Warden's Watch

179 Saving Oka – With NH Turtle Rescue

In this episode of Warden’s Watch, Wayne follows up on the disturbing New Hampshire turtle cruelty

case by sitting down with Dallas Huggins and Drew Stevens of the New Hampshire Turtle Rescue. They

share Oka the turtle’s recovery story, explain the challenges facing native turtle populations, and

highlight the conservation work needed to protect these remarkable animals for generations to come.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Why Wayne wanted to learn more about turtle rescue after covering the turtle cruelty case

 Wayne’s story about rescuing an injured crow nicknamed “Survivor”

 Meeting Dallas Huggins and Drew Stevens from New Hampshire Turtle Rescue

 How Oka the turtle got her name

 The rescue’s annual naming themes for turtles

 Reports of turtle crossing signs being vandalized in Hillsboro

 Growing concerns about an unusually high number of dead turtles on one road

 Neighbors documenting suspicious activity around turtle crossing areas

 The night Oka was discovered

 Volunteer transporters helped get Oka to the rescue

 The extent of Oka’s shell injuries

 Emergency treatment, pain management, and stabilization efforts

 “What pain has a turtle ever done to anybody?”

 Conservation Officer Zach Abrahamson’s investigation

 The use of a turtle decoy during the investigation

 Charges laid against the offender

 Discussion about penalties and wildlife cruelty laws

 Public reaction to the case

 Gaps in legal protections for some turtle species

 Efforts to strengthen New Hampshire’s turtle protection regulations

 The dangers of people taking wild turtles home as pets

 Challenges caused by improper care and disease transmission

 The impact of illegal turtle collection and the pet trade

 How Oka’s shell repair differed from typical vehicle-strike injuries

 Concerns about possible spinal damage and paralysis

 The painstaking process of cleaning and rebuilding a damaged shell

 Discovering that Oka was still carrying an egg after the attack

 Recovery updates and Oka’s progress

 “She’s acting like a normal turtle.”

 Why the rescue believes the case should serve as a catalyst for change

 The origins of New Hampshire Turtle Rescue

 Learning wildlife rehabilitation through raptor and general wildlife care

 Taking over turtle rehabilitation work from a retiring mentor

 Expectations of a few turtle cases turning into hundreds

 Growing demand for turtle-specific wildlife rehabilitation

 Why roads are the biggest threat facing many turtle populations

 The importance of habitat conservation

 How long-lived turtle species struggle to recover from population losses

 The role of wetlands, vernal pools, and connected habitats

 Wildlife-friendly culverts and safe road crossings

 Efforts to improve crossings for Blanding’s turtles and other species

 Why rehabilitation is only a temporary solution without habitat protection

 Moving turtles safely across roads

 Seasonal turtle movements beyond nesting season

 Fall migrations to overwintering sites

 The remarkable site fidelity of native turtles

 “The best way to help turtles is land conservation.”

 How listeners can support New Hampshire Turtle Rescue

 Resources available for people who find injured turtles

 The rescue’s mission to help an ever-growing number of turtles

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

178 The Turtle Trap – With Zach Abrahamsson

A quiet back road, a string of dead turtles, and a community determined to protect local wildlife.

Conservation Officer Zach Abrahamsson joins Warden's Watch to tell the incredible story behind "The

Turtle Trap," an investigation that used a toy turtle decoy to catch a suspect responsible for a shocking

act of wildlife cruelty. From citizen observations to undercover surveillance, this episode highlights the

challenges of proving wildlife crimes and the importance of protecting vulnerable species.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Wayne welcomes Zach Abrahamsson from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

 The case begins on Bog Road in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.

 Residents install turtle crossing signs to protect nesting turtles.

 The signs begin disappearing.

 Someone leaves a handwritten message demanding the signs be removed.

 Witnesses notice a local resident repeatedly driving a side-by-side up and down the road.

 Dead turtles begin appearing along a short stretch of roadway.

