Maine – Warden's Watch

100B Celebrating 100 Episodes!

Posted on February 2, 2023 by nhfishcop10

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!

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

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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Website

Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

93 Col. Joel Wilkinson (Ret.) – Maine – Part II

Posted on October 7, 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 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:

Find More Here:

Website

Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

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.

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:

Find More Here:

Website

Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

W06 Moose with Lee Kantar

Posted on June 16, 2022 by nhfishcop10

Lee Kantar is man with moose on his mind. Whether he’s conducting aerial population surveys by helicopter, attaching specially adapted tracking collars, or racing to the scene of a mortality to conduct a field necropsy, Maine’s official state moose biologist is dedicated to the health and survival of the largest herbivore in the North Woods. Throughout the last decade, he has been integral to building a moose management program that’s been described as one of the most modern and comprehensive in the US.

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:

Find More Here:

Website

Warden’s Watch / TGL Store

012 Kris MacCabe – Maine Warden Service

Posted on August 1, 2019June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Hitting clean up is Kris MacCabe as part of our interview series of North Woods Law Warden’s as a lead up to the North Woods Law Throwdown Softball Game. Kris is a competitive guy with a passion for the woods of Maine and the Maine Warden Service.

Our Sponsors:
Wireless Partners
Guidefitter
RODgeeks
North Woods Law Softball Game

Here’s What We Discuss:
The Maine Warden Services
A Name Back to 1880
Vacationland vs Live Free or Die
Search and Rescue, Police in the Woods
Competitive
2 Weeks to 2.5 Year Search
A K-9 and Return to Base
Warden Search vs Volunteer Search
Sighting and False Sightings
Hunting and Search for Closure
Not a Job, It’s a Lifestyle
The Earle of Errol
The People’s Game Warden
A Warden’s Reputation – Healthy Fear
Role Reversal, Mrs MacCabe
Hunting Under the Influence
The Red Coats
My Neighbor was a Really Good Night Hunter
A Decoy and a Backyard Case
A Preemptive Warrant
A Birthday Gift with Deer All Around
The Canadian Did It
Red Handed Night Hunt
Standby to Standby, Nerve Racking
Manhunt for Corp Cole’s Killer
FBI Agents and Clearing the Cabin
North Woods Law
Game Wardens are Curious
We Always Have the Best Spots
Nothing Good Happens After Midnight
Airing in Germany, Less Commercials in Europe

009 Greg Sirpis – Maine’s Operation Game Thief

Posted on June 28, 2019June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Poaching is no different than stealing from a grocery store. Backed by the members of Maine’s Operation Game Thief (OGT), Greg Sirpis strives to lead Maine’s charge against poachers. As Chairman of the Board for Maine’s OGT, Greg’s mission is to protect Maine’s natural resources. By organizing and promoting, educating, and making reporting easier for everyone, Greg hopes to catch one poacher at a time and reduce the number of animals and fish that are illegally taken in Maine every year.

Our Sponsors:

Trailrunner Wireless

Guidefitter

RODgeeks

North Woods Law Softball Game

Here’s What We Discuss:

Upcoming Softball Game
Operation Game Thief
Wildlife Crimes Stoppers
Turning in a Poacher, Anonymously
Rewards, Most Don’t Want the Money
A Passion for Catching Bad Guys
Greg’s Start with OGT
An Opportunity for Cabela’s to Lead the Charge
It’s a Full Time Job
New Content – Live Streams
A Non-Profit That Represents
Friends of OGT
Educational Committee, The Ethics
25,000 Deer Taken Illegally in Maine
Poaching is No Different Than Stealing
1 800 Alert Us to a 411 App
Limited Amount of Resources
Quality Information
Eleven Volunteers
The Moose Lottery on a Weekend
Aug 3rd, Hadlock Field, North Woods Throwdown
International Wildlife Crime Stoppers
Northeast Wildlife Conference
Africa Fighting Tooth and Nail
Coyotes – Losing the Balance
Hard to Measure
Coming Up Next: Eric Fluette

008 Sgt Aaron Cross – Live at Cabelas

Posted on June 13, 2019June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

From the 2019 Maine Moose Lottery, we sat down with Sgt Aaron Cross from the Maine Warden Service. As a regular on the North Woods Law television program, Aaron has many stories to share that reflects his career as a Maine Warden, his involvement with Operation Game Thief, and International Wildlife Crime Stoppers.

Our Sponsors:
Trailrunner Wireless
Guidefitter
RODgeeks
North Woods Law Softball Game

Here’s What We Discuss:
The Moose Lottery
Operation Game Thief
Hired Prior to Finishing College
Whitewater Rafting
Swift Water Training
Tricked into a Date
The Game Warden Story
Frequent Flyers and an Arrest Warrant
Walking Toward Shore, Bickering Felons
Family Member Tickets
2032 Graduation and Retirement
Night Hunting Beaver
Losing the Decoy
Locked in with a Moose Decoy and No Suspect
Another _______ Minivan
Checking the Gun, a 22 Mag is a Poacher’s Choice
Killed Before Court in a Bar Fight
Duck Hunters in Boxer Shorts
Good People Make Mistakes Too
Smelting on Kingsbury Pond
Being on the Job
How to Be a Game Warden in Maine
Knowing the Activity
A Possible Hunting Incident -Dead Guy in the Driver’s Seat
A Drug Deal Gone Bad
Cold Cases and Missing Persons
A Deer Hunting Case in March
It All Comes Around
Aug 3 Maine OGT North Woods Law Softball Game

006 Norm Lewis – Maine Game Warden

Posted on May 16, 2019June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Maine is an awesome place to be a game warden. They don’t call it Vacationland for nothing. Woods, waterways, mountains, oceans, coastline, Maine has it all. Similar to New Hampshire, Maine’s Warden Service goes hand in hand with operations along the NH border. Norm Lewis is a great warden and woodsman. He’s big, burly with a soft touch and a mean streak when needed.

Our Sponsors:
Trailrunner Wireless
Guidefitter
RODgeeks

Here’s What We Discuss:
A Serious Moose Case
You Catch a Game Warden on a Bad Day
Head Lights on the Side of a Mountain
T-Shirt and Shorts Like I Own the Place
Accessory After the Fact
Are You from Canada? The Alien License
Coulda Charged Him but Didn’t
A Prominent Maine Man
Just Tell Me What You Know
I Liked the Old Guy
Forestry at Oreno
6 Inches of Dunkin Donuts Cups
It’s How You Want to Live
A Deer Decoy, a Wildlife Simulator
Few Things Trump Everything, but This Did
Jaws on the Floormats
They Must Have Stolen It
Coffee and Apple Pie
We’re Seizing the Blazer
I Could Use a New Ride
A 1973 Rusty Ford Pickup Truck
We Keep It, You Never Get It Back
The Buck from LL Bean
Becoming Administration, Not for Me
Not a Great Place to Be, IA
A Dog that Looks Like Norm
My Dog Had an Affinity for Cadavers
High Profile Serial Killer
Border Patrol, Crossing States to Get There
No Paperwork, Talking to the Press
The Road to Katahdin