Tag: Conservation Officer

Here’s what we discuss:

17-year FWC veteran; Dive Team, Special Operations Group
Nothing is ever routine
Every encounter is different
Call was originally a disturbance complaint
Two ‘kids’ on a sailboat
Officer noticed alcohol and expired registration
Shooter went into the cabin to retrieve paperwork
Emerged from the cabin with a gun
Leapt off the boat as gunshots rang out
First shot passed through Brady’s shoulder – and life jacket
“He was hunting me.”
Returned fire from behind the patrol boat’s engines
Shooter jumped onto patrol boat, still shooting
Swimming, shooting, and reloading in full gear
Shooter then tried repeatedly to run over Brady
Brady continued firing, hitting shooter in the hand
Left for dead
A nearby Coast Guard vessel approaches
“I’ve been shot, and they stole my boat.”
The importance of dispatchers
Shooter and partner were arrested less than two hours later
News spread quickly on social media
Reunited with family at the hospital
Kevlar vest and training made the difference
Train to win
Kevlar vests are now mandatory to wear
“I’m still here.”
It only takes one time

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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102 David Holt – Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Posted on March 17, 2023March 17, 2023 by nhfishcop10

With almost 27 million acres across the state, the officers of Tennessee’s Wildlife Resources Agency have a lot of ground to cover. Any given day could include fish and wildlife law enforcement, safety checks, search and rescue on land or water, conducting outreach programs, and more. Join us as we sit down at NAWEOA with Boating Enforcement Officer David Holt, who’s been patrolling the waterways of eastern Tennessee since 2017, and has some stories to tell!

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Here’s what we discuss:

Live from NAWEOA
Delayed honeymoon for hunting season
A mysterious message from the water company
Unplanned home renovations
The path to becoming a game warden
The rookie
A wild stolen yacht chase
The thief tried to create swells to sink the patrol boat
Apprehended when the yacht ran aground
Chase was filmed by a drone pilot
Patrol boat looked like a dot next to the giant yacht
“Designated Skipper”

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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101 Audrey Hunter – Arkansas Game & Fish

Posted on March 3, 2023March 3, 2023 by nhfishcop10

Audrey Hunter grew up in a home where hunting is a family affair. Through her father, grandfather, and uncles, she and her and four brothers were taught to respect the resources, the impact of conservation, and the importance of sharing the outdoors. This led to a natural career with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, where after only five short years she’s proven herself an outstanding officer – and now she has the hardware to back it up! Join us as Wayne sits down with the first female to win the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Officer of the Year award, AGFC Wildlife Officer 1st Class Audrey Hunter!

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Here’s what we discuss:

Winning NWTF Officer of the Year at the national conference – surprise!
Drove home with trophy in the front seat
Focused on illegal bait sites
A memorable baiting case; educating the next generation
Violator had multiple bait sites
Hunting and wildlife is a family tradition
Experience has taught patience
Tough cases can be the most rewarding
The pros and cons of patrolling in your hometown
Getting involved in the local chapter of NWTF
What’s a Jakes Day?
The diversity of Arkansas wildlife
Surprising a field full of baiters

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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100 CJ Box – Joe Pickett Series

Posted on January 19, 2023January 19, 2023 by nhfishcop10

CJ Box is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the enormously popular Joe Pickett series, now a small-screen sensation streaming on Paramount Plus. An avid outdoorsman, the Wyoming native’s hit novels capture the vast, unspoiled beauty of the American West, the conflict between new and old ideas, and feature authentically believable (and sometimes heinous) characters, lightning-quick plots, and truly gruesome crimes. We are thrilled to welcome CJ to the show for a chat about the inspiration for Joe Pickett’s character, two successful TV shows, and much more!