 Concerned citizens carefully track the number of turtles being found.

 Fifteen turtles are found dead over a short period.

 A nesting turtle catches the attention of nearby residents.

 Witnesses watch as a man picks up the turtle, places it in the road, and stomps on it.

 The injured turtle survives and is rushed to a licensed rehabilitator.

 The turtle is expected to make a full recovery.

 Hillsboro Police contact Fish and Game to investigate.

 Zach discusses New Hampshire's wildlife cruelty law.

 Officers begin planning a proactive operation.

 Fellow officer James Benvenuti suggests using a toy turtle as a decoy.

 "My son has this toy turtle."

 The realistic decoy is placed along the road.

 Officers hide nearby and wait.

 A passing vehicle unintentionally disrupts part of the operation.

 Zach spends several tense moments hiding behind a large boulder.

 "My heart was pounding."

 The suspect spots the decoy turtle.

 He turns around and deliberately drives over it.

 The action is captured on video.

 The suspect immediately heads home afterward.

 Officers explain the difference between circumstantial evidence and proof beyond a reasonable

doubt.

 Zach breaks down how wildlife cases are built for court.

 The chargeable offense centers on the turtle that witnesses observed being stomped.

 The decoy operation helps reinforce the investigative findings.

 Zach explains the difference between felony and misdemeanor wildlife cruelty charges.

 The discussion turns to officer discretion and appropriate punishment.

 "The most important thing is getting this guy to stop doing this."

 The suspect pleads guilty to the charges.

 The case results in fines and a criminal record.

 Public reaction to the case is intense.

 Balancing accountability with changing behavior.

 The importance of reporting suspicious wildlife activity.

 Zach explains the conservation impact of losing multiple turtles.

 Remarkably, the famous turtle decoy survives the operation with only a cracked shell.

 The battle-scarred decoy earns permanent trophy status among the officers.

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

W10 Lisa Feener & Kelly Irwin – Pack Life

Kelly Irwin and Lisa Feener join the podcast to share their experiences in the world of hound hunting,

from raising generations of bear dogs to navigating a traditionally male-dominated sport. This

conversation explores memorable hunts, dog breeding, wildlife behavior, mentorship, and the deep

bond between houndsmen and their dogs. More than anything, this episode is about the dogs, the

people who love them, and the traditions that keep the sport alive.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Meeting through New Hampshire Bear Hunters Association field trials

 Why women are still relatively uncommon in hound hunting

 The term houndsmen and why neither guest worries much about labels

 Keeping things simple and focusing on the dogs

 Kelly's introduction to hunting with hounds after meeting her husband

 Falling in love with the sport almost immediately

 Building a family bloodline that now stretches six generations

 Lisa's first exposure to hound hunting while working on bear research

 Using hounds to capture and study radio-collared bears

 Discovering that hounds are more than just tools

 "Of course they're dogs. They're going to want to play, they're going to want to snuggle, and

they just have this really intense job."

 Driving hours to learn more about dogs and hound hunting

 Mentorship, friendship, and learning the craft together

 "I want you to have a real bear dog."

 Trial and error while building a successful pack

 Learning to manage different dog personalities and abilities

 The differences men and women can bring to dog training

 Reading dogs through their voices, behavior, and body language

 Understanding each dog's strengths and weaknesses

 Memorable hunts in steep mountains and rugged terrain

 Recovering dogs from cliffs and navigating difficult country

 A successful bear hunt that led to an unexpected encounter with hikers

 Turning curiosity into a positive educational experience

 Common misconceptions about hunting with hounds

 "The strongest relationship you can have with an animal is to hunt with it."

 Why most houndsmen are motivated by the dogs, not the harvest

 "It's not about how many bears you can kill. For most houndsmen, it's about the dogs."

 Watching young dogs develop and gain confidence

 The excitement of a puppy figuring things out for the first time

 "Some of the most memorable hunts are when the puppies learn a thing."

