Even though 25-year-old Chase Fleming hasn’t been a Georgia Game Warden for very long, there have been some stressful times throughout his time there. One day last year, he went up to a couple on Lake Lanier and quickly learned that they had been drinking the fruit of the vine (or some other spirit, maybe). The woman spoke quite firmly when he said that he would have to end their celebration due to BUI worries that they were Boating Under the Influence.
Fleming claims, “She came up with swear words I’d never heard before.”
By the rules
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ law enforcement division is made up of Georgia Game Wardens. Protecting visitors to the state’s natural beauties and ensuring that the state’s stunning wildlife and plants are protected (after the legal limit is captured or shot) are their main responsibilities. A hunter or fisherman may not see a game warden very often in District 2, which is made up of 26 counties in the entire northeastern section of the state. This is because 34 game wardens and supervisors are tasked with patrolling the entire huge territory.
Fleming, who accompanied this writer on a ride-along earlier in June, was on the lookout for fisherman (yep, they were all men) who might be taking more than their fair share, as the maximum catch is eight fish per day. In order to protect all of their charges, whether they have two or four legs, wings, or fins, state wardens patrol the forests, state parks, lakes, and even peaceful rural roads.
Fleming’s initial two contacts with fisherman who were taking use of the refreshing waters and attracting the plentiful trout in the Soque River were cordial and incident-free. One student at North Georgia Technical College just showed his license and left after leaving class.Chase Fleming interviews an NGTC student who went fishing in the adjacent river a short distance north of North Georgia Technical College on Route 197. (NowHabersham.com/Joshua M. Peck)
Even for non-Georgians, the licenses, which only cost a few dollars, prove that the possessor is authorized to fish and at least vaguely aware with environmental and safety regulations.
Keeping it stocked
About nine miles north of Clarkesville, on the banks of the Soque where it flows beneath Route 197, two anglers, including Russell Aiken of Martin, Georgia, were having a good time at the Kelvin Jackson Bridge.
With the appearance of any elderly good-old lad and a thick accent to go with it, Aiken declared, “This is my favorite creek.” He pointed to the four rainbow and brown fish he had previously caught that day, one of which was still wriggling in the shallow, clear water. He claimed that after a horse-related accident forced his retirement, he has been fishing more frequently.
Speaking with Warden Fleming, Aiken informed him that he had recently witnessed another party of fisherman catch their maximum, conceal the haul in their vehicle, and then go back to the stream to steal more. He claimed that he was angry about it because disobeying the regulations reduces the prospects for all other fishermen by reducing the stock.
Fleming asked, “I hope you’ll give us a call next time you see that,” and Aiken concurred. Fleming added, “The number to call is (800) 241-4113.”
Keeping it safe
Later, Fleming patrolled Lake Burton on the DNR’s 250-horsepower Cobia boat, primarily keeping an eye out for safety infractions, which he claims are frequent. Young travelers need to wear more than simply life jackets. One passenger on a jet ski pulling a raft must be looking back to keep an eye on the raft’s occupants as the driver steers the craft forward. Boats must create no wake when they approach docks, bridges, and other no wake areas. Additionally, he is constantly alert for the type of careless marine wandering that typically results in a stench similar to that of alcohol or marijuana.In Northeast Georgia, DNR Game Warden Chase Fleming patrols Lake Burton’s shoreline and waters. Source: NowHabersham.com/Daniel Purcell
Boats and cars both have the same alcohol limit.08 percent blood alcohol, and many boat drivers who are intoxicated by a Budweiser or four may not realize the actual damage they could do. Fleming is willing to step in and start the legal process, which can result in heavy fines of up to $5,000 for a third offense and the loss of boating licenses, for the benefit of the boater and his possible victims.
A man who was significantly intoxicated—his reading was.175 percent—hit a sea wall in Lanier last week. Fleming claims that after we took him to jail, he bailed himself out. Fleming seemed to regret that being caught boating while inebriated does not take away your ability to drive on public roads.
Private land
Not all hunters are pleased to see us arrive.
The northeastern region of the state, from the borders of North Carolina and South Carolina to Fannin and Newton counties in the west and Elbert, Rabun, Hart, and Stephens counties in the east, is covered by the state’s DNR District 2, which is where Fleming patrols. The five counties most east and north comprise Fleming’s customary beat, which includes the typically peaceful Lake Burton and the frequently chaotic Talullah Gorge, where hikers frequently burn out, get stuck, or fall on the gorge’s rocky routes.Rabun County in Northeast Georgia is home to Lake Burton, a well-liked recreational destination. Source: NowHabersham.com/Daniel Purcell
Strict safety regulations and the presence of firearms can occasionally cause issues during the fall deer shooting season. He claims that not all hunters are pleased to see us arrive. He loudly and plainly identifies himself when he approaches a hunter or fisherman; the shining emblem and characteristic tan clothing undoubtedly assist.
