In this powerful episode of The Thin Green Line Podcast, we sit down with Andy Huynh, a conservation professional whose career has taken him from global conflict zones to the front lines of wildlife protection.

Andy shares his journey from growing up in Southern California, to military service, to nearly a decade working overseas combating illegal wildlife trade, environmental crime, and transnational criminal organizations. His firsthand experiences reveal how wildlife trafficking fuels terrorism, human trafficking, armed conflict, and genocide—particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

This conversation goes far beyond poaching. It exposes the global criminal networks behind ivory, rhino horn, illegal timber, and conflict minerals—and how modern technology, consumer demand, and corruption all play a role.

Now back in the United States, Andy is beginning a new chapter in wildlife law enforcement, bringing a rare international perspective to protecting natural resources at home.

How Andy’s upbringing and military service shaped his path into conservation

The reality of illegal wildlife trade as a global criminal enterprise

Poaching, poverty, coercion, and organized crime

The humanitarian and environmental crisis in eastern DRC and Virunga National Park

Wildlife trafficking’s connection to terrorism, human trafficking, and conflict minerals

Corruption and failures in international peacekeeping efforts

Why protecting wildlife and protecting people are inseparable

Andy’s transition into wildlife law enforcement in California

Environmental crime is not a niche issue—it is one of the largest drivers of global instability. This episode offers rare, firsthand insight into how deeply connected wildlife conservation is to human rights, national security, and the future of the planet.

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

From patrolling on sea ice and responding to polar bear calls to managing wildlife in remote communities, Conservation Officer Jack Skillings takes us deep into the Canadian Arctic. Offering a rare glimpse into wildlife enforcement in the far north, Jack shares the rewards and realities of protecting the environment in some of the most isolated places on Earth.

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:

·        Yukon’s Conservation Officer Services Branch and its role

·        Nunavut: Canada’s newest territory

·        Nunavut’s unique conservation structure

·        “There’s at least one conservation officer in every community.”

·        Patrolling without roads: snowmobiles, ATVs, boats, and planes

·        Polar bear management and why it’s handled by territories, not federal agencies

·        Community policing: “education over enforcement.”

·        Modern polar bear research using DNA instead of tags

·        Differences between Nunavut and Yukon: isolation vs. road access and teamwork

·        “The biggest difference in Yukon? Roads. Having a truck changes everything.”

·        Wildlife species and hunting traditions: caribou, muskox, seals, moose, sheep, and Arctic char

·        A polar bear deterrence gone wrong

·        Life in remote communities

·        “My favorite thing was just getting out on the land - patrolling, hunting, fishing.”

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

What happens when a game warden takes on one of the toughest survival challenges on TV? West Virginia's Isaiah Tuck joins Wayne to share his incredible journey from enforcing wildlife laws to braving complete isolation on the hit series Alone. Discover the mental grit, survival skills, and life lessons that come from living off the land - and why solitude can be the ultimate teacher.

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:

·       Isaiah’s path to becoming a West Virginia game warden

·       “Every day as a game warden is about adapting to the unexpected.”

·       How wildlife law enforcement prepared him for survival challenges

·       Behind the scenes of Alone

·       Preparation, mindset, and reality

·       “The woods teach you patience - and patience is survival.”

·       The hardest part of isolation: mental battles and self-reflection

·       “Being alone strips you down to who you really are.”

·       Hunger, weather, and wildlife encounters

·       The gear he trusted most—and one item he wishes he'd brought

·       Lessons learned from solitude and self-reliance

·       Advice for anyone dreaming of testing their survival skills

·       “Survival isn’t about strength—it’s about adaptability.”

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

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

In this powerful episode of Warden’s Watch, Pennsylvania Game Wardens Phil Bietsch & TJ Knash share the story of a career-defining poaching case tied to the tragic death of fellow officer David Grove on Veteran’s Day 2010. From building trust to securing confessions, this case is a masterclass in investigative work and emotional resilience. Listen now to hear how justice was served, and a legacy honored.

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:

·       Phil and TJ were classmates at the Ross Leffler School of Conservation

·       Working as neighboring officers for four years, they’ve developed a strong investigative partnership

·       Emphasis on teamwork, rhythm in interviews, and rapport-building

·       Ryan Laumann is a known habitual game law offender

·       The case ties back to the tragic death of Game Warden Dave Grove in 2010, who was murdered by Chris Johnson during a poaching incident

·       Laumann was a passenger in the vehicle

·       Laumann “just went home.”

·       Johnson is now on death row

·       Equipment and training were improved

·       Laumann received a five-year license revocation

·       A tip from a former violator turned informant via Operation Game Thief

·       “I got away with it once, I can do it again.”

·       TJ took the lead

·       Keeping emotions in check

·       “Take your time.”

·       Officers conducted surveillance near Laumann’s residence

·       Multiple deer carcasses, gut piles, and antlers

·       Officers used rapport and strategic interviewing to gain Laumann’s trust

·       Jeff Baile’s interview and interrogation techniques were critical

·       Allowing the suspect to tell their version of the story

·       Laumann eventually confesses to killing multiple deer

·       From a good case to a great case

·       “Rapport is the foundation of everything.”

