Warden&#039;s Watch

Here’s what we discuss:

Kevin’s ongoing recovery and recent activities
Investigation began in Ohio in 2012, when a family reported an overdue hiker
Bobby Joe Grubbs had been dropped off for a walk, but did not return
Grubbs was known to police
Sherrif’s office pinged cell phone
Phone was located on 87-year-old Joseph Kutter’s property
Property owner gave police permission to search, but nothing was found
Cell phone had dialed 911 but disconnected
Kutter’s property featured a meticulously tended ginseng patch
A second search was launched using cadaver dogs
Dogs alerted on a loader bucket
Kutter immediately confessed to shooting Grubbs
Claimed Grubbs was stealing ginseng
A confrontation ensued and Kutter fired his weapon
Kutter then moved the body twice in the following days
Autopsy revealed ginseng in Grubbs’ pockets – and a business card
Grubbs had called family to report finding “the mother lode” of ginseng
Kutter pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter
Case highlights the mindsets of both ginseng growers and poachers
Easy money from ginseng often funds drug habits
Ginseng hunting (and poaching) can be a way of life passed down through generations
Black market is unnervingly similar to the drug trade

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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115 North American Game Warden Museum with Tom Caifa and Sheila Paquette

Posted on October 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

The North American Game Warden Museum could not be in a more perfect spot. Nestled amid the pristine forest, prairie, and floral gardens of the US/Canada International Peace Garden, it is the only space in the world dedicated to educating the public, celebrating natural resource protection, and honoring the fallen heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty. In this episode, we speak with board members Tom Caifa and Sheila Paquette about this incredible one-of-a-kind facility.

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Here’s what we discuss:

The term “game warden”
NAWEOA rebranding to International Game Warden Association
NAGW Museum was first conceived in the 80s
US states and Canadian provinces contributed
Museum was completed in 2005
The International Peace Garden
Passports are required
Past board members laid the foundations
Fundraising is key to the museum’s continued success
The NAWEOA 5K Torch Run
Torch Run began in 2000
The Run/Walk today is a family event
NAWEOA now has over 9000 members
Moose permit and other raffles
Annual golf tournament in Manitoba
Museum highlights
Cabins are available to rent year-round
RV parking and camping
Museum is open May – September
Donate to the NAGW Museum

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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114 Operation “Root of All Evil” with Kirk Kiefer – Ohio

Posted on September 23, 2023September 23, 2023 by nhfishcop10

Kirk Kiefer has been a wildlife investigator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the past 15 years. In this episode, he walks us through Operation “Root of All Evil,” a lengthy and complex investigation into the illegal ginseng trade that spanned multiple states, included unmarked vehicles, extended surveillance, buys and sales by undercover officers, and even a fake business.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Wild ginseng root is highly valued for its perceived medicinal properties
Grows very slowly, taking up to five years to reach maturity
One pound can be worth up to $1000
Seeds take over a year to germinate
Information campaign helped educate stakeholders on the damage caused by poaching
Many poachers are involved in other illegal activities
Legal ginseng plants must have three leaf sets, or ‘prongs’
Case also had multiple prongs
Prong 1: Undercover officers sold ginseng to licensed dealers
Compared the amount sold to the amount reported
Officers then sold ginseng outside the buying season to confirm illegal intent
Prong 2: Coordinated with US Fish & Wildlife Service to create a fake business
Business would receive inquiries from those looking to buy and sell illegal product
Prong 3: Obtain offenders’ assistance in exchange for a reduced penalty
Task force worked in multiple states
One offender had been featured on a popular reality show
The television show actually helped educate the public about ginseng poaching
Many countries overseas have decimated indigenous flora and fauna, creating a black market
110 defendants received multiple charges
Nearly six years of jail time served, $77,000 in fines
Kirk’s background; jack of all trades
Trapping academy
State officers were made aware of the ginseng operation
“Giving a little bit, we received a lot.”
Not all states have Wildlife Investigators
State of Ohio has done some major operations
Ginseng awareness for stakeholders training began in 2015
Operation takedown day finally arrived in 2022

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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113 Ian Obenshain & Brad Bailey – Big Boy: The Stolen Hunt

Posted on September 7, 2023September 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

In the summer of 2009, Ian Obenshain and Brad Bailey began observing a colossal white-tailed buck feeding in an Ohio field. The friends had permission to hunt the area and immediately started documenting the huge animal’s growth, with the ultimate goal of Brad filming Ian harvesting ‘Big Boy’ during the fall archery season. Anticipation, however, soon turned to disappointment when the trophy buck suddenly disappeared – and then the story turned even stranger.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Origin of the name ‘Big Boy’
Ian first spotted the buck in a soybean field near a highway
“Have you shown this to anybody?”
Big Boy was a world class buck
The pursuit and subsequent events brought the two friends closer
Brad had guiding experience
Placing trail cameras and trying to predict the animal’s behavior
Many days were spent planning and scouting
The pair planned to film the hunt
Big Boy disappeared, but the hunters hoped to see him again
“I think it’s in the booth behind you.”
A plaque claimed the buck was a Kentucky state record
There was no doubt the buck had been poached
Hundreds of photos and videos provided evidence of the buck’s origins
The loss was a tough pill to swallow
Hunting a trophy animal is a huge commitment
It was gratifying to see how seriously law enforcement approached the case

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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112 Chris Gilkey – Ohio Division of Wildlife

