OSCEOLA COUNTY
On November 17, working on previously received information, Officers Matt Ervin and Garret Fields observed two subjects attempting to flush deer from vegetation with airboats in the Cobb Island Area of Gardener Marsh. The two subjects were charged with attempting to take wildlife from a moving vessel. Later that day, Lieutenants Joe Allen and Mike Wood observed several airboats from the FWC helicopter that were being used to attempt to take deer by moving through vegetation. Officers Matt Ervin and Garret Fields were called and attempted to stop two of the airboats with five subjects. One airboat failed stop and was tracked by Lieutenants Allen and Wood until the occupants were apprehended by Officer Ervin. The five subjects were charged with attempting to take wildlife from a moving vessel. One of the men on the second airboat stopped was arrested pursuant to an outstanding warrant for failing to pay a fine for fishing without a license and booked into the Osceola County Jail. Several complaints were received from hunters in the area concerning moving airboats being used to take deer. That evening Officer Dirk Williamson observed two airboats attempting to flush deer from vegetation in Gardener Marsh. He observed both vessels pursuing a deer and shots being fired from each vessel. Two men were charged with attempting to take wildlife from a moving vessel.
On November 18, Officers Matt Ervin and Garret Fields were working the Cobb Island Area when they observed two subjects attempting to flush deer from vegetation with an airboat. The boat operator was charged with attempting to take wildlife from a moving vessel. Later that day, Officers Ervin and Fields located two boys, ten and twelve years old, hunting by themselves in Gardener Marsh. The boys’ guardians were over one half mile away at the time. The twelve year old was observed shooting into the Bronson property prior to being contacted by the officers. Both of the guardians were charged with leaving the minors unsupervised with firearms and given notices to appear in court.
On November 19, Officers Ervin and Fields stopped an airboat in Gardener Marsh and found the vessel did not have a hull identification number (HIN). The vessel operator had received warnings from two other officers prior to this for not having a HIN. He was issued a notice to appear in court.