103 Chris Johnson – Alaska

When US Fish and Wildlife Captain Chris Johnson reached the mandatory retirement age, he wasn’t quite ready to hang up his hat, so he did what most never would; after 33 years of federal service, he went right back to the Academy and became an Alaska State Wildlife Trooper! Join us as Chris shares stories of the outdoors from “Alaska’s Playground” – the rugged and stunningly beautiful Kenai Peninsula.

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Here’s what we discuss:

  • Mandatory retirement from Federal law enforcement service
  • Torn between becoming a professional football player or game warden
  • Began career with the National Park Service and local PD in Minnesota
  • Joined USFWS in 1989
  • First full-time Federal wildlife law enforcement officer in the Alaska refuge system
  • Part-time positions now being phased out
  • Arriving at the 2-million acre Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
  • “The playground of Alaska.”
  • A one-day orientation
  • The first of many bear mauling cases
  • Charged by three juvenile brown bears in a row
  • A sow had been shot
  • Cubs became dangerously habituated to humans
  • The best bear defense
  • Bear incidents increased through the years
  • Black and brown bears tend not to mingle
  • Joined first USFWS Honor Guard team
  • Only federal member of state Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT)
  • Back to the Academy!
  • Previous experience was a huge advantage
  • Hoping to rejoin SIRT
  • The moose that shot back
  • Teasers for a follow-up: a truck through the ice and a ‘warm’ welcome to the Kenai

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

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

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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100B Celebrating 100 Episodes!

In this special bonus episode, our hosts and producer get together with fan favorites Kris MacCabe of Maine, Benny Richards of Texas, and New Hampshire’s own Col. Kevin Jordan. Join us for a fun and wide-ranging chat looking back on 100 episodes, and looking forward to 100 more!

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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

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:

  • 100th 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

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

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

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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95 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.

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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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94 Wild Tech – with Steve Beltran & 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.   

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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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