The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report from Sept. 29 - Oct. 5 includes incidents in the Lake Okeechobee area. 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.

Okeechobee County
• While on night patrol, Officer Madsen observed a truck displaying a light from the driver side window in a rural area where deer are commonly found. Officer Madsen conducted a traffic stop and during the inspection he located a light in combination with a rifle commonly used for taking deer or game. Officer Madsen issued the appropriate citation.

• Officers Allen and Dziewiatkowski observed two subjects with hunting dogs who appeared to be hunting on the South Florida Water Management District right-of-way north of the S-84 structure. Hunting is prohibited on SFWMD rights-of-way. The officers contacted the subjects who indicated they trespassed on the S-84 structure to get to their location but insisted they were not technically hunting. Notices to appear in court were issued to both subjects for trespassing on the structure. The Highlands County States Attorney’s Office will be consulted about filing the hunting charge.

Hendry County
• Senior Officer Polly and Officer Watson were patrolling Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area during the opening weekend of the annual dove hunt. While checking hunters at one of the WMA’s dove fields, the officers came across two subjects who were hunting with unplugged shotguns capable of holding five shotshells. Both subjects were issued a notice to appear for the violations.

• Officer Watson was on patrol when he observed multiple subjects in a spot people commonly fish near a canal bank. Officer Watson contacted the group and noticed they had a bucket of fish but no fishing rods. The group admitted to catching all the fish with a cast net. Upon inspecting the fish, multiple freshwater game fish were located. It is illegal to harvest freshwater gamefish with a cast net. The subjects were issued a notice to appear for possession of freshwater gamefish and a device that is illegal for harvesting freshwater gamefish.

• Officer Watson and Captain Davis patrolled Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area during the opening weekend of dove season. While checking dove hunters, they came across a subject who was dove hunting and the officers found the subject was using an unplugged shotgun that was holding four shotshells. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violation.

Glades County
• Lieutenant Hayes and Officer Hudson responded to a call about boaters who were overdue. Two men had launched from Harney Pond and had broken down around Cochran’s Pass. The girlfriend of one of the subjects called the FWC to ask for help since the men no longer had cell phone capabilities due to dead batteries. The FWC officers launched an airboat around 11 p.m. and started to track toward the boaters’ last known position. While the officers had to deal with wind, waves and rain, they were able to locate and assist the boaters, who were in good spirits.