Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – August 2024

This Ceylon WMA buck killed on last season’s quota hunt did not meet the quality-buck restrictions for the WMA.

Camden County: Several Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Georgia have special antler restrictions. One of those WMAs with quality-buck antler minimums is the relatively new 27,000-acre Ceylon WMA in southeast Georgia south of Brunswick. Firearms deer hunting at Ceylon is by quota only, and a buck is only legal if it has four points on side (at least one inch long) or an outside spread of at least 15 inches.

On Oct. 7, 2023, at approximately 2000 hours (8 p.m.), Game Warden Griffis checked a hunter leaving Ceylon WMA in Camden County. The hunter was part of the quality-buck quota hunt. Game Warden Griffis found that the hunter was in possession of an undersized buck per the WMA’s quality-buck quota hunt regulations. The buck did not meet the required 4 points on one side or 15-inch spread. The subject was cited for the violation.

GON profiled Ceylon WMA in the June 2023 issue, and that article can also be found online at GON.com/hunting/ceylon-wma-an-added-bonus-for-coastal-hunters.

Camden County: On Sept. 3, 2023, at approximately 0934 hours (9:34 a.m.), Game Warden Errol Hall heard a dove shoot in Camden County while out patrolling. Hall located the shoot and inspected the field. Upon inspection of the field, Hall found cracked corn and bird seed. The officer issued citations to the two individuals on the field for unlawful enticement and posted it as a baited field.

According to Georgia hunting regs, if a dove field is posted as baited by law enforcement, it remains illegal for hunters to shoot doves there for 10 days after all bait has been removed from the field. This 10-day period allows time for any remaining bait to be consumed or deteriorate, and for doves to potentially return to their natural feeding patterns rather than being artificially attracted to the area.

Hunters are responsible for knowing the status of the areas where they hunt and should always check for any posted notices or contact local wildlife officials if they are unsure about the legality of a particular field.

Glynn County: On Aug. 26, 2023, at approximately 0400 hours (4 a.m.), Game Warden Zachary Griffis contacted two people flounder gigging in Village Creek in Glynn County. Griffis observed seven undersized red drum, five sheepshead, and undersized flounder that were all gigged. In total, the individuals were cited for possession of undersized fish, operating a vessel with improper lights, operating a vessel with improper registration, fishing without a license, taking game fish by illegal methods and taking nongame fish by illegal methods.

In Georgia’s coastal waters, only flounder can be taken with a gig, and the minimum length is 12 inches.