Warden's Watch

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.

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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.”

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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

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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.

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North American Game Warden Museum

Hunt Regs

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“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

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In this episode, we talk with Sgt. Blake Patterson, a Conservation Officer from Swan River, Manitoba, and President of the North American Game Warden Museum. Blake shares insights from his 17 years in the field and discusses the museum’s role in honoring game wardens and conservation officers across North America.

Our Sponsors:

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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:

·       The museum is a place every game warden should visit

·       Joined board in 2010

·       It’s elk hunting season in Manitoba!

·       A unique moose lottery fundraiser

·       Manitoba moose population decline

·       “I’ve seen those game warden shows. I know I’m done.”

·       Fun regional expressions

·       The Fallen Officer Memorial Service

·       Many museum exhibits feature seized items

·       Antique snow machines and hand-powered rail cars

·       Always looking for older tools of the trade, uniforms and paraphernalia

·       Potential interactive exhibit featuring fallen officer biographies

·       A night hunting helicopter chase

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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In July 2021, a peaceful family camping trip in Ohio’s vast Appalachian Hills Wilderness Area turned into a chilling crime scene. Two lives were lost, and a community was shaken. In this gripping episode, we sit down with ODNR Investigator Kirk Kiefer to uncover the layers of a complex and haunting double homicide.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

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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:

·        Investigator Keifer appeared in a previous episode

·        International Game Warden Association Officer of the Year

·        ODNR’s nomination submission

·        The ‘ginseng detective’

·        Nomination was kept secret!

·        A missing persons / suspicious activity report on State land

·        The couple’s phones - and daughter - were left behind

·        Suspect claimed the couple had gone to CA and were expected back

·        A concerned camper contacted ODNR

·        The couple’s license plate had recently been checked on the Interstate

·        Suspect had a ‘tell.’

·        “He was convinced I was a human lie detector.”

·        The sudden confession: “I killed ‘em.”

·        Killings had happened 13 days prior

·        Suspect led investigators to the bodies

·        Defense attorney admitted there was no defense to be mounted

·        Claimed he was ‘rescuing’ the child

·        Body cameras were used in case the suspect did not testify

·        Appeared to feel badly about killing the female.

 ·       “Sometimes there is no ‘why’.”

·        Never expected to be investigating homicide

·        Attended the couple’s memorial services

·        Inter-agency cooperation was key to this case

·        Killer received two automatic life terms with no parole

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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For the third time, we were able to sit down at the International Game Warden Conference held this year in Erie, Pennsylvania, with Game Warden Chris Gilkey of Ohio, Game Warden Kris McCabe of the Maine Warden Service, myself, Wayne Saunders, host of the Warden's Watch podcast, and Game Warden Andy Hueser of the Pennsylvania Game Commission who was also instrumental in the organization and implementation of this year's game warden conference. 

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Introducing The Game Warden Channel! From the creators of smash hits North Woods Law and Lone Star Law, TGWC is now streaming exclusively on YouTube - bringing you even more real-life stories from game wardens across the US. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Steve Engel and Ben Shank of Engel Entertainment, Director of Photography Jamie Azar, and New Hampshire’s own Col. Kevin Jordan and Conservation Officers Jon Demler, Austin Valladares, Kevin Bronson, and Josiah Towne. Subscribe now for an even closer look into the world of conservation law enforcement.

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:

·       “We’re back!”

·       The first call was to New Hampshire

·       YouTube allows more flexibility

·       Episodes will feature NH, then move to Texas, Nevada, and other states

·       NH Fish & Game staff voted unanimously to participate

·       Carrying the torch for conservation and conservation officers

·       “I’d rather be doing this than probably anything else in television.”

·       Officers and camera crew become good friends

·       A turkey poacher in the wrong neighborhood

·       New show features a smaller crew than network television

·      "It's on the interwebs!"

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:

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Greg Traynor and Mike Hudson are the co-hosts of the Accessible Hunter Podcast, a show dedicated to promoting adaptive hunting and outdoor access for individuals with disabilities.

Greg Traynor, a passionate outdoorsman from Pennsylvania, turned his personal experience with a spinal cord injury into a mission to help others overcome physical barriers in the outdoors. Through advocacy, education, and storytelling, Greg inspires hunters to stay connected with the hunting community regardless of ability.

Mike Hudson, based in South Carolina, brings his own adaptive hunting experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by disabled hunters. Together, Mike and Greg use the Accessible Hunter Podcast to share powerful stories of resilience, adaptive equipment innovation, and the tight-knit community of accessible hunting enthusiasts.

Their platform highlights not only the triumphs of adaptive hunters but also the importance of making the outdoors inclusive for everyone.

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Lt. Anthony Rigoli is an Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) who works for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). In this episode, he takes us through his time as an ECO based in the last place anyone would expect to run into a game warden - New York City!

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:

·        The Great American Outdoor Show

·        Many new officers begin in New York City

·        “It’s a unique experience.”

·        Assigned to Marine Enforcement Unit

·        Specialized training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

·        Encountering high-end watercraft

·        “Being a cop is dangerous. Being out on the ocean is dangerous.”

·        Many people are unaware there are game wardens in NYC

·        Checking fish markets for prohibited goods

·        The not-so-secret signal for illegal turtles

·        City-dwelling coyotes

·        Piloting a brand new 44-foot jet boat

·        The challenges of living and working in the city

·        “You’ll come away with experiences that no other game warden is going to get.”

·        Working with highly experienced and talented officers

·        Shoreline fishing in Manhattan and crafty hiding spots

·        Tips from the public matter

·        17 conservation officers policing 8 million people

·        An outrageous illegal chemical dumping case

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

Subscribe:

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Spotify

Amazon

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Waypoint

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TuneIn

Megaphone

Find More Here:

Website

Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

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Seth Allen Martin is an American cinematographer and camera operator best known for his work on the hit Animal Planet series North Woods Law: New Hampshire. Born in Sumner, Washington, Martin has built a career behind the lens, capturing the rugged beauty and raw intensity of wildlife law enforcement across New England.

With a strong background in independent film and documentary-style production, Martin joined the North Woods Law crew during the show's transition from Maine to New Hampshire. His camera work helped bring viewers closer to the action—documenting everything from high-stakes poaching investigations to remote search-and-rescue missions in the backcountry.

Outside of television, Martin has also served as director of photography for several indie film projects, including Die-ner (Get It?) (2009). Known for his steady eye, adaptability in extreme conditions, and dedication to authentic storytelling, Martin continues to contribute to conservation-themed media and outdoor adventure filmmaking.

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