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FWC Law Enforcement Report: Archery Season Opening Day Violations; Little Bass

The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending October 30.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

On the opening day of archery season, Officer Manning located a hunter sitting in a ladder stand.  When Officer Manning identified himself as an FWC officer, the hunter jumped out of the stand and took off running.  After backup arrived, the officers looked around the stand and located a loaded .22 caliber rifle and some clothing.  The officers, with help from local K-9 units, tracked the individual to a blacktop road.  The track was lost at the road.  The officers located the hunter’s cell phone during the track.  The officers also located the hunter’s vehicle and were able to identify him from all the items they had found.  The officers towed the vehicle.  Warrants were issued for the suspect for numerous criminal charges.

Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the area of Escambia River and Williams Lake Boat Ramp.  Upon arrival at the boat ramp, Officer Hutchinson observed two male subjects loading a boat onto the trailer.  He made contact with both subjects and asked if they had caught anything.  The owner of the boat said, “Yes, we caught a few small ones.”   After the subjects pulled the boat out of the water and loaded it, the owner asked Officer Hutchinson if he wanted to look in the boat.  While Officer Hutchinson was attempting to inspect the fish in the live well, the passenger of the boat pulled an undersized black bass out of the live well and turned toward the water with it.  Officer Hutchinson told him to hold on and let him see it.  At that time, the subject threw the bass into the water and the fish swam away.  Officer Hutchinson asked the subject how long the bass was and he said, “It was 11 inches.”  Officer Hutchinson asked him why he threw the bass into the water after being told to wait. He said, “I knew the bass was not legal to keep because it wasn’t 12 inches long.” The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for interference or obstruction of an FWC officer.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officers Hoomes and Manning were working the opening of archery season in Blackwater WMA.  They observed a vehicle parked near a location where the officers earlier found an area baited with corn.  The officers went to this baited area and located a hunter wearing camouflage.  The hunter was sitting in a tree stand overlooking the baited area.  He was also in possession of archery equipment.  The subject admitted to placing the corn in the area and also admitted he knew it was illegal to hunt over bait in the WMA.  The subject was issued a citation for hunting over bait in a WMA.

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. Information provided by FWC.