The game warden has been selected to receive an award recognizing an individual for their devotion to waterfowl enforcement and for inspiring their fellow game wardens to perform at their best.
On December 24 2020, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Game Warden Boatright received a call from Seminole County, Georgia, USA, in reference to an 406 PLB signal they had received from the middle of Lake Seminole.
Without hesitation, he called his supervisor for assistance, then launched his patrol vessel into the high winds and pouring rain.
He dialed in the GPS coordinates of the 406 distress signal, where he located a duck hunter in eight feet of water, clinging to the bow of his submerged vessel.
The hunter, who was not wearing a flotation device, could barely move or talk when the officers arrived on scene.
Game Warden Boatright immediately pulled the hunter aboard the patrol vessel and requested an ambulance to meet them at the nearest landing.
On the way to the landing, he removed the hunter’s waterlogged chest waders, shirt, and jacket and gave him his raincoat and an emergency blanket to wear.
During this time, the hunter shook uncontrollably and mumbled to Game Warden Boatright, “Thank you for saving my life.”
After being checked out by emergency personnel, the hunter informed him that his decoy lines had become entangled in the prop of his motor, causing the motor to shut off.
While trying to untangle the lines, waves began coming over his 18-foot boat, causing it to swamp and sink.
The hunter stated that he had activated his 406 PLB just before the vessel sank.
As a waterfowl hunter himself, Game Warden Boatright understands that bad weather conditions will not keep many duck hunters off the lake.
His willingness to weather the extreme conditions of freezing rain, wind, and high waves to respond to an unknown emergency shows his dedication to the safety of the citizens of Georgia, along with the waterfowl hunting community.
Game Warden Boatright gained a lot of positive notoriety with many waterfowl hunters and residents around Lake Seminole after that rescue on Christmas Eve.
Read more here:
https://m.thepostsearchlight.com/2021/06/16/local-game-warden-receives-award/