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Here’s what we discuss:

100^th episode introduction – thank you!
Game wardens are all collectively Joe Pickett
Making Joe as authentic as possible
The inspiration for the first Pickett novel – the Endangered Species Act
Never intended to be a series
Wanted to introduce the element of family
Game wardens can be called on for any number of situations
Local wardens are integral to a rural community
Joe Pickett show runners are fans of the book series
Second season incorporates parts of three books
Wasn’t the first offer for a Pickett-inspired television series
A peek at Season Two
The show was an immediate success on Paramount Plus
Filming in Alberta, Canada
Capturing the family dynamic has helped broaden the audience
Making sure Joe wasn’t perfect; “he screws up.”
Joe’s character has grown and changed, but he still can’t shoot
Finding experts on every topic to seek different points of view
Joe arrests the governor – based on a true story!
Tackling socially relevant and contemporary issues
Consulting with game wardens to ensure accuracy

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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98 Bob Vashaw (Ret.) – New Hampshire

Posted on December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 by nhfishcop10

Before dive teams, rescues using locator beacons, and OHRV and snowmobile enforcement, the job of a New Hampshire game warden was very different than it is today. Often left very much to their own devices, officers were primarily responsible for observing and reporting local conditions and activities, protecting and managing wildlife, and of course, stopping poachers. Join us for a walk through history with retired New Hampshire CO Bob Vashaw!

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Here’s what we discuss:

Stories of game wardens past
Began working in 1965
Grinding mussels on the seacoast
Search & Rescue before cell phones
A game warden is shot
Teaching hunter safety courses
A shot through the window
Backpacking into the wilderness to stock ponds
The snow revolution
Fish & Game duties have evolved
“We were one big family”
Loose dogs were a huge problem
Cutting cedar trees for deer feed
A daily diary
No overtime pay
Joining the first state dive team
Looking through a memory book
“I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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97 Brock Hoyt – Georgia

Posted on December 8, 2022 by nhfishcop10

Despite having been a member of the Georgia DNR for just five years, Game Warden First Class Brock Hoyt is already a standout officer. The recipient of both the 2022 NAWEOA Torch Award and the 2022 Georgia Game Warden of the Year, he’s also been recognized as Game Warden of the Year by International Wildlife Crimestoppers. We caught up for a quick chat with this rising star back in July at NAWEOA – join us!

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Here’s what we discuss:

NAWEOA Torch Award
Combining passion for both law enforcement and the outdoors
A law enforcement family
Influenced by North Woods Law
Covering the Atlanta area
Always something different
Forming relationships within the court system makes a difference
Diversion program helps offenders not become repeat offenders
Raising the profile of Georgia game wardens
Promoting the brand
Game wardens do it all

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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96 Jason Keller – Ohio DNR: Lessons From A Shooting

Posted on November 24, 2022 by nhfishcop10

Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Officer Jason Keller was on the scene when fellow officer Kevn Behr was shot at close range by a poacher. In this episode, he recalls the incident and the aftermath, and shares some important lessons learned on that day.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Decoy operation began normally
Saw pickup truck drop a passenger with a long gun
Heard a shot ring out, and then screaming
The emergency button: technology can be a blessing
‘Stop the Bleed’ course
Packed the wound with gauze
Couldn’t find an exit wound
Perception of time changed
Shooter was identified right away
WIN philosophy: What’s Important Now?
Focus shifted to investigation
K-9 Scout located the shell casing
State trooper picked up the suspect
Shooter’s position identified by K-9 Scout at 48 feet (14.6m)
Public health protocols prevented visiting the hospital
Returned to the scene to search for additional evidence
Writing the Critical Incident report was challenging
Testified in court while suspect smiled
Officer Behr’s wife provided progress updates
Lessons learned: train as though scenarios are real
Be as mentally prepared as possible for critical incidents
Know where your First Aid kit is, and how to use it
When time allows, make sure to contact your own family
Dispatchers are a lifeline

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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94 Wild Tech – with Steve Beltran & Eric Richey

Posted on October 27, 2022 by nhfishcop10

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.

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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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92 Col. Joel Wilkinson (Ret.) – Maine – Part I

Posted on September 25, 2022October 6, 2022 by nhfishcop10

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.

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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

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91 Sean Spencer – Utah

Posted on September 8, 2022 by nhfishcop10

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!

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