Warden's Watch

107 Randy Nelson– British Columbia

Listen Later

Randy Nelson is a retired 35-year veteran of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), where he became the most decorated fisheries officer in the history of British Columbia. Two years after leaving his post as director of the DFO’s Conservation and Protection Branch in BC, he was ready to write about his extraordinary and sometimes life-threatening experiences, resulting in Poachers, Polluters and Politics: A Fishery Officer’s Career. Now he joins us to discuss his second release, The Wildest Hunt – a collection of tales ranging from horrifying to hilarious from hundreds of wildlife officers across North America.


Our Sponsors: 

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

Sovereign Sportsman Solutions

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine's Operation Game Thief

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

International Wildlife Crimestoppers


Here’s what we discuss:

  • Writing the book was like doing several investigations
  • Growing up in Saskatchewan
  • Started running to help train 
  • Foot chases became common – poachers run!
  • Book features at least one story from every state, province and territory
  • Spoke to hundreds of officers to learn as much detail as possible
  • Oklahoma: Busted on Bumble
  • Alberta: When your hunting dog is a little too good
  • First book was more biographical
  • The Wildest Hunt was written to shine a light on domestic poaching and encourage involvement
  • People often think of poaching in terms of large African animals
  • “If you see something, say something”
  • What is cactus poaching?
  • 75x more police officers than game wardens in North America
  • Ethical hunters are the best conservationists
  • A poacher is not a hunter
  • Poachers are often involved in other crimes
  • Operation Thunderstorm
  • Game wardens have a far higher chance of dying on the job than other law enforcement
  • Biologists, game wardens, and management need to work together
  • The economic impact and long-term effects of poaching
  • A portion of the profits from The Wildest Hunt will be donated to the Game Warden Museum
  • First book was never intended to be published
  • Every officer has stories 
  • A picnic gone wrong…
  • Always ready to address stakeholder groups: contact Randy
  • One voice can make a difference

    • Credits

    Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

    Producer: Jay Ammann

    Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

    Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches


    Subscribe:

    Apple Podcasts

    Spotify

    Amazon

    Google

    Waypoint

    Stitcher

    TuneIn

    Megaphone

    Find More Here:

    Website

    Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

    Facebook

    Facebook Fan Page

    Instagram

    Twitter

    YouTube

    RSS

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Warden's WatchBy Wayne Saunders / John Nores
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9

    4.9

    387 ratings

    More shows like Warden's Watch

    View all
    Wired To Hunt Podcast by MeatEater

    Wired To Hunt Podcast

    4,808 Listeners

    The MeatEater Podcast by MeatEater

    The MeatEater Podcast

    38,069 Listeners

    Working Class Bowhunter by Working Class Bowhunter

    Working Class Bowhunter

    1,481 Listeners

    The Hunting Public by The Hunting Public

    The Hunting Public

    1,855 Listeners

    Vortex Nation Podcast by Vortex Optics

    Vortex Nation Podcast

    1,544 Listeners

    East Meets West Hunt by Beau Martonik

    East Meets West Hunt

    812 Listeners

    Big Woods Bucks - Deer Hunting -Education & Entertainment by Hal Blood & the Big Woods Bucks Team

    Big Woods Bucks - Deer Hunting -Education & Entertainment

    574 Listeners

    The WHTL Podcast - Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests by Jake Hofer

    The WHTL Podcast - Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests

    624 Listeners

    Cal of the Wild by MeatEater

    Cal of the Wild

    9,637 Listeners

    The Big Honker Podcast by Andy Shaver & Jeff Stanfield

    The Big Honker Podcast

    1,477 Listeners

    Hunters Advantage Podcast by Christian Babcock and Jake Gaylord

    Hunters Advantage Podcast

    145 Listeners

    In Pursuit by MeatEater

    In Pursuit

    6,763 Listeners

    HUNTR by HUNTR

    HUNTR

    357 Listeners

    Bear Grease by MeatEater

    Bear Grease

    7,432 Listeners