Tag: NAWEOA

New Hampshire Operation Game Thief

North East Conservation Law Enforcement Association

Here’s what we discuss:

Growing up in western Pennsylvania and finding his calling
“I had game warden blood in my blood.”
From Montana guide school to the academy
“My only regret is losing those years I could have been doing this full-time.”
Why being a game warden is more than a job
“I live, eat, sleep, breathe this profession… I just want to be a game warden.”
The power of NAWEOA networking and lifelong friendships
“I haven’t had a month go by without a call from another state or province.”
K9 program success stories: Storm and Rio crack tough cases
“In 33 seconds, Storm found the evidence that solved a fatal shooting.”
Challenge coins and the stories behind them
Inspiring the next generation of wardens through conferences and mentorship
Hunting-related shooting incidents and the emotional side of the job
“One is one too many.”
Family, sacrifice, and the brotherhood of game wardens
“A profession sought by many, held by few, and only made possible by those family members that know the true meaning of sacrifice.”

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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152 – 2025 International Game Warden Conference

Posted on August 4, 2025August 4, 2025 by nhfishcop10

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 conference. Tune in for a lively conversation!

137 KP Boatright – Georgia DNR

Posted on January 1, 2025January 1, 2025 by nhfishcop10

Despite having been on the job since just 2020, Georgia Game Warden KP Boatright has received multiple accolades, including the Public Safety Act of Heroism award for rescuing a drowning hunter at great personal risk. We caught up with KP as he accepted the prestigious NAWEOA Torch Award, presented to new officers who demonstrate exceptional ability and initiative. Join us for a chat with another rising star from Georgia DNR!

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Hunt Regs

Here’s what we discuss:

· NAWEOA Torch Award winner

· Using social media for investigations

· A suspicious alligator trapper leads to multiple charges

· “The Swiss Army knife of law enforcement.”

· Assisting fellow law enforcement officers

· An online aptitude test suggests a career path

· “Boneheaded” teenage behavior causes a slight delay

· A supportive chain of command

· The importance of different perspectives

· People generally want to talk if you make them comfortable

· An upcoming wedding!

· The ‘dead’ alligator that blinked

· “You never know what you’re gonna come across.”

· Lake Seminole: Georgia’s best kept secret

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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132 Drew Milne – British Columbia, Canada

Posted on August 12, 2024August 12, 2024 by staceydesroches

While deployed with the Canadian Armed Forces, Drew Milne picked up a book that inspired him to pursue his true calling and a new career as a conservation officer. Now, after almost two decades and multiple honors, he oversees the beautiful South Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, and teaches at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy. We sit down with Drew at NAWEOA as he shares his passion for helping both recruits and field officers hone their skills through use of force training and de-escalation methods.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Changing careers after six years with the CAF
Joined as a seasonal officer in 2008
Three years assisting another agency in establishing a new enforcement wing
Learned about a park warden’s job while in a tank in Bosnia
An encounter with a CO back in Canada
Horseback in the Rocky Mountains: hang onto your hat!
A life-changing confrontation
Learning to lower the temperature
Body language matters as much as dialog
British Columbia’s CO uniform
The path to becoming a BC Conservation Officer
Worked at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The Yukon: helicopters, float planes, snowmobiles and wildlife
A sheep poaching case solved by lichen in a photo
BC’s Use of Force lead trainer – sharing lessons learned
Remaining calm and respectful, even in tense moments
“Who cares what happened before? Now is now.”
Personal connections are critical

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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131 Live from NAWEOA – with Drew Milne (BC), Kris MacCabe (ME) & Chris Gilkey (OH)

Posted on July 25, 2024July 25, 2024 by staceydesroches

This episode finds us live at NAWEOA 2024 in in beautiful Penticton, BC with Maine’s Kris MacCabe, Chris Gilkey from Ohio, and Drew Milne of British Columbia, Canada. The guys sit down for a lively roundtable talk about their respective states and provinces, the beauty surrounding them, and of course, the incredible experience that is NAWEOA.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Grizzlies, rams… and musk ox?
A forest fire to the southwest
Bears across the continent
British Columbia’s strict bear hunting laws
Much of BC is public land, filled with wildlife
Ohio has far fewer bears
Some people love BC bears, others very much do not
Connecting and learning at NAWEOA
Sharing commonalities and differences
NAWEOA 2025: Erie, Pennsylvania
The many microclimates of British Columbia
“The Napa Valley of Canada.”
Canadians really are that friendly
Tim Hortons, maple syrup, Cheezies, and poutine
“You guys don’t have Smarties?”
Chris’ poutine plan: The Gilkey
NAWEOA in one word
Camaraderie, connection, and family
Snakes!

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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127 Jason Blaylock – Mississippi

Posted on May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 by nhfishcop10

With record-high wildlife populations, Mississippi’s generous bag limits make it an attractive destination for hunters of all kinds, and game wardens are busy almost year-round. After 23 years with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), Lt. Jason Blaylock has made substantial contributions to wildlife conservation and law enforcement in the Magnolia State, and was recently named the National Wild Turkey Federation Conservation Officer of the Year by the MDWFP. Lt. Blaylock joined us at NAWEOA.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Mississippi wardens are busy with game issues for much of the year
Working the famous river
Close to 200 officers in MS
Passing knowledge to the next generation of officers
Teaching methods have changed with technology advancements
Started school in a pre-med program
“I can’t see myself not being outside.”
A coincidence that led to a career
Many rural game wardens are ‘the’ local law enforcement
Opening day is like Christmas
Snakes!
MS game wardens used to sell licenses from their trucks and homes
Bag limits in Mississippi
No deer tags required
250+ spotlighting cases
13-year-old night hunters
Thanksgiving 2017: an unforgettable night hunting case
The repeat, repeat, repeat young offender
Suppressors are becoming more common in MS
Technology advancements are changing the way game wardens do business
The diversity of Mississippi provides a multitude of opportunities

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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120 Marshall Nych – International Game Warden Magazine

Posted on January 19, 2024 by nhfishcop10

Since its inception in 1984, International Game Warden Magazine has become known as the industry standard trade publication for wildlife professionals worldwide. Published in association with the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association (NAWEOA), each quarterly issue is jam packed with features ranging from emerging technologies and detailed case investigations to book reviews and recipes. In this episode, editor Marshall Nych highlights some of the first-rate content you’ll receive when you subscribe.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Submitted first story to the magazine in 2010
Joined IGW staff in 2015, became editor in 2021
Full-time teacher, part-time Deputy Game Warden (Ret.)
Game wardens have the best stories, they just need to be told
Each issue has a theme
Regular features include:
- Front Lines
- Behind the Badge
- Timber-Tech
- Technology Toolbox
- Voices From Abroad
- Marshall Law
- International Digest
- book reviews, agency profiles, wild game recipes, and more!
Available in both hard copy and digital subscriptions
Anyone can subscribe on the IGWM website

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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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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Find More Here:

90 Josh Landrum – Tennessee

Posted on August 11, 2022 by nhfishcop10

Josh Landrum is a Nashville-based Boating Officer with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Besides receiving multiple honors for his tireless efforts to combat impaired boating, he has also served on the board of the Tennessee Wildlife Officers Association for the past decade, and most recently as president. This year, Josh and his fellow officers hosted the annual North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association (NAWEOA) conference, where Wayne and John caught up with him for a chat.

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