Field Operations Weekly Report April 28 May 4 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) DOUGLAS COUNTY April 28th Corporal Chad Cox and Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray patrolled on Sweetwater Creek State Park. During the patrol game wardens checked eighteen individuals fishing and three people were cited for fishing w/o a license. May 1st Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray and Game Warden Ryan Shorter patrolled on Sweetwater Creek State Park. During the patrol four individuals were checked fishing and two warnings were issued for fishing w/o a fishing license. HARALSON COUNTY April 30th Sergeant Eric Brown and Game Warden First Class Daniel Gray patrolled on the Tallapoosa River in Haralson County. During the patrol seven boaters and one fisherman was checked. The game wardens issued four citations and two warnings during their patrol. PAULDING COUNTY On May 4th Corporal Chad Cox and Game Warden Garrett Pownall was patrolling for turkey hunters. They located a subject exiting the woods and after he left the game wardens investigated the area he was hunting and located that it was baited with sunflower seeds. The hunter was later issued a citation for hunting turkey over bait. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) WHITE COUNTY On April 28th Cpl. Anne Wiley patrolled the Chattahoochee WMA for fishing activity and hunting activity. During her patrol Cpl. Wiley warned two fishermen for fishing on private property just south of the WMA boundary line on Poplar Stump Rd. . May 4th Cpl. Wiley patrolled the delayed harvest section of Smith Creek at Unicoi State Park. During her patrol Cpl. Wiley checked several fishermen and issued citations and warnings for fishing without a licenses fishing without trout licenses and fishing with unlawful bait in an artificial lure stream. Cpl. Wiley investigated a hunting complaint in Helen GA where a landowner had taken a goose out of season on his private pond. Cpl. Wiley cited the landowner for hunting out of season confiscated the goose gave him information and advised him to contact the Game Management section to inquire about other options to alleviate his goose problems. HABERSHAM COUNTY On May 4th GWFC Joe Hill GWFC Beth Gilbert and GWFC Jon Segars assisted USFS LEO Jeff Angel conduct a wildlife checkpoint on Lake Russell WMA. The Game Wardens and USFS LEO issued one citation for illegal use of an ATV on WMA and one citation for driving without a license. Region III- Thomson (East Central) NEWTON COUNTY On April 27th GW Jason Harrison responded to a complaint of an unlicensed Camel in Newton County. A Violation for Failure to Obtain Wild Animal Exhibition License was documented. On April 30th GW Schay patrolled Newton County for fishing activity. A violation of operating a vessel with insufficient PFDs was documented. On April 27th GW Jason Harrison Patrolled Lake Varner Boat Ramp for fishing activity. Violations for Fishing Without a License were documented. Between April 26th_ 28th GWFC Schay patrolled Newton County for hunting and fishing activity. During these patrols violations of operating vessel without PFDs operating vessel with insufficient PFDs allowing underage child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing PFD fishing without a license and nonresident hunting without a nonresident big game license were documented. MORGAN COUNTY On April 22nd CPL Tim Butler and GW Jason Harrison Patrolled Hard Labor Creek State Park for fishing activity. A Violation for Fishing Without a License was documented. On April 28th CPL Boles and GWFC Schay patrolled Hard Labor Creek State Park for fishing activity. Violations of operating a vessel without PFDs and operating a vessel without registration were documented. LAKE OCONEE Between April 30th and May 1st Capt. Elrod Sgt Garthright Cpl. Worth and GW Schay searched for and recovered a missing boater on Lake Oconee. WALTON COUNTY Between May 3rd and May 5th Game Warden Jason Harrison Patrolled Hard Labor Creek Reservoir and Lake Varner for fishing and boating activity. Violations for Fishing Without a License Operating a vessel without registration Operating a vessel with insufficient PFD and Operating a vessel with unserviceable PFD s were documented. Region IV- Macon (West Central) BALDWIN COUNTY On May 4th 2019 Game Wardens Kevin Hurley and Jason Bennett were on patrol on Lake Sinclair. While on patrol there were five violations documented two warnings for 100ft violations one warning for towing a skier without mirror or observer one citation for persons riding the gunwale and one citation for failure to obey a regulatory marker. HARRIS COUNTY On May 3rd Game Warden Dean Gibson contacted a subject that posted a