Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – October 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.

Tift County: On Jan. 26, 2013, Cpl. Greg Wade was listening for duck hunting activity along Little River in Tift County. Shortly after legal shooting hours, Cpl. Wade heard shots coming from the river. Cpl. Wade parked his patrol vehicle and proceeded to the area on foot. 

After making contact with the hunters and checking all applicable licenses, plugs and ammunition, Cpl. Wade asked the subjects, identified as Gregory Bryant Hill and Joseph Bowie Gray, if there was any bait in the area they were hunting. One hunter said he assumed there was because of the amount of ducks they were seeing. Cpl. Wade called Cpl. Robbie Griner to assist him in checking the area for bait. After walking just a short distance, Cpl. Wade could see wheat scattered along the bottom in the knee-deep water. Both subjects were charged with hunting waterfowl over bait. Hill was additionally charged with hunting waterfowl without a federal stamp and warned for not having a Georgia waterfowl license or hunting license. 

On Feb. 2, Cpl. Wade was in the area of the baited portion of the river where he had caught Hill and Gray the previous weekend and decided to park and listen for possible out-of-season hunting. Approximately 30 minutes after sunset, he heard several shotgun blasts coming from the area. He drove into the area and spotted Hill’s car hidden behind a barn on the property. After driving a little farther, he spotted Gray’s truck parked in a grown-up pine thicket. Both vehicles were within walking distance of the opening. Cpl. Wade parked his patrol vehicle and proceed to the area on foot. While waiting for the hunters to come out of the woods, Cpl. Wade called Ranger Chris Carlisle to come assist him. 

Knowing that Hill lived nearby, Cpl. Wade had a Tift County Deputy go by his residence to see if he had made it back home. The deputy made contact with Hill’s sister, who told him that Hill was at his girlfriend’s house. Cpl. Wade and Ranger Carlisle decided to back out of the area and wait on the hunters to come out to their vehicles. At approximately 9:30, the rangers saw headlights going across the field. They followed the vehicle, belonging to Hill, all the way to the opening in the river. When the rangers asked Hill and Gray what they were up to, Hill stated that they were turkey scouting and had gotten lost. 

Cpl. Wade, knowing that the two were doing more than turkey scouting, asked Hill how many ducks they had gotten. Hill stated that they didn’t shoot at any ducks and that they didn’t even have guns. Cpl. Wade asked why they were back at the hunting spot if they weren’t there to retrieve their guns. Hill couldn’t answer and finally stated, “Yeah, we shot at the ducks, but we didn’t hit any.” 

Both were charged with hunting waterfowl out of season, hunting waterfowl after hours and hunting waterfowl over bait. Additionally, Gray received a citation for hunting with lead shot and a warning for failure to allow inspection. Hill received another citation for hunting without a license and several warnings for hunting without a Georgia duck stamp, failure to allow inspection and hunting waterfowl without a federal stamp.

Murray Co. Ranger Earns Recognition

DNR’s Law Enforcement Division (LED) named Corporal Casey Jones from Murray County as their 2015 Ranger of the Year. Corporal Bob Holley, who is assigned to Crisp County, received the James R. Darnell Award as the runner-up to Ranger of the Year.

“These rangers have emerged as leaders among their peers this past year,” said DNR Commissioner Mark Williams. “They work hard every day to enforce the conservation laws of the state and to ensure public safety.”

Jones is dedicated to serving the citizens of Murray and surrounding counties. He is a solid investigator, and his efforts landed him the Investigator of the Year award for the Division’s northwest Georgia region. He is a P.O.S.T. instructor, a firearms instructor, a Side Scan Sonar Operator, and he also presented 28 boating safety programs to middle school students in his work area.

The winners were selected from a group of seven nominees, one from each DNR region across the state.

Region Rangers of the Year:

Region I (NW): Cpl. Casey Jones

Region II (NE): Cpl. Adam Loudermilk

Region III (E. Central): Cpl. Brian Adams

Region IV (W. Central): Cpl. Travis Sweat

Region V (SW): Cpl. Bob Holley

Region VI (S. Cent.): Cpl. Dan Stiles

Region VII (Coast): Ranger Patrick Gibbs