This episode brings us a fresh perspective as Conservation Law student Tayton Keezer steps behind the mic to interview retired New Hampshire CO Chris Egan. What starts as a simple student-to-officer conversation turns into a mix of mentorship, hard truths, and wild field stories, as Tayton connects what he’s learning in school to what the job really looks like in the field.
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North American Game Warden Museum
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Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania
North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association
International Wildlife Crimestoppers
North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association
Here’s what we discuss:
- Tayton stepping in as guest host and kicking things off with Chris
- Chris’ early love for the outdoors and where it came from
- Growing up around hunting, fishing, and camp culture with family
- “I think it’s innate in every kid… it just needs to be fostered.”
- Early influences from his dad and grandfather
- Developing people skills at a young age by learning from others in the field
- The importance of curiosity and asking questions
- The best parts of the job, independence and building your own patrol days
- “Patrolling woods and waters in an area that I love to be in”
- Flexibility in choosing how to work, from boats to ATVs to foot patrol
- Balancing independence with the structured nature of the role
- Least favorite parts – including paperwork and detailed reporting
- The reality that reports can become court evidence
- The harder side of the job: fatalities, searches, and recoveries
- “Those things don’t go away… they’re like a scar in your mind.”
- How difficult calls can stay with you over time
- Advice for young hunters and anglers entering the outdoors
- Concerns about fewer kids spending time outside
- “I just don’t understand how you could be bored outside.”
- The mental health benefits of being outdoors
- The joy and meaning the outdoors brought to Chris’ life
- The balance of the job, rewarding one day and demanding the next
- “Some days you shouldn’t be getting paid… other days you should be getting paid 10 times.”
- Early interactions with wardens and how they shape perception of the role
- Field techniques and tricks learned from other officers
- A case involving illegal exotic animals inside a residence
- Walking into what felt like a zoo inside someone’s home
- A late-night Sasquatch call
- “I had to respond to it without laughing.”
- The risks of working in remote areas at night
- A major poaching case involving a moose shot multiple times
- The long investigation that went unsolved for years
- A last-minute confession just before the statute of limitations expired
- “I’m here to take responsibility for what I did.”
- Accountability, personal change, and closure in that case
- Chris’ approach to enforcement, firm but fair
- The importance of maintaining relationships in small communities
- How those relationships can impact safety and future cases
- Conservation officers as a voice for wildlife
- Encouragement for the next generation entering the field
- Reflecting on a career built on passion, responsibility, and respect
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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