picture of a harvested turkey on Facebook. The subject admitted to taking the gobbler on April 25th in Harris County. Upon further investigation the subject did not record the harvest or use game check. The violation was documented. PUTNAM COUNTY On the afternoon of May 4th Cpl. Bubba Stanford and Sgt. Bo Kelly patrolled Lake Sinclair. Numerous boats were stopped and several written and verbal warnings were issued. One PWC operator was issued a citation for operating without a PFD. Additionally one boat operator was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence failure to obey regulatory marker and operating a vessel with insufficient PFD s. TAYLOR COUNTY On April 29th Cpl. Josh Swain made contact with an illegal trapper that he had been pursuing. Cpl. Swain discovered the illegal traps near the beginning of turkey season and had consistently patrolled the land where the traps were discovered. The subject was trapping out of season trapping without a permit or license failed to affix a stamped metal tag to the traps and failed to inspect the traps within a 24 hour period. The subject was charged accordingly. Region V- Albany (Southwest) DECATUR COUNTY On April 28th Game Wardens Steve Thomas Taylor Brown and Quinn Fogle were patrolling Spring Creek when they encountered and arrested a 19 year old subject operating a vessel under the influence. The wardens also cited an individual under 21 years of age for possession of alcohol. EARLY COUNTY On May 2nd Game Wardens Quinn Fogle and Ryan Cleveland were patrolling Columbia Dam checking fishing licenses. While patrolling they located a subject with felony warrants out of Dothan AL. The wardens arrested the subject and turned him over to Early County Sheriff s Office until he can be extradited back to Alabama. On Thursday May 2nd Game Wardens Quinn Fogle and Ryan Cleveland responded to a report of a single vessel accident on the Chattahoochee River. The wardens arrived on scene to find that the subject was deceased. The scene was secured and DNR CIRT investigator Steve Robinson processed the scene. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) LAURENS COUNTY On April 28th Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area. Three vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment and twelve visitors were checked for license compliance. One violation was documented for Entering Into Designated Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) Area without WRD Lands Pass. On April 28th Corporal Dan Stiles was patrolling fishing locations. Three subjects were located fishing near Ben Hall Lake. Three violations for fishing without a license were documented. DODGE COUNTY On May 3rd Corporal Dan Stiles was contacted by the Dodge County Manager in reference to illegal dumping at a closed public trash disposal facility. Corporal Stiles investigated the trash dumping and located two subjects that dumped trash at the location. One violation for littering and one violation for dumping of egregious litter (less than 500 lbs/100 cu. ft.) were documented. On May 3rd Corporal Stiles conducted a night patrol at the Dodge County Public Fishing Area. Two vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment and five fishing licenses were checked. One violation for Entering Into Designated Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) Area without a WRD Lands Pass was documented. IRWIN COUNTY On May 1st Game Warden John Kennedy Ranger First Class (RFC) Rodney Horne and RFC Allen Mills responded to a drowning on the Alapaha River in Irwin County. Local law enforcement agencies from Irwin and Tift counties responded also and were on scene when game wardens arrived. With the help of Tift County Fire Rescue game wardens were able to quickly access the area of the river where the victim drowned. The body was quickly recovered by Game Warden John Kennedy and RFC Rodney Horne and turned over to the coroner of Irwin County. ECHOLS COUNTY On April 28th Sergeant Patrick Dupree and Game Warden Daniel North were checking for boating and fishing activity in the west portion of the county. Wardens Dupree and North located two people using a boat to fish in the Alapahoochee Creek at Hwy 376. Upon checking the two it was found that there were no life jackets on board and there was no registration on the boat. Violations of operating a vessel without Coast Guard approved PFD s and operating a vessel without registration were documented. WARE COUNTY On May 1st Game Warden Joseph Cowart was patrolling boat landings in the Waycross area for fishing and boating activity. While patrolling the Hwy 84 Bridge landing on the Satilla River GW Cowart conducted license checks on several individuals fishing from the riverbank. Three