In this episode of Warden’s Watch, Wayne sits down with Ben Martin, founder of the Hunt Regs app, and Hayden Cook, a Tennessee Wildlife Officer, for a deep dive into warden-hunter interactions, safety in the field, and the story behind one of Tennessee’s most infamous poaching cases - the Maserati Buck. From practical advice for hunters to insights on wildlife law enforcement, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons and strategies to stay compliant in the field.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

North American Game Warden Museum

Hunt Regs

WiseEye

SecureIt Gun Storage

XS Sights

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Maine's Operation Game Thief

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

·       Ben’s journey as a first-generation hunter and why he created Hunt Regs

·       “How do I make a game warden comfortable?” - the question every hunter should ask

·       Hayden Cook on professionalism: “We serve the hunters and fishermen of Tennessee.”

·       Hunter safety tips during license checks and why nervousness can lead to mistakes

·       Hunt Regs app: anonymous poaching reports and real-time regulations

·       The Maserati Buck case: a 229-inch deer poached under a streetlight near a luxury car dealership

·       “Antlers make people do crazy things.” - Hayden on poaching motives

·       Honest mistakes vs. intentional violations: why self-reporting matters

·       Digital licensing pitfalls and why preparation is key

·       Building trust and positive relationships between hunters and wardens

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & 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

Threads

YouTube

RSS

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