Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – May 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. 

A spincast feeder and scattered corn was found on a WMA during bow season.

Ceylon WMA: In early September of 2023, Corporal Jay Bright and Game Warden Errol Hall both received complaints of corn being put out on Ceylon WMA in two separate locations. Bright and Hall put up trail cameras on the baited sites. On Sept. 9, Cpl. Bright received a picture via his trail camera of a subject going to the baited stand.  

When Cpl. Bright approached the subject, he noticed there was a 50-lb. bag of corn on the ground under the individual’s tree stand, as well as corn spread on the ground from a feeder.

After talking with the subject, Bright determined that the subject’s brother was hunting in the other baited stand located by Hall. Sgt. Brady accompanied Bright and the first subject to another area on the WMA to wait for the brother to come out of the woods. Both were cited for hunting big game over bait and placing bait on a Wildlife Management Area. 

Glynn County: On July 11, 2023, Game Warden Errol Hall checked a vessel coming into Liberty Ship Park after dark. The vessel was occupied by two individuals. Hall asked where they had been fishing that day. The captain stated that they were coming from offshore at G-Reef. Hall asked if they had any fish on board, to which the captain replied they had fish on board stored in the cooler at the bow. In the cooler was four and a half barracudas, one red snapper, one cobia, eight speckled sea trout, one red drum and four black drum. 

Hall asked the captain where they caught the snapper and cobia. He stated that they caught the beeliner and cobia at G-Reef. Hall asked the captain where he caught the sea trout and black drum, to which he replied on Back River before going to G-Reef. The cobia measured 29 inches (36-inch minimum) and the red snapper measured 14.5 inches (20-inch minimum). Three of the sea trout and four black drum were undersize per state regulations. Hall cited both for possession of undersized fish. A federal referral case packet documented the out-of-season snapper and undersized cobia and was turned over to NOAA Fisheries. 

Lake Lanier Warden Earns Torch Award

Game Warden First Class Adam Kimbrough, who is assigned to Banks County and regularly patrols Lake Lanier, was named the winner of the 2024 Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Torch Award. The award is presented annually to encourage the professional development of recently appointed game wardens. Kimbrough has been a Georgia DNR game warden for  3 1/2 years. To receive a nomination, a game warden must have demonstrated a genuine desire to protect the resources and develop professionally, and must demonstrate exceptional ability and initiative in the performance of his or her duties, including public education. Kimbrough far exceeded these benchmarks.

According to his supervisors, GWFC Kimbrough is always willing to help others and displays a selfless attitude. His dedication to his community, his coworkers and to the Department are exemplary. His strong work ethic is evident. He had a total of 399 documented violations, 132 assists and a combined total of 637 total boating, hunting, and fishing license checks.

“As a game warden with less than four years of experience, Adam is already a good example to both new and experienced game wardens within the Department,” said Col. Mike England, DNR Law Enforcement Director. 

Kimbrough has excelled in serving his community by participating in numerous programs, including boating safety presentations at Cherokee Bluff High School, Oakwood Elementary School and River Forks Park. He also attended a program at the Banks County Elementary School, a fishing rodeo in Maysville and the Agriculture Day at Banks Primary School.