·       Laumann was charged with:

·       Final penalties: 5-year hunting license revocation and $2,800 in fines

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

Ricardo Grisolini, a New York State Environmental Conservation Officer with roots in northern Italy, brings a sharp eye and a sharp wit to wildlife law enforcement. From chasing down poachers to setting up decoy deer that even landowners can’t resist, his stories are packed with twists, laughs, and lessons. In this episode, Ricardo shares some of his most unforgettable and entertaining cases from two decades on the job.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

North American Game Warden Museum

Hunt Regs

SecureIt Gun Storage

XS Sights

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Maine's Operation Game Thief

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

·       Growing up in Northern Italy’s “laces”

·       Raised and hunted birds from an early age

·       Slow cooked pulled turkey

·       “This job is not a job; it's a career.”

·       Working in Madison County is “a game warden’s dream.”

·       The charter captain’s Christmas fish and the Salvation Army police

·       Donating confiscated fish and meat

·       A VERY convincing decoy setup nets multiple charges

·       A substantial illegal baiting operation on private property

·       Poacher insists he used a crossbow

·       Trail cams tell a different story

·       “The point was out of respect for the animal.”

·       Social media can be a warden’s best friend

·       New York ECOs don’t wear a traditional badge

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

After the chilling revelations of Episode 156’s “Killing Krew Klan,” the question remained: how would the justice system respond?

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:

·       Convictions for wildlife crime aren’t always a slam dunk

·       The prosecutor in the case was an outdoorsman

·       Original roadside stop netted only a suspended sentence

·       Paring down up to 30 charges: what will stick?

·       Group pled guilty to jacklighting

·       $500 fines and three years’ probation

·       Banned from hunting for ten years

·       Conspiracy to sell wildlife and a probation violation

·       Getting support from judges and prosecutors

·       “Any time you serve a warrant … you’re opening a Pandora’s Box.”

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

On this podcast, we sat down. Two dynamic individuals, Chase Hardage and Jason Ray from the Wise Eye technology company, talk about WiseEye's beginnings. What they're doing and how they're doing things differently and better.

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

In late 2018, the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police uncovered a chilling case involving a group of young trophy hunters. Over just a few months, they had illegally taken at least 19 deer - often during nighttime hunts near residential neighborhoods. What started as a routine investigation quickly unraveled into something far more disturbing: secret planning sessions, a manifesto detailing their exploits, and a twisted tribute to the grandfather who taught them to night hunt. Join Investigator Patrick Kiely as he recounts the unbelievable story of the “Killing Krew Klan.”

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:

·       An area known for night hunting

·       Spotting night hunters requires patience and timing

·       The state’s healthy deer population is tempting for poachers

·       A patrol officer spots suspicious signs

·       The initial arrest leads to more questions

·       Cell phones: everyone documents everything

·       “I wouldn’t even call them hunters; they were trophy poachers.”

·       It definitely wasn’t squirrels

·       The group is released but phones are seized

·       A stunning discovery

·       “It was an every-night occurrence.”

·       The group frequently hunted near houses

·       None of 19 deer were registered

·       The puzzle pieces: pictures, locations and times

·       The serial poaching had gone on for years, and had grown

·       Group relied on thinly stretched law enforcement

·       A specific 16-point buck and an unlikely story

·       US Fish and Wildlife joins the investigation

·       Cell phone metadata pinpoints locations and times

·       “Not a care in the world.”

·       A handwritten manifesto is found

·       The ‘zombie’ deer

·       Timing was perfect – and lucky

·       Even illegal roadkill wasn’t off limits to the ‘Klan’

·       $100 does for sale, and banquet hall venison

·       Multiple deer were taken nightly

·       Managing investigations and public perception

·       Hunters had noticed a decline

·       “It was a joke to them.”

·       Many state charges were misdemeanors

·       Local hunters weigh in

·       Technology has changed investigation strategies

·       Limitation statutes prevented even more charges

·       Getting buy-in from other agencies

·       Balancing criminal and wildlife investigations can be a challenge

·       The cell phones were crucial

·       Rising bear population has led to conflicts

·       Educating the public

·       Staffing numbers are on the rise

·       “It was a learning experience for all of us.”

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

Tucked into a scenic corner of the International Peace Garden, and straddling the border between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada, the North American Game Warden Museum stands as the world’s only institution fully dedicated to both educating the public and honoring fallen wildlife officers. This one-of-a-kind museum features a memorial garden, exhibits showcasing uniforms and tools of the trade from decades past, along with a library, audio/visual area, and a fascinating collection of items seized by game wardens from across North America. In this episode, we sit down with museum manager Stephanie Lee for an insightful conversation ahead of the museum’s 2025 Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremony.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

North American Game Warden Museum

Hunt Regs

SecureIt Gun Storage

XS Sights

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Maine's Operation Game Thief

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

·       Background in outdoor education

·       Began a summer job at the Peace Garden gate

·       Approached by the local game warden

·    “Never looked back.”

·       The International Peace Garden

·       Memorial stones from every state and province

·       Board members from both countries

·       The museum is the only one of its kind

·       Educating the public

·       Many of the exhibits include seized items

·       Constantly changing and reimagining the space

·       Campground on site

·       Other activities include biking and kayaking

·       Open from May – September

·     “Part-time photographers”

·       The popular Visiting Officer program

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