Friday, January 30, 2015

FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 01/23 - 01/29/2015

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
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Weekly Report

January 23rd thru January 29th, 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

Officer Pettey received a call from a hunter who heard a shot near the boundary line of his hunting club in McDavid.  The hunter explained that he had heard several shots over the last several days and suspected the person might be shooting doe deer.  Officer Pettey responded to the area and observed a hunter exiting the woods.  The subject had harvested an illegal buck with approximately one inch antlers.  Officer Pettey seized the deer as evidence and issued a criminal citation for the violation.

Officer Livesay was working in Perdido River Wildlife Manage Area (WMA), when he observed an individual exit the woods wearing hunter orange and possessing a rifle.  The subject claimed he was not hunting and was just walking around.  Officer Livesay informed the subject that he was going to look for his stand.  The individual then admitted he was hunting and had a stand set up nearby.  Officer Livesay walked with the subject to his hunting stand and discovered he had recently scattered corn (bait) in the area.  After further questioning, the subject admitted to placing the corn on the ground as bait.  The subject was cited for the hunting over bait and no quota permit.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officer Hutchinson was conducting land patrol in the Blackwater State Forest when he observed a vehicle parked in close proximity to a known baited location.  Officer Hutchinson trailed the suspect and observed him sitting in a tree stand overlooking the bait site.  Officer Hutchinson made contact with the hunter who admitted to placing the bait on the ground and hunting deer.  The subject’s hunting license was expired.  The hunter was issued the appropriate citations for hunting over bait and no hunting license.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officers Molnar, H. Rockwell, White, Brooks and Investigator Armstrong were working a detail targeting illegal road hunting within a closed area of Eglin WMA.  The officers had received multiple complaints about several individuals illegally road hunting from trucks.  From a concealed location, officers observed a vehicle driving slowly down the road consistent with road hunting. The truck stopped and immediately shot twice at a deer with a 12‑gauge shotgun.  Officers stopped the suspect for the violation.  The suspect was charged with road hunting.

While patrolling Eglin WMA, Officer Maltais conducted a traffic stop in the Sikes dog hunt unit.  The vehicle was in the management area approximately 30 minutes before the legal time.  The suspect had four beagles in dog boxes as well as a loaded 12‑gauge shotgun.  The suspect was issued a citation and later his Eglin permit was suspended for two weeks by Eglin Range Patrol.

Lieutenant Hollinhead was conducting surveillance for night hunting, when he observed a vehicle stop in the roadway and shine a field with a small spotlight in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer.  Several complaints of night hunting in the area have been received throughout hunting season. Lieutenant Hollinhead followed the vehicle and observed the occupants continue to shine looking for deer.  The vehicle was later observed leaving the roadway and carelessly traveling through a wooded area prior to being stopped.  The driver stated they were chasing a doe and did not have any firearms although a rifle was observed in plain view next to the passenger.  A small amount of cannabis was also observed on the center console of the vehicle. A bag of cannabis was later located in the possession of the driver.  Both subjects were cited for attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.  One of the subjects was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.  Two rifles were seized for evidence.

WALTON COUNTY

Lieutenant Hollinhead called for assistance from Officer Arnette after hearing rifle shots from property that is commonly hunted for deer. Officer Arnette was familiar with the area and knew where the hunters would exit the property.  An inspection at the gate later revealed three illegal deer, one of which was a small antlerless yearling.  Two of the subjects were cited for taking an antlerless deer and for not having a hunting license or deer permit.  One of the subjects was cited for possession of an antlerless deer.  Three rifles used to take the illegal deer were seized.

BAY COUNTY

Officer Wicker was on patrol near Crooked Island when he checked two vessels deploying nets.  He found both vessels to have black drum, ladyfish and mullet in their fish boxes. There was no ice on the fish or onboard the vessel.  None of the seines onboard the boats were marked as required by law.  Citations were issued.

Officer Gore was on patrol when he checked a commercial oysterman who failed to tag his bags of harvested oysters. A citation was issued and the oysters were returned to the waters.

Lieutenant Chesser watched three fishers in two vessels harvest fish in the closed waters of Warren Bayou for about 30 minutes before inspecting their catch.  The fishers were found to be harvesting grey snapper as well as over the legal bag limit.  Corrective actions were taken and the fish were returned to the waters alive.

Officers Hellett and Goodwin were working a detail at the Cooks Bayou Bridge and observed three subjects fishing from the rocks. The officers observed the subjects catching sheepshead and grey snapper. Each time they would catch an undersized fish, they would walk to a vehicle and place it in the trunk. The officers observed them until the fishermen ran out of bait and one of the subjects went to the vehicle to leave. The officers found the subjects to be in possession of three undersized sheephead and two undersized grey snapper. Two of the subjects were cited for possession of the undersized fish and one subject was cited for fishing without a non-resident saltwater fishing license.

Officers Hellett and Officer Gore received a complaint of a person keeping undersized red drum on the bay side of the Deer Point Dam. The officers responded to the area and watched a subject for several minutes and found him to be in possession of six-undersized red drum. The subject was issued a notice to appear for over the bag limit and undersized redfish.


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