 Catch-and-release bear hunting during training season

 Understanding bear behavior and seasonal food sources

 Following clues from what bears are eating

 Studying movement patterns and habitat use

 Building bloodlines and preserving desirable traits

 The role genetics plays in creating successful hunting dogs

 "You have full ownership over the outcome of that dog."

 Why local bloodlines often perform best in local conditions

 Hunting differences between northern New Hampshire and northern Maine

 Water crossings, cold trailing, and challenging terrain

 How regional conditions shape dogs over generations

 Hunting with children and introducing the next generation

 The teamwork required to manage a successful hound hunt

 Working together through guide camps and outdoor adventures

 Processing bears in the woods rather than rushing back to camp

 Slowing down and appreciating the entire experience

 "Take time to smell the roses."

 Why the journey matters more than the harvest

 Looking ahead to another season with the dogs

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

177 The Creek Kings Case – With Mark Williams

What happens when modern poaching meets social media fame? Ohio Wildlife Officer Mark Williams

shares the story of the Creek Kings case, an investigation that exposed years of illegal deer hunting

hidden behind a successful YouTube channel. What began with a park visitor finding hunting equipment

in a metro park quickly grew into a massive digital investigation involving trail cameras, cell phone data,

deleted evidence, fake hunting locations, sponsorship money, and some very ambitious trophy hunters.

Mark takes us through the case from the first clue to the final sentencing and explains how technology

helped both the offenders and the officers who caught them.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Meet Ohio Wildlife Officer Mark Williams

 Why Mark calls this a "21st century poaching case"

 The rise of wildlife commercialization through social media

 The Creek Kings Outdoors YouTube channel

 Hunting for views, sponsorships, and online fame

 A park visitor discovers hunting equipment in Three Creeks Metro Park

 Metro Park Ranger Stefan Brook gets involved

 Building partnerships before a major case pays off

 Trail cameras, tree stands, and ATV trails in the park

 Investigators identify two cousins as suspects

 Zach Bethel and Justin Booth become the focus

 How cellular trail cameras changed the investigation

 "It would have been impossible for them to do what they did without technology, and

impossible for us to stop them without ours."

 Rangers document repeated hunting activity

 Officers begin monitoring the YouTube channel

 Hunting equipment, filming gear, and surveillance cameras

 The challenge of predicting suspect movements

 Rangers catch the suspects entering the park

 Excuses about lost dogs and accidental hunting

 Contradictions begin piling up

 Hidden cameras and deleted messages

 Evidence tampering enters the picture

 "The only lesson they learned was not to hunt it with equipment they couldn't carry out."

 Search warrants for phones and digital devices

 Suspects underestimate the investigation

 Recovering deleted information

 Discovering years of illegal activity

 Investigators realize the case is much bigger than expected

 Illegal deer linked to YouTube content

 Prodigy, Turkeyfoot, Wide 10, and other named bucks

 Hunting places they had no permission to hunt

 Recovering deer across multiple properties

 The fake Kentucky hunts

 Deer allegedly harvested in Kentucky were actually killed in Ohio

 Manipulating videos to create a false story

 Property owners misled by the suspects

 Sponsors unknowingly backing illegal hunting content

 "These guys made tens of thousands in material and monetary wealth from illegally killing

wildlife."

 Investigators spend months analyzing phones, computers, drones, and photos

 Five years of documented activity uncovered

 The Metro Park becomes their "cheat code"

 Conversations about avoiding detection

 Planning future fake Kentucky hunts

 Using drones to locate deer

 Hunting-related drone violations

 Evidence from podcasts, texts, videos, and photos

 How social media became a treasure trove of evidence

 The decision to focus on the strongest charges

 Cooperation between wildlife officers, park rangers, prosecutors, and tech specialists

 76 total charges filed

 Plea agreements and guilty pleas

 Over $29,000 in wildlife restitution

 More than $37,000 in total financial penalties

 Nine days of jail time

 Five-year revocation of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges

 Wildlife Violator Compact consequences across North America

 Ban from Metro Parks and Alum Creek State Park

 Restrictions on possessing hunting equipment

 "They treated it like their own private preserve."

