174 Chris Egan - With Tayton Keezer

This episode brings us a fresh perspective as Conservation Law student Tayton Keezer steps behind the

mic to interview retired New Hampshire CO Chris Egan. What starts as a simple student-to-officer

conversation turns into a mix of mentorship, hard truths, and wild field stories, as Tayton connects what

he’s learning in school to what the job really looks like in the field.

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Here’s what we discuss:

 Tayton stepping in as guest host and kicking things off with Chris

 Chris’ early love for the outdoors and where it came from

 Growing up around hunting, fishing, and camp culture with family

 “I think it’s innate in every kid… it just needs to be fostered.”

 Early influences from his dad and grandfather

 Developing people skills at a young age by learning from others in the field

 The importance of curiosity and asking questions

 The best parts of the job, independence and building your own patrol days

 “Patrolling woods and waters in an area that I love to be in”

 Flexibility in choosing how to work, from boats to ATVs to foot patrol

 Balancing independence with the structured nature of the role

 Least favorite parts - including paperwork and detailed reporting

 The reality that reports can become court evidence

 The harder side of the job: fatalities, searches, and recoveries

 “Those things don’t go away… they’re like a scar in your mind.”

 How difficult calls can stay with you over time

 Advice for young hunters and anglers entering the outdoors

 Concerns about fewer kids spending time outside

 “I just don’t understand how you could be bored outside.”

 The mental health benefits of being outdoors

 The joy and meaning the outdoors brought to Chris’ life

 The balance of the job, rewarding one day and demanding the next

 “Some days you shouldn’t be getting paid… other days you should be getting paid 10 times.”

 Early interactions with wardens and how they shape perception of the role

 Field techniques and tricks learned from other officers

 A case involving illegal exotic animals inside a residence

 Walking into what felt like a zoo inside someone’s home

 A late-night Sasquatch call

 “I had to respond to it without laughing.”

 The risks of working in remote areas at night

 A major poaching case involving a moose shot multiple times

 The long investigation that went unsolved for years

 A last-minute confession just before the statute of limitations expired

 “I’m here to take responsibility for what I did.”

 Accountability, personal change, and closure in that case

 Chris’ approach to enforcement, firm but fair

 The importance of maintaining relationships in small communities

 How those relationships can impact safety and future cases

 Conservation officers as a voice for wildlife

 Encouragement for the next generation entering the field

 Reflecting on a career built on passion, responsibility, and respect

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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