Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – January 2025

The Conservation LE Corner is designed to highlight the efforts of Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division (LED) officers who, among their many duties, protect Georgia’s wildlife, sportsmen and natural resources from game-law violators.

Chatham County: On Oct. 27, 2023, Game Warden Justin Jackson, received a complaint of an individual who drowned a deer while it was swimming across the Wilmington River in Savannah. 

The complainant sent in videos that he found on social media. 

After identifying the subject, GW Jackson was able to interview him where he admitted to drowning the deer. He stated while driving his boat he saw the deer swimming across the river, and that since it was the biggest deer he had ever seen, he drowned it. 

The subject was charged with taking a deer while in a body of water and failure to report game animal harvest.

McIntosh County: On Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, Game Warden Matthew Thompson was patrolling Townsend WMA when he came across a pile of garbage dumped on the WMA road. While going through the trash, Thompson found a prescription pill bottle with a name on it. The name came back to a female in McIntosh County. 

Thompson spoke with Game Warden Errol Hall about the case, and Hall told Thompson that he found the same name in a pile of trash a few days prior in a different location. 

The game wardens met the suspect at her residence and questioned her about the egregious litter. The suspect said her son was to take the trash to the dump, but instead he decided to dump the garbage around the county and tried to burn it. 

The son was cited for unlawful dumping.

New Phone App To Easily Report Poachers

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) Law Enforcement Division has announced a new partnership with the Hunt Regs App to provide an easy, free and effective way for citizens to report illegal hunting and fishing activities.

The Hunt Regs app enhances public engagement in wildlife conservation efforts by connecting users directly to the DNR Ranger Hotline program through the in-app crime reporting. The Hunt Regs App enables hunters to effectively assist Game Wardens by providing accurate and timely poaching reports where violations occur. Not only can hunters easily do their part in protecting wildlife, but the Georgia DNR is also offering the opportunity to earn a $100 cash reward for reporting specific violations.

The Hunt Regs App streamlines the reporting process by providing an interactive reporting form where users can submit violations with just a few taps on their mobile devices or computers. By facilitating direct communication with law enforcement, the app empowers the community to play a crucial role in DNR’s enforcement of hunting and fishing laws. This user-friendly app is completely free for reporting illegal hunting and fishing activities, as well as provides hunting regulations for all wildlife. Users can place a pin on any location, public and private land, and get simplified regulations for that location. Is the WMA you are hunting under quality-buck regs? Is it an either-sex day for that county on the private land you’re hunting?

Hunt Regs not only makes the reporting process and regulations access more accessible, but the app also includes optional premium services for a small fee. The premium version of the app includes features such as journaling and real-time weather conditions, which can help hunters and anglers make informed decisions during their hunting and fishing trips.

The GA DNR encourages all citizens to download the Hunt Regs App and to report violators. By working together, the community and law enforcement can combat illegal activities and ensure that the state’s natural resources are preserved for future generations.

For more information on how to download the app and start reporting violations, please visit HuntRegsApp.com/georgialandingpage or gadnrle.org/ranger-hotline.