 The damage done to sponsors and supporters

 Hunters who felt betrayed by the channel

 The dangers of chasing fame and online success

 Lessons for conservation officers facing digital-era wildlife crimes

 Why Mark believes more cases like this are coming

 The importance of protecting public resources

 Final thoughts on greed, accountability, and conservation

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

176 Open Fields Doctrine - With Chief Travis McLain

This week on Warden's Watch, Wayne sits down with Missouri Department of Conservation Chief of

Protection Travis McLain to tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in conservation law: the Open

Fields Doctrine. As both a conservation officer and attorney, Travis breaks down where the doctrine

came from, what it actually means, and why protecting wildlife resources requires a balance between

private property rights and public trust responsibilities.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Why the Open Fields Doctrine continues to generate confusion

 Common myths about game warden authority

 How conservation officers operate under the same constitutional protections and

limitations as other law enforcement officers

 The origins of the Open Fields Doctrine and Hester v. United States

 What the Fourth Amendment protects and what it doesn't

 Why open fields are different from homes, curtilage, papers, and personal effects

 "The Constitution really does apply to conservation officers, just like other police officers."

 Why there isn't a game warden behind every tree

 How conservation officers prioritize calls, complaints, and active hunting and fishing activity

 Respecting private landowners while protecting public wildlife resources

 The connection between the Open Fields Doctrine and the Public Trust Doctrine

 How wildlife belongs to all citizens, not individual landowners

 The history of wildlife management in North America

 Robin Hood, the King's deer, and the roots of wildlife law

 Why the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is unique

 The role of science and public input in setting regulations

 Wildlife management as a balance of biological and social factors

 Missouri's recovery from just 2,000 deer to around a million!

 "What got us there when they start thinking about totally upsetting the apple cart or

changing the system."

 How conservation law enforcement supports long-term wildlife sustainability

 The importance of relationships between agencies, landowners, and sportsmen

 Why 93% of Missouri being privately owned creates unique challenges

 What could happen if conservation officers couldn't investigate wildlife violations on private

land

 The role regulations play in protecting future generations of wildlife

 Why enforcement is about protecting resources, not writing tickets

 Conservation officers as educators and community partners

 How officers are trained to respect private property rights

 Social media misconceptions about conservation law enforcement

 Why many large landowners welcome conservation officers onto their properties

 Protecting hunting opportunities for everyone

 How officers provide valuable field information back to wildlife biologists

 Baiting, disease transmission, and fair chase concerns

 "Rules without enforcement are just suggestions."

 The Boone and Crockett Club's Poach and Pay study

 Why the biggest deterrent to poaching is the presence of a capable guardian

 How major wildlife cases often begin with small observations in the field

 The difference between making cases and protecting resources

 "It's not about the case. It's about stopping the damage that's being done to the public trust

resource."

 Why successful conservation means more compliant hunters and anglers, not more citations

 Protecting wildlife regardless of land ownership, wealth, or status

 Challenges faced by public land hunters

 Why wildlife moves freely across property boundaries

 The importance of fair and consistent enforcement

 Looking beyond today and managing resources for future generations

 "If we all work together and respect each other, we can continue to keep going into the

future for everybody."

