Warden's Watch

By Wayne Saunders / John NoresSports Science True Crime Wilderness Nature

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49th
on Nature
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Followers
Typical duration
59 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Warden's Watch episodes

November 10, 202295 Kevin Behr - Ohio: Shot by a Poacher
Five days before Christmas 2020, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Officer Kevin Behr was shot from behind while investigating a poaching operation. Nearly two years and 15 surgeries later, he shares his remarkable story of survival, courage, and determination.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Incident occurred on the final day of deer gun season
Information about a chronic poacher operating in the area
Poacher had previously served prison time
Setting up a decoy in a rural area
Shooter was less than fifty feet away
Shot from behind with a 20-gauge slug
You feel being shot before you hear it
Reverted to training: communicate, move, shoot
Hit the emergency button on portable radio
Legs wouldn’t work
Goal was to stay alive until someone arrived
Felt like molten steel
Shattered pelvis, multiple organs damaged
Shock wave travelled through the skull
“Bring more combat gauze.”
Concerns about potential ambush
New goal: stay alive until EMTs arrived
In and out of consciousness
New goal: stay alive until landing at the hospital
Accept the fact that you have been shot
Use those few seconds to focus on training - and act
Requested the level one trauma centre
Milliseconds count
Shooter had a thermal scope – what did he see?
Offered no aid. Threw gun and ran.
Potentially more homicides in this felon’s future
Some light moments on a dark day
28 days in ICU
Fifteen surgeries to date
The long road back
Your mindset matters
Most internal organs were damaged
Nobody gets a free pass from PTSD
Learning new limits
Making gains all the time
Spinning a positive from a negative
Training, tactics, and experience will get you through
Shooter sentenced to a total of nearly 15 years

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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56 min
October 27, 202294 Wild Tech - with Steve Beltran and Eric Richey
Steve Beltran is an award-winning Conservation Police Officer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources who combines his passion for both technology and the outdoors through his Timber-Tech column, a regular feature in International Game Warden Magazine. Eric Richey is the founder and CEO of Sovereign Sportsman Solutions (S3), an industry leader in customized electronic license and permitting innovations throughout North America. Join us as they discuss recent outdoor technology developments, and some exciting possibilities for the future.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
“Probably the largest, most unknown tech company in the industry”
Systems are built and branded to the specific state’s requirements
Mobile platforms allow officers access to real-time information
S3 developed the first mobile solution for conservation officers
Technology has typically been marketed to large law enforcement agencies
Access to data in the field increases efficiency – no need to go to the office for info
QR codes allow access even when offline
RFID advancements could allow coastal officers to gather all license info from a nearby vessel without having to board
Tech and the outdoors don’t need to be mutually exclusive
Electronic data can allow officers to quickly get a complete picture
Potential for faster access to license revocations under the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
Each state currently uses its own format
A standardized system could identify violators on the spot
Violations in one state can result in different restrictions in different states
Timber-Tech column helps bridge the technical gap
Taking the tech into the field to determine exact needs
Why not use every tool that we have?

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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39 min
October 07, 202293 Col. Joel Wilkinson (Ret.) – Maine – Part II
Joel Wilkinson spent 28 years serving the state of Maine, including twelve years as Colonel of the Maine Warden Service. Now retired, Col. Wilkinson sits down with Wayne to reflect on an extraordinary career that began when he was just a teen. In this episode, we discuss his swift rise through the ranks, a television show that almost wasn’t, the challenges and rewards the outdoors can provide, and some valuable lessons learned along the way.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Captain to Colonel
Remembering Maj. Gregg Sanborn
Choosing quality leaders
Every day was an education
We all started in the same place
Empowering people through Operation Game Thief (OGT)
The wall of shame
Fundraising to offer larger rewards
International Wildlife Crimestoppers provided fresh ideas
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
OGT trailers manned at all times; “we have to tell the stories.”
Blazing the North Woods Law trail
Turned down the original request
What are our fears? What are our goals?
It had to be authentic without being disrespectful
A gentlemen’s agreement
Popularity brought some unexpected situations
Ending the Maine story in the best way possible
Didn’t want to be seen as making money
The diversity educated the public
Inspiring kids to become game wardens
Passing the torch to New Hampshire
The North Woods Throwdown
Back Woods Law?!?
Bluefin tuna fishing takes more than skill
You have to do a lot of little things right
It’s all about respect for the animal
Confidence comes with experience
Plan to be successful
The abundance mentality
Life after retirement