of the individuals fishing did not have the required license they needed to fish in Georgia waters. The violations of fishing without a license were documented. On April 28th Corporal Jason Shipes encountered several fishermen along the Okefenokee Swamp. Upon checking license requirements and creel limits Cpl. Shipes found one individual who failed to purchase the required license needed to fish in the State of Georgia. This violation was documented with a citation by Cpl. Shipes. On May 1st Corporal Jason Shipes conducted patrols along the Satilla River. Cpl. Shipes encountered several individuals boating and fishing during this patrol. Cpl. Shipes conducted vessel inspections related to safety equipment requirements as well as checking all license requirements. During this patrol Cpl. Shipes issued citations for operating a vessel without coastguard approved PFD s and fishing without a license. On May 2nd Corporal Jason Shipes responded to assist the City of Waycross with traffic and crowd control due to a major building fire located in the downtown area. The building known as the Bunn Building was being remodeled and workers were attempting to remove the old roof when the fire began. Several crews with the Waycross Fire Department battled the blaze for several hours saving the building. CHARLTON COUNTY On May 4th Game Warden Joseph Cowart was patrolling Stephen C. Foster State Park and conducting fishing license checks. Two of the individuals checked were found to be non-residents and did not have the required nonresident fishing license to fish in the state of Georgia. The violations of non-resident fishing without a license were documented. On April 28th Game Warden First Class Sam Williams was patrolling boat landings and popular fishing areas along the St. Mary s River when he encountered two subjects fishing near Stokes Bridge. The officer checked the fishing license of each subject and discovered that neither subject possessed the required fishing licenses. The violations were documented. Later that same evening Game Warden Sam Williams observed a boat return during hours of darkness to Traders Hill Boat Landing on the St. Mary s River. The boat did not have any of the required navigational lights operating. The officer conducted a boating safety inspection and discovered that the vessel did not have a required fire extinguisher onboard. The violations for operating without lights during hours of darkness and operating a vessel without a fire extinguisher were documented. On April 29th Game Warden Sam Williams patrolled the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area in the Okefenokee Swamp for fishing and boating activity. During the day the officer encountered numerous subjects fishing either from the bank or boats. During his patrol three violations were observed and documented. They were operating a vessel without a personal flotation device (life jacket) fishing without a license and non-resident fishing without a license. On the morning of May 4th Game Warden Sam Williams was patrolling hunting clubs in the St. George area when he encountered six subjects actively training hunting hounds. During an inspection of each subjects required licenses it was discovered that one of the subjects did not possess a hunting license. The officer also discovered that two of the subjects were in possession of loaded centerfire rifles. The violations documented were training dogs without a hunting license and training dogs with illegal equipment. Later that same day the officer patrolled popular fishing and boating areas throughout Charlton County along the St. Mary s River numerous creeks and areas along the Okefenokee Swamp accessible to the public. During the patrol the officer documented two violations for fishing without a license and one violation for operating vessel with insufficient person flotation devices (life jackets). TATTNALL COUNTY On April 28th GWFC Clint Jarriel patrolled boat landings on the Ohoopee River and checked several boats and fisherman. The effort resulted in several citations for operating a vessel without registration operating a vessel without life jackets and fishing without a license. MONTGOMERY COUNTY On May 3rd Corporal Kevin Joyce was checking boat ramps along the Oconee River. Several fisherman and boats were check resulting in violations for operating a vessel without registration and operating a vessel without lights. On May 4th Corporal Kevin Joyce patrolled several river landings along the Oconee and Altamaha Rivers. Multiple boats and fishermen were check. Violations for fishing with a license and operating a vessel without life jackets were documented. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) No activity to report.