 Final thoughts on balancing private property rights and public wildlife resources

 Debunking the myth of "special powers" held by game 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

175 Jessica Avery – Manitoba, Canada

Jessica Avery from Manitoba Conservation Officer Service joins Wayne at the North American Game

Warden Museum to talk about her career, life as a conservation officer in Manitoba, serving on the

museum’s board of directors, and some of the incredible places game wardens patrol in northern

Canada. From winter road caribou patrols and -60C mornings to fish poaching stakeouts and wildfire

deployments, Jessica shares what makes conservation work in Manitoba both challenging and

rewarding.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Jessica explains the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service and how the agency has evolved over

the years

 Her role as Canadian Treasurer for the North American Game Warden Museum

 The unique international location of the museum

 Why the museum is a "pilgrimage" destination for game wardens

 Starting as a seasonal conservation officer in Manitoba

 How Manitoba still offers one of the few seasonal conservation officer programs in Canada

 Growing up in Saskatchewan, calling Alberta home, and building a career in Manitoba

 “I’m really lucky to get to go all those places and do that kind of stuff.”

 Patrolling Manitoba’s remote northern wilderness

 Fly-in caribou patrols and winter road enforcement

 Common caribou hunting violations officers encounter

 Working alongside northern Indigenous communities

 Staying in remote bush camps and nurse barracks

 Northern lights and untouched wilderness in Manitoba’s far north

 Waking up to temperatures around -60C (-76F)

 Trucks refusing to start in extreme cold

 “We were just not as prepared as we probably should have been for those temperatures.”

 Using helicopters and float planes to reach remote areas

 Conservation officers' role in wildfire operations

 Long fire assignments and burnout challenges

 Supporting firefighters with logistics and supplies

 Why Manitoba has experienced severe wildfire conditions

 Human-caused fires versus lightning-caused fires

 Deep-burning peat and bog fires that can survive winter

 Being part of a game warden family

 Why so many Manitoba conservation officers meet their spouses through the job

 Managing a long-distance conservation officer relationship

 Building a family while advancing both careers

 Moving from field work into headquarters leadership roles

 Life on Manitoba’s endless prairie road system

 Jessica’s favorite game warden story: a winter walleye-poaching stakeout

 Surveillance in -45° temperatures

 Trying not to sound like a “bull in a china shop” while sneaking into position

 Catching poachers who had been using the same spot for years

 “They were shocked.”

 How consistent enforcement led to voluntary compliance

 The value of the North American Game Warden Museum

 Learning from other law enforcement museums across North America

 The surprising success and size of the Game Warden Museum

 “It’s just such a great career, great lifestyle.”

 “I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life other than being a game warden.”

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

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.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

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

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

173 Etienne Daigle – Quebec, Canada

If you’ve ever wondered what game wardens deal with north of the border, this one delivers. From bear

decoy busts to baby crocodiles in a bunker, “Agent de la faune” Etienne Daigle gives us a front row seat

to wildlife enforcement in Quebec, Canada - and it’s anything but predictable.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Starting the job at just 20 years old after switching from police academy to game warden

training

 “It’s two totally different jobs” - policing the woods vs the streets

 Quebec wardens enforce fish, game, and trapping laws, not full police powers

 Arresting suspects as a citizen in uniform before turning them over to police

 First posting in Lac Saint-Jean - a remote territory with massive patrol areas

 “People just don’t like bears” due to concerns about moose calves

 His very first case - a bear decoy operation during closed season

 Lying in a ditch as a hunter returns with his family

 Waiting for a second shot to confirm intent

 A plane flying overhead causes the hunter to panic

 Moving the decoy’s head to trigger a reaction

 “Dad, the bear is moving” leads to a second shot

 Officers step in after clear evidence is established

 “He truly thought it was a real bear.”

 Covering areas with 10,000 plus lakes and hours-long patrol drives

 Fishing opportunities - walleye, pike, and lake trout everywhere

 Moose hunting rules - multiple hunters and shared tags required

 “About a $2,500 fine” for illegal harvest

 “The most dangerous animal is a moose with a calf.”

 Transfer to a mining region brings more drug-related cases

 “We are there for wildlife, but we deal with human problems too.”

 Case involving a drug dealer with two baby crocodiles

 Illegal possession of exotic animals without proper permits

 Joint operation with provincial police

 Planning entry into a single-access basement

 Unexpected twist - the suspect’s father answers the door

 Securing the scene and removing the animals safely

 “Drugs and reptiles seem to go together.”

