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FWC Weekly Enforcement Report
01/12/09 - 12:11 PM
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
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NORTHWEST REGION

BAY COUNTY

Officer Joe Chambers completed an investigation into two separate felons hunting with firearms.  Officers Jeff Gager and David Brady assisted him with serving felony arrest warrants.  One subject was booked into the Washington County Jail and the other into the Walton County Jail.

Officers Dennis Palmer, Mark Clements, K-9 Officer Mike Guy, and Reserve Officer Joey Miles were working a decoy deer detail in northern Bay County when a vehicle turned around and stopped at the decoy.  One occupant shined a flashlight on the decoy, while another shot it.  Three subjects were cited for night hunting and the firearm was seized.

K-9 Officer Mike Guy completed an investigation into a felon hunting with a firearm when he obtained an arrest warrant for the subject’s arrest.  The subject was photographed on a game camera carrying a rifle and later admitted to trespass and hunting with the firearm.

Officer Dennis Palmer was patrolling the closed Cat Creek area of the Econfina Wildlife Management Area when he observed a truck parked in the middle of one of the roads.  Officer Palmer maintained a visual on the truck for about five minutes and then as he approached, the truck began to drive away.  The truck was stopped and a loaded high­powered rifle was observed on the passenger seat.  In addition to road hunting, the driver possessed a hunting license that was expired more than one year, had no management area permit and was hunting in a closed area.  A citation and several written warnings were issued.

Officers Mark Clements and Warren Walsingham responded to a complaint from a private landowner about dogs he heard running on his property and the still hunt portion of the Econfina Wildlife Management Area bordering his property.  The officers found two subjects in the still hunt area running dogs.  Both hunters were cited for the violation.

Lt. Jay Chesser and Officer Mike Nobles found a camouflaged subject possessing a high­powered rifle in a closed section of the Econfina Wildlife Management Area (Cat Creek) who said he was “just out for a walk”.  Later he admitted to hunting in the closed area.  A citation was issued.

Officers Neal Goss and Nick Price were patrolling Choctawhatchee Wildlife Management Area when a resource check found a subject in possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.  Later that day while patrolling the Econfina Wildlife Management Area, they located a subject hunting in the closed area of Cat Creek and a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Officer Nick Price was patrolling the Gulf of Mexico when he located a vessel fishing at anchor.  Upon seeing the officer approach, the vessel began leaving the area.  Officer Price found four gag grouper, 13 red snapper and a red drum floating in the water where the vessel had been anchored.  They were attached to a nylon rope.  Two individuals on board admitted to the violation and stated they needed some fish for an upcoming fish fry.  They were issued citations for taking red snapper during closed season, possession of undersized red snapper, possession of undersized gag grouper, possession of one oversized red drum, interference with an inspection and failure to return fish alive and unharmed back into the water.

Officer David Erdman received a favorable disposition on a boating under the influence case.  The defendant was adjudicated guilty and ordered to pay a fine of $1,155.00.  In addition, he was ordered to serve 11 months of probation and perform 75 hours of community service.  He must complete a substance abuse course and boating safety course.  His vessel will be immobilized for 30 days.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Officer Carmon Brownell answered a complaint from an individual who stated there was a still hunter hunting over bait (corn) in the Womack Creek Wildlife Management Area.  When Officer Brownell arrived, the hunter had exited the tree he was hunting from and was at his vehicle.  Officer Brownell found kernels of corn in the back of the hunter’s vehicle.  When asked, the hunter took Officer Brownell back to the tree he was hunting from which had bait scattered around it.  The hunter admitted to hunting over the bait.  The hunter was issued a citation for hunting over bait in a wildlife management area.

Officer Chasen Yarborough was performing camp inspections in Franklin County.  At Gardener’s Landing, Officer Yarborough encountered an 18­year­old subject consuming an alcoholic beverage.  Further inspection revealed the presence of a water bong (pipe) in a vehicle at the campsite.  The subject admitted that the water bong belonged to him.  Officer Yarborough issued citations for possession of alcohol by a person under 21 years of age and for possession of drug paraphernalia.

On January 5 Officers Woody Cook, Travis Huckeba, Don Walker and John Allen conducted an oyster detail in Apalachicola Bay.  The officers boarded nine vessels and inspected 21 harvesters. The inspections revealed several violations including oystering in conditionally restricted waters, no saltwater products license, no Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest permit, no Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest permit numbers displayed on the harvesting vessel, no hull identification number on a vessel and various vessel safety equipment violations.  Seven misdemeanor citations and two written warnings were issued for the violations.

Officers Michael Slotin and John Allen and Lt. Rama Shuster were on nighttime patrol on the offshore patrol vessel “Orion” when they observed a shrimp boat inside the three mile line near Cape St. George.  A closer pass at the vessel revealed three nets in the water.  The officers boarded the vessel and issued the captain a citation for using more than two nets in near shore waters.  When concluding the boarding, the officers observed another vessel shrimping in near shore waters with three nets.  While approaching the second vessel, the officers observed the captain run out on the back deck and attempt to pull the net up before the patrol vessel pulled alongside.  The vessel was boarded and the captain was issued a citation for using more than two nets in near shore waters.

On January 3 Officer Michael Slotin conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel as it off loaded along the Carrabelle River.  Officer Slotin observed several coolers being unloaded and carried to a truck.  Among the day’s catch were five red snapper.  The captain was issued a citation for possession of red snapper during closed season.

LIBERTY COUNTY

Officer David Brandon issued a citation to a Liberty County man for violation of the Hunter Responsibility Rule.  The location was near the Florida River.  This individual was cited earlier this year for the same violation.

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