This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
NORTHWEST REGION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Kenneth Manning and Faris Livesay were on water patrol in Pensacola Bay when they observed a vessel returning from fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. A fisheries inspection revealed 17 harvested red snapper on board. Six licensed persons were on board, revealing the vessel was five red snapper over the bag limit. The officers determined the responsible parties and issued citations for the violations.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
During the opening weekend of archery season, Lt. Doug Berryman, K-9 Officer Sarah Manning with K-9 Sadie, Officers Howard Jones and Ben Pineda worked an enforcement detail on Eglin Wildlife Management Area. Officers worked those areas adjacent to closed areas targeting illegal hunting, closed area violations and permit violations. Officers conducted inspections of approximately 50 hunters, issued 15 citations (12 Eglin permit violations, one driving while license suspended, one open container, and one warrant for violation of probation), four warnings (Eglin permits) and deployed the K-9 on six occasions.
During the opening morning of archery season, Officer Royce Johnson and Reserve Officer Lila Wise worked several previously scouted baited areas within Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. On the first case, the officers observed the hunter walk to his stand. Once in his stand, the hunter freshened the baited area with additional apples adding to the deer smorgasbord he had previously created. The baited area contained corn on the ground, apples, mineral blocks, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and white potatoes. After further observation, the officers approached the hunter and inquired about his baited area. While returning to the hunter’s vehicle, the officers noticed the hunter had driven off the designated roads creating a new road with his Jeep and damaging state lands. Citations were issued for hunting over bait in the management area, placing bait in the management area, driving off an established road, and destruction of state lands. Additionally, the officers instructed the hunter he could not return to hunt the area until the deer buffet was long gone.
Officer Royce Johnson and Reserve Officer Lila Wise proceeded to the next baited area they had previously scouted in the management area. At this site, the officers observed the crossbow permitted hunting buddy of the first violator. The hunting buddy was also hunting over a baited area, about a mile from the first violator. The officers issued citations for hunting over bait in the management area and for placing bait in the management area.
Officer Royce Johnson and Reserve Officer Lila Wise were on patrol of Blackwater Wildlife Management Area checking hunters and closed roads when they observed a vehicle on a closed road. The Division of Forestry closed unauthorized roads within the Blackwater State Forest in an attempt to control erosion and the damage off-road vehicles cause by creating new roads. Officer Johnson issued a citation to the vehicle driver for being on a marked closed road within the state forest.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Matt Webb was on water patrol conducting boating safety and state fisheries inspections near Destin Pass when he observed a boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During the safety inspection, Officer Webb determined the boat was returning from a fishing trip. The fisheries inspection revealed over the bag limit of king mackerel. The operator stated he thought two of the four king mackerel were Spanish mackerel. Officer Webb educated the operator about the key characteristics between a king mackerel and a Spanish mackerel. The vessel operator was issued a citation for the violation.
Prior to the opening of archery season, Officers Van Barrow and Danny Arnette scouted an area and located a tree stand in front of a baited area within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. On opening day of archery season, Officers Barrow and Arnette conducted surveillance in the early morning hours. Within a short period of time, the officers observed a hunter climb into the tree stand. The officers interviewed the subject and cited the hunter with hunting over a baited area within the management area.
WALTON COUNTY
FWC officers received a favorable disposition on a case made during the summer. A Walton County judge found a local landowner guilty (adjudicated) in violation of a depredation permit. In the case, the officers observed the landowner hunting at night on a field where a permit had been issued. However, the peanut field had been harvested at the time of the incident making the permit invalid.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Lt. Harry Parker, Officer Lane Bentley and Intern 1 worked a bait detail on the opening weekend of archery season. They were targeting hunters hunting over bait in the Apalachicola Wildlife Management Area. They cited a hunter near the Wright's Lake area who was hunting deer over corn.
LIBERTY COUNTY
Lt. Harry Parker and Officer Lane Bentley checked a baited stand near Camel Lake and cited a hunter from Panama City for hunting over the illegal area. There were a total of five written warnings issued for various violations.
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