114  Operation “Root of All Evil” with Kirk Kiefer – Ohio

Kirk Kiefer has been a wildlife investigator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the past 15 years. In this episode, he walks us through Operation “Root of All Evil,” a lengthy and complex investigation into the illegal ginseng trade that spanned multiple states, included unmarked vehicles, extended surveillance, buys and sales by undercover officers, and even a fake business.

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Here’s what we discuss:

  • Wild ginseng root is highly valued for its perceived medicinal properties
  • Grows very slowly, taking up to five years to reach maturity
  • One pound can be worth up to $1000
  • Seeds take over a year to germinate
  • Information campaign helped educate stakeholders on the damage caused by poaching
  • Many poachers are involved in other illegal activities
  • Legal ginseng plants must have three leaf sets, or ‘prongs’
  • Case also had multiple prongs
  • Prong 1: Undercover officers sold ginseng to licensed dealers
  • Compared the amount sold to the amount reported
  • Officers then sold ginseng outside the buying season to confirm illegal intent
  • Prong 2: Coordinated with US Fish & Wildlife Service to create a fake business
  • Business would receive inquiries from those looking to buy and sell illegal product
  • Prong 3: Obtain offenders’ assistance in exchange for a reduced penalty
  • Task force worked in multiple states
  • One offender had been featured on a popular reality show
  • The television show actually helped educate the public about ginseng poaching
  • Many countries overseas have decimated indigenous flora and fauna, creating a black market
  • 110 defendants received multiple charges
  • Nearly six years of jail time served, $77,000 in fines
  • Kirk’s background; jack of all trades
  • Trapping academy
  • State officers were made aware of the ginseng operation
  • “Giving a little bit, we received a lot.”
  • Not all states have Wildlife Investigators
  • State of Ohio has done some major operations
  • Ginseng awareness for stakeholders training began in 2015
  • Operation takedown day finally arrived in 2022

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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113 Ian Obenshain & Brad Bailey – Big Boy: The Stolen Hunt

In the summer of 2009, Ian Obenshain and Brad Bailey began observing a colossal white-tailed buck feeding in an Ohio field. The friends had permission to hunt the area and immediately started documenting the huge animal’s growth, with the ultimate goal of Brad filming Ian harvesting ‘Big Boy’ during the fall archery season. Anticipation, however, soon turned to disappointment when the trophy buck suddenly disappeared – and then the story turned even stranger.

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Here’s what we discuss:

  • Origin of the name ‘Big Boy’
  • Ian first spotted the buck in a soybean field near a highway
  • “Have you shown this to anybody?”
  • Big Boy was a world class buck
  • The pursuit and subsequent events brought the two friends closer
  • Brad had guiding experience
  • Placing trail cameras and trying to predict the animal’s behavior
  • Many days were spent planning and scouting
  • The pair planned to film the hunt
  • Big Boy disappeared, but the hunters hoped to see him again
  • “I think it’s in the booth behind you.”
  • A plaque claimed the buck was a Kentucky state record
  • There was no doubt the buck had been poached
  • Hundreds of photos and videos provided evidence of the buck’s origins
  • The loss was a tough pill to swallow
  • Hunting a trophy animal is a huge commitment
  • It was gratifying to see how seriously law enforcement approached the case

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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112 Chris Gilkey – Ohio Division of Wildlife

From a cozy front porch in Utah, Wayne talks with Ohio Wildlife Officer and K9 handler Chris Gilkey. Born, raised – and now based – in the Ohio foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Officer Gilkey shares the remarkable story of Big Boy, the largest typical white-tailed buck taken in North America in 2009 – and for one poacher, more ‘bucks’ than he counted on.

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Here’s what we discuss:

  • Missed connections and an epic fishing trip
  • Fifteen minutes from West Virginia
  • Ohio is a destination for white-tailed deer hunters – but also for poachers
  • Ethical hunters spotted a huge buck in the summer of 2009 and planned to hunt it in the fall
  • Wanted Officer Gilkey to be involved
  • “Big Boy” disappeared from trail cams shortly before the season
  • Months later, Big Boy is on display at an expo
  • Poacher claimed the trophy buck was taken in Kentucky
  • Stuck to his story but eventually confessed, hoping to avoid prison
  • Thirteen prior hunting convictions
  • Poacher forfeited his bow, received fines, a lifetime hunting ban and…
  • A $23,572.05 fine under Ohio’s Trophy Restitution Law
  • Received Ohio Bow Hunter Officer of the Year award for this case
  • Hunters who provided the information deserved an award
  • Report wildlife crime in all 50 states and Canada through wildlifecrimestoppers.org

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

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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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

Subscribe:

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