FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report November 27, 2015 thru December 3, 2015

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) FWC Division of Law Enforcement   Weekly Report November 27, 2015 thru December 3, 2015 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. Patrol, Protect, Preserve NORTHWEST REGION ESCAMBIA COUNTY Lieutenant Lambert stopped a vehicle after observing the driver shining for deer. The driver of the vehicle was suspected of killing a 9‑point buck with a gun and light several days prior to the stop.  After interviewing the suspect and his brother, a confession was obtained.  The brother admitted to killing the 9‑point on October 15 using a gun and light.  The velvet buck head and a rifle were seized and charges were filed on the suspect for taking a deer at night with a gun and light. HOLMES COUNTY Lieutenant Walsingham and Officer Yates responded to a call regarding an illegally taken deer. When the officers arrived at the residence, a freshly killed spike buck was observed hanging in the backyard and being cleaned by two subjects.  One subject admitted to killing the deer with a rifle knowing that it was archery only season.  He was issued a citation for taking deer by illegal method (rifle during archery only) and given a warning for the antler restriction violation. LIBERTY COUNTY Officer Henderson was working night hunting activity, when he observed a vehicle slowly driving south with a spotlight shining in a sweeping motion out of the driver’s window. The vehicle passed his location, then turned around, and continued to shine the light from the driver’s side window into the woods and pastures.  Officer Henderson stopped the pickup truck.  He retrieved a loaded 12‑gauge shotgun and a single shot 243 caliber rifle. The male subject stated he just got in trouble a few weeks ago for shining in the Florida River Islands with a firearm and the officer told him he could go to jail if he got caught again.  Officer Henderson issued the subject a citation for attempting to take deer with a gun and light at night. Photos were taken of the spotlight, shotgun, five shotgun shells, single shot 243 rifle, and one 243 cartridge for evidence.  The firearms, spotlight and ammunition were returned to the subject and he was released. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officer Molnar conducted a derelict vessel investigation on an aground vessel in the Intracoastal Waterway near Fort Walton Beach. The vessel was full of water. Officer Molnar was able to identify the owner and located him in Defuniak Springs. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the derelict vessel violation. Officer Molnar was patrolling Eglin Reservation Wildlife Management Area (WMA) during the opening weekend of general gun season.  He made contact with a dog hunter who stated his hunting party killed a 3‑point buck earlier in the morning.  Moments later, a truck came over the hill and parked about 30 yards from the officer’s patrol truck. The driver exited quickly, displayed his hunting license, and attempted to leave to “go catch his hunting dogs.” When told not to leave until the inspection was complete, the subject admitted to having a buck deer in his truck.  Upon further investigation, the buck was a spike which was undersized. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for taking a buck with fewer than 2 points on one side. His hunting privileges were also suspended for one year by Eglin Security Forces.  Officer Pifer was on routine land patrol on the Eglin Reservation WMA, when he was notified that Eglin Range Patrol had a vehicle stopped for accessing the management area before legal hours.  Access to Eglin WMA is prohibited from two hours after sunset to two hours before sunrise. Two individuals were issued notice to appear citations. Officer Pifer was on land patrol conducting state fisheries inspection at the Valparaiso Fishing Pier.  He observed an individual actively fishing.  He made contact with the individual and inspected his catch.  The inspection revealed that the individual had harvested over the bag limit of mullet.  The individual cast netted a total of 116 mullet and the state land bag limit is 50. The individual was issued a citation. SANTA ROSA COUNTY Officer Hutchinson was on foot patrol in the Blackwater State Forest. He located an area that had been baited with corn to attract deer.  While scouting the baited area, he observed a hunter sitting in a tree stand approximately ten yards away from the corn and a feeder filled with corn.  Officer Hutchinson made contact with the hunter and asked him about the bait.  The hunter admitted to placing the bait on the ground and as well as the feeder. He was charged with hunting over bait in a management area. Officer Hutchinson and Lieutenant Hahr were patrolling in the Escambia River WMA and checked an area that had been baited earlier in the year.  As they approached the area, they observed a man crouching on the ground wearing a ghillie suit near the baited area.  The man admitted to placing soured corn out for hogs.  He was charged with hunting over bait in a management area. WALTON COUNTY FWC officers responded by vessel to a boating accident that occurred at Juniper Lake. The report was that the operator was ejected and impaled by a tree branch.  Walton County Fire and Rescue personnel were first to arrive on scene. The operator was transported to a local hospital in Fort Walton Beach.  Officer Molnar and Investigator Schafer responded to the hospital, while Investigator Armstrong, Officers Bartlett, Tison, and White responded to the accident site. The officers secured the vessel and obtained witness statements.  The preliminary investigation indicates the vessel struck a submerged object which caused the operator to fall overboard and onto another tree stump, which impaled the operator.  The operator was admitted to the hospital, and it was later determined that the injuries were not life threatening. WASHINTON COUNTY Lieutenant Walsingham responded to a call from a landowner that someone had just shot on his property. The landowner saw a vehicle pull into his field and then leave. The landowner thought the individual had loaded a deer and followed the vehicle as it left. Lieutenant Walsingham kept the complainant on the phone and intercepted the suspect vehicle.  After a short interview, it was determined that the individual shot at a doe deer with a rifle and entered the private property to locate the deer.  Although the deer was not located, the subject admitted that he knew that rifle season was not in and wanted to get some meat.  The landowner declined prosecution for trespass but the subject was issued citations for taking or attempting to take deer by illegal method (rifle during crossbow or archery only season) and shooting from the roadway.

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