RFC Rodney Horne Honored With Waterfowl Officer of the Year Award

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (6/1/2010)

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division recently honored RFC Rodney Horne with the Rocky Wainwright Waterfowl Officer of the Year Award for his outstanding efforts regarding waterfowl conservation over the past year. Horne is a Conservation Ranger assigned to Wheeler County, but also assisting in Laurens County. The award is named in memory of Conservation Ranger Cpl. Rocky Wainwright, who was dedicated to the conservation of waterfowl.

“RFC Rodney Horne has made great contributions to the protection of Georgia’s waterfowl resources,” says Division Chief of Law Enforcement Col. Homer Bryson. “He takes pride in the enforcement of waterfowl laws and regulations as well as providing opportunities to educate the public about waterfowl issues.”

RFC Rodney Horne has been with the Division since November 1997. His primary focus this past hunting season has been the enforcement of waterfowl regulations. His preferential method for handling that duty – use the least amount of force to gain the most amount of compliance.

Here are some of his accomplishments this past year:

• Conducted several information programs specifically about waterfowl identification and education during the past year. Audiences included youth and other sportsmen.
• Detected and documented 59 waterfowl violations.
• Selected to work with the “CHAMPS” program at the Laurens County School System.
• Continued to build relationships with local conservation groups, such as Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and Buckmasters of Laurens County.

“RFC Horne is an asset to this Department, his community and the State of Georgia and we are proud to recognize his efforts with this award,” says Bryson.

For more information on the Rocky Wainwright Waterfowl Award, call the WRD Law Enforcement Office at (770) 918-6408.