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January 17, 2025, through January 23, 2025
This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks;
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
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 CASES
Santa Rosa County
- Officer Lewis received a complaint about a subject who checked a deer that did not meet the antler point regulations at the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area – Hutton Unit check station. The officer arrived on scene and determined the deer did not meet antler point regulations and issued the subject a notice to appear citation for that violation and a warning for not completing a harvest log.
 CASES
Citrus County
- Officer Pietroburgo and Officer Specialist Ulrich observed individuals setting up duck decoys on a sandbar for a morning hunt. One individual was seen operating a vessel that transported subjects to the hunt site, then away from the area. Later in the morning, the operator maneuvered his vessel around a raft of ducks, flushing them toward the subjects who were hunting on the sandbar, which resulted in multiple shots being fired. The officers conducted a resource stop to address the violation and during their investigation the officers discovered two ducks and a semi-automatic shotgun aboard the vessel. The officer cited him for herding wildlife with a motorized vessel, a violation of Florida law. Additionally, the operator received a warning for failing to complete a required boater safety course.
- Senior Officer Reid and Officer Gilbert were on state water patrol on the coast and Senior Officer VanNess and Pilot Derse were patrolling from an FWC aircraft. The aviation team spotted two commercial oyster harvesters along the coast in an area prohibited for oyster harvest. They relayed the coordinates to the officers on the water, who conducted a resource inspection on the subjects who were harvesting oysters. The officers’ inspection led to the subjects receiving citations and warnings.
Gilchrist County
- Officer Reith was on patrol when he located a vehicle parked along a piece of property owned by the Suwannee River Water Management District that is closed to hunting. Due to the time of day and manner in which the vehicle was parked, Officer Reith suspected someone may be hunting the property. A short time later, two subjects dressed in camouflage were observed returning to the vehicle. During an interview, one of the subjects admitted he had been duck hunting the property and showed Officer Reith the shotgun and shells he had concealed under leaves behind a tree with the intention to retrieve later. The subject stated he had seen the signs indicating the property was closed to hunting. Officer Reith issued a citation for the violation.
 CASES
Brevard County
- Officer Specialist Delano observed several vehicles accessing a closed area and conducted stops to address the violations. Several individuals were cited for being in the closed area. While patrolling the same area, the officer identified two vehicles parked further down a restricted access road within the closed area. The subjects were cast netting. A resource inspection was conducted, and Officer Delano observed gamefish species in a bucket nearby. The subjects stated they just caught them in the net and were planning to release them. Officer Delano inspected their cooler and observed large quantities of fish within the cooler and additionally in a concealed trash bag. The subjects had cast netted several Florida bass, crappie, and bluegill. The individuals received citations for illegally harvesting freshwater game species and driving down closed roads.
Indian River County
- Officer Barghouty and Officer St. Martin observed two individuals fishing alongside the road in a secluded area near John’s Island. One individual was found in possession of 14 sheepshead with one being undersized. The other individual was found in possession of three undersized sheepshead. The first individual was given a resource citation for the harvest of the undersized sheepshead and a written warning for being over the bag limit of sheepshead. The second individual was also given a resource citation for the harvest of the undersized sheepshead and a written warning for the remaining undersized sheepshead as well as not having a valid saltwater shoreline fishing license.
Orange County
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock, along with Officers Naules, Hawks and Walesch observed a group of individuals who were harvesting freshwater gamefish using cast nets at a local wildlife management area. Gamefish can only be harvested using a rod and reel or hook and line. The officers conducted a traffic stop and resource/license inspection. The driver of the vehicle did not have a valid driver’s license and none of the subjects who were fishing had valid freshwater fishing licenses. Two individuals were issued notice to appear citations for harvesting freshwater gamefish by an illegal method. The traffic and license violations were also addressed.
Seminole County
- Officer Wild worked with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office specialty unit in reference to an individual who has their hunting privileges suspended due to previous violations. Officer Wild, who was able to identify the subject through his prior cases, caught the subject poaching at night on water management district land. The subject attempted to hide a wild hog he harvested. After investigating, Officer Wild placed the subject under arrest and booked him into the Seminole County Jail for illegally hunting at night on water management district land. Officer Wild and the assisting deputy located the wild hog the subject hid prior to being apprehended.
Sumter County
- Senior Officer Phillips was patrolling Richloam Wildlife Management Area when he located a hunting blind. The blind was near a baited area and a cellular trail camera. As Officer Phillips monitored the area in the coming days, he located a subject in the hunting blind. The subject was equipped with a high-powered air rifle with a scope attached to it. The subject denied placing the bait in the area but had corn and the package for mineral powder with their belongings in the blind. Officer Phillips issued the subject a notice to appear citation for attempting to take wildlife over bait in a WMA and planting a non-native plant on a WMA. They were also issued a noncriminal citation for hunting deer with no hunter orange.
Volusia County
- Officer Specialist Vanas and Officer Robinson saw a vehicle parked on the side of the road in the Rima Ridge Tract of Tiger Bay State Forest, which is closed to hunting at this time. Upon contacting the subject, the officers interviewed him and determined he was hunting illegally during closed season. The appropriate law enforcement action was taken.
 CASES
Lee County
- Officers Perry and Faught responded to a boat fire and found the owner attempting to recover the vessel, which had completely burned down to the water line. An accident investigation was conducted and the officers determined the owner and one other occupant were pulling away from the dock after launching and a small leak in the fuel line ignited, causing the vessel to catch fire. The subjects were able to get themselves safely onto the dock.
 CASES
Collier County
- Captive Wildlife Investigator Corteguera completed an inspection at a facility that possesses alligators. A records search revealed the license to possess alligators had expired. Investigator Corteguera previously issued a warning for this same violation. A citation was issued for possession of class II wildlife with an expired license.
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