A few of the regulations are a bit more complicated than others. Although most of the county’s land that isn’t plainly marked as parkland is private, people may believe they can hunt on ground next to a road that they believe is public. Only the landowner may grant permission for hunting and fishing on certain lands by completing an affidavit, a state form that lists all individuals who are permitted to utilize the area for recreational purposes; anybody else is considered a trespasser. The affidavit file is accessible to the wardens, who will stop any visitor who is not on it or who is unable to produce additional documentation proving their eligibility.
Private lives
From Toccoa, Fleming resides with his parents. For the time being, I want to save money, maybe in preparation for a serious relationship with his girlfriend, whom he met on patrol one fortunate day. He stated with a smile that she might or might not have been violating the trespassing regulations at Talullah Gorge. She discovered him on social media and asked about his hobbies following a purely professional run-in in the field (she was given a warning). Since then, they have been dating.
For the record, Fleming notes that because the Gorge floor is slippery and dangerous, and because there aren’t many rescue options available, hiking there requires a special permit. However, not all of the violators go on to have a boyfriend.
Not a walk in the park (forest or gorge)
According to Fleming, becoming a game warden is not easy. The three months at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center consist of:
- Physical training three-mile runs, several times a week
- Circuit training for strength and endurance
- Weapons: Recruits must be certified on two different kinds of handguns and a rifle. Fleming says this is so strenuous that quite a few aspirants drop out during this phase
- Expertise on boat, gun, and road safety, including officer water survival skills
- ATV training, learning to maneuver the all-terrain vehicles commonly driven on patrols through wooded or uneven landscapes
- Grappling, which is combat training for a warden caught without a weapon in a confrontation with an angry civilian
- ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training), when there is an active shooter at large. This is rare, but wardens are prepared, their supervisors say, and sometimes called on by the Georgia State Police for additional man- and womanpower.
However, Fleming’s recent excursion to the Chattooga River region, which is located around the South Carolina border, is more typical.
According to Fleming, three females got lost in the river. We had to use ATVs to locate one of them after she became away from the others and went for hours without water. She was struggling.
That is the purpose of the wardens.
Outside work
After years as a sergeant and a front-line warden, Captain Derek Dillard has been in charge of all the DNR game wardens in District 2 since 2020.
Dillard says he enjoys traveling to speak to civilian groups about safety and conservation, especially in Rabun County, where his folks have roots dating back to the Revolutionary War. He admits that the small community on the border with North Carolina got its name from the Dillard family, of which he is a descendant.
According to Dillard, his administrative job can be challenging; he joined the DNR to work outside and advises others to follow suit. His workforce is primarily male, but there are three women, one of whom recently resigned, and he wouldn’t mind if that number increased.
Until they need you
According to Dillard, returning to Talullah Gorge, where rescues are frequent, is one of the two major obstacles on his beat. He claims that up to 60 times a year, local volunteers join the professional, uniformed rescuers when hikers are in serious danger. Our helicopter flies in to evacuate individuals, but volunteers are usually the ones who connect them to the long line that hoists hikers to the helicopter and, occasionally, to a hospital.On Saturday, August 31, 2024, members of the Georgia DNR Aviation Unit arrive to rescue a hiker from the bottom of Tallulah Gorge. (Facebook/DNR Law Enforcement Division)On Saturday, August 11, 2018, a DNR aircraft gets ready to transfer a wounded rescuer from Tallulah Gorge. Rescue from Tallulah Gorge (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham) (Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com)
According to District 2 DNR Capt. Derek Dillard, outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate Georgia’s free rivers and trails hardly ever consider law enforcement unless they are in need of them. Source: NowHabersham.com/Daniel PurcellSource: NowHabersham.com/Daniel Purcell
He points out that his wardens aren’t often the most noticeable members in the neighborhood. He shrugs and says, “People don’t even think about you until they need you; they only need law enforcement when they need you.”
However, Dillard admits that he is occasionally taken aback by nature lovers. People have approached us merely to express their gratitude for our work. It’s quite pleasant to hear that.
