
On the afternoon of Saturday April 6 2019 Game Warden Cpl. Bill Bryson was patrolling Bryan County when he noticed a plume of black smoke rising into the air. Game Warden Bryson made his way to the origin of the smoke. He arrived at a residence and found a mattress treated lumber and other illegal material on fire. After a brief investigation the resident was cited for illegal burning. Below is a photo of the fire including the mattress.

CAMDEN COUNTY On March 31st CPL John Evans and GWFC Colte Shaske were working an active Hunting without Permission complaint on the Satilla River. The wardens were talking with multiple boaters trying to locate the suspect vessel. While talking with 2 subjects in a bass boat GWFC Shaske smelled the odor of Marijuana. The wardens were able to find multiple bags of Marijuana on the subjects in the vessel. The operator of the vessel performed a series of field sobriety tests and wardens were able to determine that the operator was operating the vessel while under the influence of Marijuana. Both subjects were taken to the Camden County Jail. Both subjects were charged with violating the Georgia Controlled Substance Act and the operator was also charged with Boating Under the Influence.