Spring might still be a snow-covered dream up north, but down in Georgia the dogwoods are thinking about blooming – and that means the turkeys

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Here’s what we discuss:

·        Spring turkey talk and the north–south difference in season timing

·        Patrick’s 13 years as a Georgia game warden

·        Working the Georgia coast: shrimping, crabbing, oysters, and commercial fisheries

·        Moving inland and “traditional” game‑warden work

·        HuntRegs’ goal of improving public understanding of what wardens actually do

·        “There’s not enough game wardens” - why follow‑up matters

·        What wardens look for on a turkey hunter check

·        Licensing requirements for turkey

·        Bag limit changes: two per season, one per day

·        “Leave one to keep the population going”

·        Printed harvest records vs app check‑ins

·        You can game‑check without service and upload later

·        Requirements: record before moving the bird, game‑check within 24

·        Turkeys as the most‑poached species and why tagging matters

·        Patrick’s approach with inexperienced hunters and juveniles

·        Why turkey hunters tend to be more seasoned

·        Public‑land turkeys: “No inexperienced hunter is killing a Georgia public bird”

·        Florida, early spring weather, and turkey chatter starting up

·        “When the dogwoods bloom, the turkeys gobble”

·        Common mistakes: assuming WMAs follow statewide turkey dates

·        Miss the quota? “You’re definitely getting a ticket.”

·        HuntRegs app: geolocation, pin drops, license requirements, special rules

·        Archery‑only zones, no‑camping rules, and property‑specific notes

·        Game wardens using the app themselves before checks

·        Printed regs and rules: “They call it the digest… not very digestible!”

·        Growth of HuntRegs and its state‑by‑state customization

·        A turkey tossed out a car window, then snatched and hidden by a dog

·        “Did you charge the dog - aiding and assisting?”

·        No fall turkey season in Georgia; hens always protected

·        HuntRegs‑generated cases: night hunting, baited duck ponds, hunting without permission

·        Duck pond baited with molasses and corn, caught on Thanksgiving morning

·        Why community tips matter

·        Focus on catching blatant violations: night hunting, baiting, hunting under the influence

·        Anonymous reporting, optional follow‑ups, and confidentiality

·        Georgia’s monetary rewards for tips leading to convictions

·        Improving the system based on warden feedback

·        “Already a good day when you learn something new.”

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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