Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – December 2015

The Hall of Shame column 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. The following account was written by DNR LED.

Colquitt County: On the afternoon of Aug. 6, 2012, Cpl. Greg Wade received a complaint in reference to a subject possibly killing an alligator out of season. The complainant stated that if Cpl. Wade would check the Facebook page of a man named Daniel Perry, he would find evidence of the illegal harvest. 

Cpl. Wade began looking for people named Daniel Perry on the popular social network, and the officer was able to locate his page. Once opening Perry’s page, the first status update said, “Swamp People live from Berlin.” This seemed to go hand in hand with what the complainant had told the ranger. Looking further into the comments, one stated, “It’s a tree shaker,” and the next said, “Done, call for details.” After reading these comments, Cpl. Wade contacted Cpl. Al Greer to assist him in locating Mr. Perry and what appeared to be a poached alligator. After locating Perry’s residence, the rangers decided to check other ponds in the area in case Perry had other hooks set out to catch gators. The search didn’t turn up any other hooks, so the rangers decided it was time to meet Mr. Perry. 

Social media posts led to DNR Law Enforcement making a case for illegal alligator poaching in Colquitt County.

On Aug. 30, the rangers went to Perry’s residence. They were told that Perry was at work, although his truck was in the driveway. The rangers proceeded to Mr. Perry’s place of employment and were told that he was off that day. While on their way back to his residence, Perry called Cpl. Wade and asked if he needed to talk to him. Cpl. Wade advised him that they would be back shortly.

Once the rangers got back to Perry’s residence, he met them outside and asked what he could help them with. Cpl. Wade asked him if he had any idea why they would be at his residence at this time. Perry stated that he didn’t know. Cpl. Wade advised him that they just don’t pull up at your house for no reason. He asked Perry again if he knew why they would be there. 

At that time Perry stated, “I guess it could be about that alligator.”

Perry was then read his Miranda warning and asked if he was willing to answer any questions about the gator. He stated that he understood his rights and was willing to tell the rangers what happened. At the conclusion of their questioning, Cpl. Greer asked Perry where the gator was now. Perry stated, “Out there in the barn.” 

He led the rangers to an alligator hide nailed to a large piece of plywood. He then showed the rangers the alligator’s head that he had placed in an ant bed. Cpl. Wade asked Perry where all the meat was, and Perry responded that he had eaten all the meat over the past few weeks.

The rangers had Perry lead them to the pond that he had hooked and shot the gator in. After locating the spot, which was a couple hundred yards from any roads, the rangers asked Perry who helped him remove the gator, because it was way too far for one guy to drag a 7 1/2-foot alligator. Perry stated that he called his neighbor, Matthew Lawson, to assist him with removing the gator. The rangers met with Lawson at his place of employment to discuss his role in the alligator poaching. Lawson stated that he did assist Perry with harvesting and removing the gator.

Both subjects were charged with hunting alligators out of season, hunting by illegal methods and possession of illegally taken wildlife. Their fines totaled $700 each and a temporary loss of hunting privileges.