Wildlife violations lead to charges in Okaloosa County: FWC

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — It was a busy week for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators in the Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA), according to the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement’s weekly report for April 5–11.

In one incident, an FWC investigator received a tip about a suspicious vehicle parked near a range gate. Arriving at the scene with another officer, they spotted two individuals biking down the range road towards the vehicle.

Things took a turn as the officers approached for a routine permit check. One of the individuals reportedly darted into the woods, only reappearing a short while later. The investigator approached this individual, who was said to be carrying a game camera.

A search of the area where the suspect had disappeared allegedly revealed a hidden backpack containing whole-kernel corn—a common bait used to attract deer.

Despite the incriminating evidence, the FWC said the individual denied ownership of the backpack.

The plot thickened when the FWC seized the game camera. A closer look at the photos allegedly revealed pictures of the subject with the very same backpack found in the woods.

Faced with the camera’s evidence, charges for placing bait in the WMA were filed, and an arrest warrant was obtained.

In a separate incident, the same FWC investigator patrolling the Eglin WMA checked on a hunter returning from a special opportunity hunt.

Unfortunately for the hunter, the deer harvested didn’t meet the minimum antler point regulations, the FWC said. The hunter was issued a citation.