Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – December 2024

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.

Bacon County: On Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, Game Warden Dylan Brady was working a night hunting detail in Alma in reference to a complaint that Game Warden John Kennedy had received a few days before.

At 11:15 p.m., GW Brady witnessed a vehicle driving north on Chestnut Road at a very slow rate of speed. GW Brady watched the truck through his night vision and observed the truck stop in the road directly in front of the south end of the field he was in. After approximately two minutes, the truck continued north, but then stopped again toward the north of end of the same field. After approximately one minute, the truck continued north and stopped a third time at a gap in vegetation along the west side of the road, which allowed him to see into the next field.

GW Brady pulled out into the road behind the truck, still watching under night vision with all lights turned off. After approximately three minutes, the truck continued north until it stopped a fourth time at the entrance to a field on the east side of the road. After approximately one minute, the truck continued north.

In his training and experience, GW Brady knows that this technique is commonly used by illegal night deer hunters using night vision or thermal devices to detect deer without shining a light into the field. GW Brady followed the truck north on Chestnut Road, then at 11:30 p.m. activated his blue lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle approximately 200 yards south of West Floyd Street in Alma.

When GW Brady made contact with the driver, he noticed two rifles and a night vision scope in the passenger seat, and a handheld light between the seats. He asked why the driver stopped in the road, and the driver stated, “I did not see anything now, I was just stopping… looking for a lighter.”

GW Brady asked the driver to step out of the vehicle and conducted a Terry Frisk to check him for any weapons on his person. GW Brady unloaded and secured the two rifles in the passenger seat, the night vision optic with infrared light, the handheld light, and the rifle in the back seat. GW Brady photographed the make, model and serial numbers of the rifles, night vision optic and handheld light.

The rifles were a Remington Model 700 chambered in .30-06, a CZ 527 American chambered in .22 Hornet, and a Mossberg Model 377 Plinskter chambered in .22 LR. The night vision optic was a Sightmark with a Predator Tactics infrared light mounted on a wooden block with a handle, and the handheld light was a LumenShooter hunting light. All of the driver’s belongings were released back to him.

GW Brady issued the man three citations—for hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting from a public road.

Berrien County: In December of 2023, Corporal Johnny Robinette was working morning duck hunting activity in Berrien County. After hearing gunshots coming from a nearby pond, Corporal Robinette was able to locate the area that was being hunted. The subjects hunting the pond had hidden their vehicles to avoid being located, and the pond was also found to be baited with corn. Each subject was charged with hunting ducks over bait.

Several weeks later, Corporal Robinette was working morning duck hunting during the week in the same area. Once again, he heard gunshots coming from the area of the baited pond that was previously located. The subjects again tried hiding their vehicles in a different location to avoid being apprehended and the pond was found to still be baited.

Each subject hunting the pond was charged for hunting ducks over bait for a second time.