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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58 min
September 23, 202292 Col. Joel Wilkinson (Ret.) – Maine – Part I
Joel Wilkinson spent 28 years serving the state of Maine, including twelve years as Colonel of the Maine Warden Service. Now retired, Col. Wilkinson sits down with Wayne to reflect on an extraordinary career that began when he was just a teen. In this episode, we discuss his early years as a game warden, including an intense turn in covert operations that resulted in some of the agency’s most significant prosecutions of the time.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Maine has used the term ‘game warden’ since 1880
No time to hunt or fish.
Learned about the outdoors from a girlfriend’s father
Started riding with game wardens at 16
Became a deputy warden at 19
Tried to sneak in a little early
“This is all I wanted to do.”
2000 applicants, few positions
Tried appealing to the Colonel
Joined a local police department to gain experience
Trained with many Maine wardens at the academy
Finally hired by Maine Warden Service at 22
No warden in his area for 11 years
Caught first night hunter eight days after graduating
Moving to a new area, population: 4
Chris Simmons becomes the boss… and moves in across the road
A memorable Thanksgiving night
Shifting into covert investigations
A big case, but some unnerving moments
Targets often under the influence of alcohol and drugs
Seeing the other side
“It changed how we did business.”
Making Captain at 32
Learned many administrative skills
The Maine whitewater rafting industry
Many companies offer rafting, hiking, and rock climbing

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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47 min
September 08, 202291 Sean Spencer - Utah
Sean Spencer is a Sergeant with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. After 14 years patrolling in some of the most remote and most populous areas of the Beehive State, he’s dealt with a wide variety of people, wildlife, and problems. In this episode from the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association conference (NAWEOA) in Tennessee, he and our hosts discuss planning for next year’s conference, some of his memorable experiences, and much more!

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Busy organizing NAWEOA 2023
Plan extra time to see the state
The “Mighty Five” national parks
First encounter with a game warden
Discovered the outdoors as a teen in Texas
Importance of balancing home and work life
Moving from a remote district to an urban one
Prime hunting only 30 minutes from home
Public safety vs. preservation
A memorable baiting case
Not every case results in a conviction
Growing population numbers create new challenges

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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Waypoint
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TuneIn
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Find More Here:
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44 min
August 29, 2022 W08 MooseMan Nature Photography
When Rick Libbey saw his first moose in 1981, he was hooked for life. An entirely self-taught photographer, Rick and his wife Libby travel between New England and Alaska to capture stunningly beautiful and rare photos and videos of loons, bear, lynx, raccoons, wolves - and of course, moose – all of which they showcase on their YouTube channel and website, MooseMan Nature Photos. Often rising at 3am, they launch their kayaks before sunrise and wait silently for that perfect moment when a mighty bull moose emerges into a marsh, or a pair of loons appears in the morning fog. Taking great care never to intrude, they have spent years gaining the trust of some of these animals, frequently naming and photographing the same individuals year after year. The end result is not only spectacular, but conveys a profound sense of respect for wildlife, and the majesty and wonder of the great outdoors.