Posted on August 31, 2023September 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

From a cozy front porch in Utah, Wayne talks with Ohio Wildlife Officer and K9 handler Chris Gilkey. Born, raised – and now based – in the Ohio foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Officer Gilkey shares the remarkable story of Big Boy, the largest typical white-tailed buck taken in North America in 2009 – and for one poacher, more ‘bucks’ than he counted on.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Missed connections and an epic fishing trip
Fifteen minutes from West Virginia
Ohio is a destination for white-tailed deer hunters – but also for poachers
Ethical hunters spotted a huge buck in the summer of 2009 and planned to hunt it in the fall
Wanted Officer Gilkey to be involved
“Big Boy” disappeared from trail cams shortly before the season
Months later, Big Boy is on display at an expo
Poacher claimed the trophy buck was taken in Kentucky
Stuck to his story but eventually confessed, hoping to avoid prison
Thirteen prior hunting convictions
Poacher forfeited his bow, received fines, a lifetime hunting ban and…
A $23,572.05 fine under Ohio’s Trophy Restitution Law
Received Ohio Bow Hunter Officer of the Year award for this case
Hunters who provided the information deserved an award
Report wildlife crime in all 50 states and Canada through wildlifecrimestoppers.org

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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111 Ethan Justinger – Utah

Posted on August 19, 2023August 19, 2023 by nhfishcop10

Originally from Western New York, Ethan Justinger packed up and moved to Utah at just 22 to pursue his dream of being a game warden in the West. Now on the job with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for 5 years, Ethan sits down with Wayne to share his passion for elk hunting, conservation law, and the spectacular beauty surrounding them.

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Here’s what we discuss:

The elk hunt that changed everything
Elevation sickness and bull elk bugling
Hunters are conservationists
A fitness test at altitude – during a forest fire
“One of the greatest jobs on earth.”
Driving from New York to Utah
Adventuring every day
A late-night tip after a long day
Elk poacher was on private property
Carcass covered in sticks and logs
Evidence on a GoPro™
More evidence on a cell phone
A false blood trail
Case resulted in a felony conviction and a 14-year suspension
Mistakes happen, but it’s important to learn and share to help others
Mountain snow in July
Tough winters result in healthier populations in the long term
Utah scenery stuns visitors and locals alike

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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110 – Ethan Justinger (Utah) and Chris Gilkey (Ohio) talk NAWEOA

Posted on August 7, 2023August 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

After a short summer break, Warden’s Watch picks things up with a look back at NAWEOA 2023 with Ohio Wildlife Officer Chris Gilkey, and Utah’s Ethan Justinger. Now called the International Game Warden Association, this year’s conference was held in beautiful Provo, Utah in early July, with a jam-packed schedule of activities that included a wide variety of training, speakers, and fun for the whole family.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Game wardens watch – but it’s rough on binoculars
The value of conferences
“Everybody is on the same page.”
Utah conference provided activities for the entire family
What is VirTra training?
“All it takes is one” visit to NAWEOA
Awards are a humbling experience
Youth Room kept kids safe and entertained
Speakers were both interesting and inspirational
Keynote speaker Brody Young
Mindfulness training with Jeff Jones
“You are not alone.”
Scenarios can be recreated, but there’s no substitute for sharing lived experience
Bill Livezey, author of Let’s Go For A Ride
Tracking migration patterns through collaring
* Apache touch and go interlude *
K9 training demonstration
The annual Torch Run supporting the North American Game Warden Museum
Mickey Mouse pancakes
Game Warden skills competition; antler toss, fish drop, trivia, and fun
The ‘Warden Spawn’ youth team
NAWEOA 2023 in one word
Train hard, play hard, work hard
See you next year in British Columbia, Canada!

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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North Woods Throwdown – with Eric Fluette & Kris MacCabe

Posted on July 11, 2023July 11, 2023 by nhfishcop10

It’s that time of year again and game wardens from Maine and New Hampshire are ready to hit the field in Portland, Maine on July 28^th for the fourth annual North Woods Throwdown softball game! We’re joined by New Hampshire’s Eric Fluette and Kris MacCabe of Maine, taking a look back at previous games, and unveiling an exciting new streaming option so fans can tune in from anywhere and support Operation Game Thief. Come join the fun in person if you can, or grab your streaming ticket here!

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Here’s what we discuss:

Idea for a fundraising softball game started in Maine
Every game so far has been a squeaker
Fans shook the stadium!
Game bats are made in Maine
A ‘friendly’ rivalry
Extra, extra, extra innings
Stadium wanted to turn the lights off!
Streaming option will allow fans to tune in from anywhere
Dugout interviews and multiple cameras
Every kid’s dream to play in a stadium
Did wardens get paid for North Woods Law? (Hint: No.)
New Hampshire fans and giant head cutouts
Maine looking to tie the series
“We’re gonna need a bigger plaque.”

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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109 Michigan DNR History with Sgt. Mark Papineau

Posted on June 29, 2023June 29, 2023 by nhfishcop10

In this episode, we meet Michigan DNR Sgt. Mark Papineau. His official role as Technology Sergeant sees him researching new technology options, implementing software and equipment, and training Law Enforcement Division personnel – but he is also MiDNR’s foremost in-house historian, teaching recruits more than 100 years of the DNR’s storied history. Take a walk through time with Warden’s Watch and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources!

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