 Roughly 300 officers covering all of Quebec

 Balancing wildlife enforcement with real-world danger

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

W09 New England Naturals - With Jake DeBow

Jake DeBow didn’t just grow up around trapping; he grew into it, built a life around it, and somehow

turned frozen beaver ponds, late nights, and a sewing machine into a thriving business. In this episode,

Wayne sits down in Jake’s trapping shed to talk about New England Naturals, the art of fur, and why

more people are starting to care about where their food and even their clothing comes from. Spoiler:

beaver might be the best red meat you’ve never tried.

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

Iron Skillet Seasonings

Maine Operation Game Thief

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association

Here’s what we discuss:

 Kicking off the return of Warden’s Watch Wild: “I’ve got some wild stuff going on.”

 Meeting Jake DeBow, three years in the making to get him on the show

 Growing up with a father who was a nuisance wildlife trapper

 “It was always raccoons and skunks coming home in cage traps.”

 Sports first, trapping later, rediscovering it in college and grad school

 Getting into beaver trapping because “beaver meat is delicious.”

 Starting a trapline together as a couple, relationship goals outdoors style

 “She was never squeamish… just fascinated.”

 Using everything from a beaver: meat, fur, skulls, and glands

 The “rabbit holes” of natural products and curiosity

 The quiet, frozen beauty of winter trapping

 “There’s something really special about being out there.”

 Why trapping is harder to get into than hunting

 Appeal for young adults after college looking for purpose and connection

 Accessibility of beaver vs deer, “there’s a beaver in just about every ditch.”

 Feeding 50% of their red meat intake from beaver

 “I’ve never had someone try it and not love it.”

 Beaver as the “beef of the river,” rich, mild, versatile

 Supplying beaver for a wild game dinner, big reactions from the crowd

 Getting 9 to 12 meals plus weeks of dog food from one animal

 The origins of New England Naturals and frustration with low fur prices

 “We got $12 a beaver… it didn’t feel right.”

 Early side hustle, Etsy shop, tinctures, moose antler dog chews

 Pandemic pivot and turning $2,000 and fiddleheads into a sewing machine

 Teaching themselves fur sewing from scratch

 Starting with beaver fur koozies and laughing about early attempts

 The TikTok turning point, one video and everything sold out

 “We couldn’t keep up… we were sewing until 2AM!”

 Hiring their first employee and outgrowing the basement

 Moving into a real workspace and rapid growth over two years

 Using social media for education, not just selling

 Breaking misconceptions about trapping and outdated stereotypes

 “Trappers were quiet for 30 years… that time is gone.”

 The importance of public understanding and support

 Why people are reconnecting with their food

 “There’s something special about being responsible for what’s on your plate.”

 That same mindset applied to clothing and materials

 Fur as durable, warm, and biodegradable

 Plastic clothing “is going to be your grandkids’ problem.”

 Product focus on practical, hard-use gear

 Core products: muffs, mittens, bomber hats, and hand warmers

 “We want fur in people’s hands that actually gets used.”

 Beaver fur hand warmers - simple, reusable, effective

 Cat toys made from real fur: “cats go nuts for them.”

 Future ideas: blankets, vests, and more product expansion

 Balancing growth, time, and staying true to their mission

 Shop New England Naturals

 Follow the fun on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

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 National Police Week memorial episode, Wayne sits down with two men who lived through an

unimaginable moment when a training exercise turned into a fight for survival. Retired Indiana DNR

Lieutenant Colonel Terry Hyndman and First Sgt. Tom Jahn revisit the day they lost their friend and

teammate, First Sgt. Karl Kelley, in a swift water incident that still shapes them decades later. It’s a

difficult listen at times - but an important one - and a reminder of what service and brotherhood truly

mean.

“It is not how these officers died that made them heroes; it is how they lived.” ~ National Law

Enforcement Memorial, Washington, DC

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