Our Sponsor:
The Village Gun Store

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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Waypoint
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TuneIn
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40 min
August 11, 202290 Josh Landrum – Tennessee
Josh Landrum is a Nashville-based Boating Officer with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Besides receiving multiple honors for his tireless efforts to combat impaired boating, he has also served on the board of the Tennessee Wildlife Officers Association for the past decade, and most recently as president. This year, Josh and his fellow officers hosted the annual North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association (NAWEOA) conference, where Wayne and John caught up with him for a chat.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Hosting NAWEOA 2022
Learning, training, and networking at NAWEOA
Encouraging the younger generation of game wardens to attend
A love of fishing led to a career in wildlife management
An urban game warden
Some of the largest deer in the state
Working to eliminate impaired boating
You never know who you’ll meet
Enjoying all that Nashville has to offer
NAWEOA 2023: Utah

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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Spotify
Amazon
Google
Waypoint
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TuneIn
Megaphone
Find More Here:
Website
Warden’s Watch / TGL Store
Facebook
Facebook Fan Page
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34 min
July 24, 202289 Ty Runyan – Oklahoma
Ty Runyan is a state game warden with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Besides being a rancher, driving instructor, former K9 handler and sometimes-snake wrangler, he may be best known for his TikTok presence. Ty’s lighthearted, interesting, and educational short videos have attracted more than 175,000 followers. In this episode, he and Wayne discuss the value of social media as an outreach and recruitment tool, and share some exciting stories from the field.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Ty gives a passerby some advice
Everyone knows where the game warden lives
A bit about Ty’s background
Social media as an outreach tool
An accidental TikTokker
Getting Departmental approval
Taking the bad with the good
Recruitment and legal questions from everywhere
Using the platform to change perceptions
Comedy helps to defuse situations
Ty’s rodeo adventures
Few game wardens employing TikTok – so far
“It’s amazing what people will put on social media”
Helping other states make cases
Conservation efforts have helped restore declining populations
Snakes!
A family of teachers
Spotlighting poachers: right place, right time
Larger platform has helped engage future game wardens

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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Waypoint
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TuneIn
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Find More Here:
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1 hr 22 min
July 07, 2022 W07 Winter Ticks with Alexej Sirén
The winter tick is a small, external parasite that, like all ticks, survives on the blood of its host. Although winter ticks are not dangerous to human health, they can pose a significant threat to wildlife - moose calves in particular. In this episode of Warden's Watch WILD, wildlife biologist Dr. Alexej Sirén describes the relationship between winter ticks and the eastern moose, how ticks spread, and efforts underway to help mitigate damage to the moose population.

Our Sponsor:
The Village Gun Store

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
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
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17 min
June 24, 202288 Terry Hodges – Warden Force
Award winning author Terry Hodges is the creator of the popular Warden Force series of short stories, the true adventures of game wardens and the wildlife-destroying outlaws they pursue. Having been a California Fish & Game warden himself for over three decades, Terry writes with the special authority found only among those who have worn a badge on behalf of wildlife. In this episode, he shares some compelling - and often comical - stories of the legendary game warden who would become not only a mentor, but also the inspiration for the book that would launch a surprising new career.

Our Sponsors:
Thin Green Line Podcast
Don Noyes Chevrolet
Sovereign Sportsman Solutions
“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book
Hunt of a Lifetime
Maine's Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:
Documenting history
The many tales of Ol’ Sabertooth
The first book
Learning to self-publish
Inventing an alter ego
Staying in the field after promotion
Frenchy’s last ride
Goose poaching in rice country
Snake gets sapped
Surprising a poacher deep in the woods
Sometimes moonshiners made good allies
Poacher escapes, but leaves Mercer a gift
Nine collections of short stories
From the latest collection: Death on Snake Mountain
Where to find the Warden Force series
In the works: two new books of Sabertooth stories

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:
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Spotify
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Waypoint
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TuneIn
Megaphone
Find More Here:
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Facebook
Facebook Fan Page
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr

About Warden's Watch

From the publisher's feed

This podcast brings you stories from Game Wardens across the world. Listen to their favorite cases, worst cases, what led them to their career, and what makes their job unique. Hosted by retired game…