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
Officer Faris Livesay was on utility vehicle patrol of the Naval and Water Management property near Naval Air Station Saufley Field. He received a trespass/hunting complaint regarding unauthorized tree stands and illegal hunting. Officer Livesay observed two subjects approach his location and he made contact. One subject was in possession of a .243 caliber rifle. A computer check revealed the subject in possession of the firearm was a convicted felon. The subject admitted he was a convicted felon and knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Escambia County Jail. Both subjects were issued warnings for trespass.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Royce Johnson and Reserve Officer Lila Wise were working the first weekend of the Mobility Impaired Hunt at the Hutton Unit of Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. While checking hunters, one hunter attempted to check a deer that failed to meet the three points on one side management area requirement. The hunter in this instance had harvested his allowed antlerless deer the day before. The hunter was cited for taking a buck without three points on one side. The deer was seized and donated to an approved charitable organization.
Officer Royce Johnson responded to a complaint of dogs trespassing and pursuing deer on private property. After obtaining a statement from the landowner, Officer Johnson determined who was hunting with dogs and will be charging him with allowing dogs to pursue wildlife on private property without permission.
Officer Royce Johnson observed a vehicle parked near a previously discovered baited area within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. Officer Johnson recently located the bait site and wild hogs were feeding heavily in the area. As Officer Johnson crept up to the site, he observed two subjects hunting over the bait. It turned out the two men, father and son, had been baiting the site for a while and had killed several hogs there. Officer Johnson cited both subjects for hunting over bait and placing bait in a wildlife management area.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Andy Maltais received a call from Eglin Range Patrol indicating they observed and detained an individual who was placing bait (kernel corn) on the Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA) reservation. Officer Maltais arrived on scene and met with Range Patrol personnel regarding their observations. The individual was observed placing bags of whole kernel corn in front of his ladder stand. In plain view, Officer Maltais observed four additional bags of kernel corn in the bed of the subject’s truck. This occurred a day prior to the opening of deer season, the third phase for Eglin WMA. The individual was cited for placing bait on the management area.
Officer Danny Arnette was contacted by members of a local hunting club about a subject who shot a turkey out of season. Officer Arnette located and documented the area where the subject shot the turkey over a baited area. The following day, Officer Arnette located the subject, interviewed him, and confirmed he had taken a turkey out of season and over bait. The subject was cited for both violations.
Officer Danny Arnette was conducting surveillance for night hunting when he observed a vehicle traveling on Highway 2, displaying a light in a manner capable of disclosing deer. Officer Arnette stopped the vehicle and observed a spotlight in the passenger’s lap. The occupants of the vehicle all denied there were any firearms in the vehicle. An inspection of the vehicle revealed two firearms concealed under a blanket in the rear floor board. One of the firearms had a flashlight taped to the barrel for using at night. All four of the occupants were cited for attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
WALTON COUNTY
Officers Darrell Johnson and Randall Brooks checked a baited area on Choctawhatchee Wildlife Management Area. As the officers approached the baited area, they observed a subject in front of a blind broadcasting corn around the area he was planning to hunt. The subject was identified and cited for placing bait on a management area.
Officers Danny Arnette and Van Barrow were conducting surveillance for night hunting along Highway 2 when they observed a vehicle travel at slow speed past their concealed location twice. The vehicle later returned a third time and shot two times at a deer feeding along the roadway. The vehicle with two occupants was stopped and a loaded shotgun was secured. An inspection of the vehicle revealed both old and fresh blood in the back of the vehicle. One of the subjects admitted to killing a doe deer prior to being stopped and a short antlered buck a few days before. The subject stated he took the deer to a local deer processor in Laurel Hill. Both subjects were cited for taking deer at night with a gun and light. The vehicle and shotgun were seized. The subject who received the illegal deer was later interviewed and at first denied knowledge of the deer, but later admitted to receiving the deer when Officer Arnette observed an antlerless deer head near his processing facility. An inspection of the subject’s record book revealed he had listed the illegal deer under a false name. Charges are being direct filed for possession of an antlerless deer.
BAY COUNTY
Officer David Erdman was working in the area of Cooks Bayou when he observed several people fishing. When Officer Erdman approached the fishermen, one of them stood up and walked away from his fishing gear. As Officer Erdman continued his investigation, the subject changed his answer from “I wasn’t fishing and those aren’t my fish” to “I was fishing and caught two undersized fish.” Officer Erdman issued two citations for possession of undersized spotted sea trout and interference with an FWC officer.
Officer David Erdman worked information received in mid-December regarding an antlerless deer carcass found in a trash can. Officer Erdman met with the complainant, took photographs and collected blood evidence. He determined the suspect did not possess a valid hunting license. The suspect was interviewed at home and advised Officer Erdman he killed three does and a six point buck after Christmas and had doe tags for the three does. Officer Erdman asked the suspect if he killed any deer before December 16, 2010. The suspect denied taking any deer at first; however, after being shown the photographs, he admitted to shooting the deer in his front yard. The individual was charged with taking or possessing an antlerless deer and charged with not possessing a valid hunting license.
Officer Neal Goss, IV received a complaint of a deer killed on a private hunting preserve. The complainant, an employee from the game preserve, saw a large ten point buck deer hanging at a local gas station. An individual told the complainant he killed it in the Cat Creek portion of the Econfina Wildlife Management Area. The complainant then called the primary game preserve caretaker and relayed the information and asked the caretaker to check the fence line bordering Cat Creek. The caretaker found the fence had been cut and found drag marks and blood leading to the fence. The complainant provided the vehicle tag number and description of the man who killed the deer to the caretaker. Officer Goss went to the site and found evidence where a deer was shot and dragged through the cut fence. He showed photographs of the man suspected of killing the deer to the complainant. The complainant identified the man as the one who claimed to have shot the deer. Officer Goss went to the suspect’s residence and found a ten point buck head lying in the bed of a pickup truck. The truck was identified as the same truck at the gas station where the deer was previously seen. Officer Goss presented the evidence to the suspect and he admitted to shooting the deer through the fence and cutting the fence to retrieve it. The subject provided a written statement of his involvement. Officer Goss seized a 30.06 caliber rifle and all parts of the deer and carcass. Charges of grand theft and trespassing were filed.
Officer Joe Chambers completed his investigation into a felon who was arrested several weeks ago for night hunting. The subject was located by Officer Chambers. Officers Jeff Gager and David Brady assisted in serving the arrest warrant.
Officer Mike Nobles checked several fishermen in Crooked Creek and found one individual in possession of eight spotted sea trout, seven of which were undersized. A citation was issued for the violation and a written warning for the bag limit violation.
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