Operation Game Thief – Page 3

054 The Case of Kate Matrosova featuring Ty Gagne

Posted on February 25, 2021June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Kate Matrosova was a highly experienced hiker from Southern Siberia, Russia. She came to America on a student visa and successfully graduated with a masters degree in Financial Engineering. Though she worked for many firms on Wall Street, she also had a passion for the outdoors. She had a passion for climbing big mountains such as Kilimanjaro and McKinley, and was an active marathon runner. At 32 years old, she hiked the Presidential Mountain Range of the White Mountains in New Hampshire carrying light gear for a day hike. Unfortunately, she never made it out alive. The weather conditions reached -85F and 141 MPH winds. Rescue teams attempted to reach her after she activated her communications device, but to no avail. Kate Matrosova was discovered a day later.

Ty Gagne is the CEO of Primex, a public entity risk pool based in New Hampshire, and is also a certified wilderness first responder. He wrote the book Where You’ll Find Me about Kate’s experiences and those who were a part of her recovery. In this podcast, he discusses his own personal involvement in the outdoors, his perspective on Kate’s case, and how he wrote the book.

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What We Discuss:

The book Where You Will Find Me
Ty and Wayne’s experience with hiking
The easy mistakes of hiking
The beginning of Kate’s story
The White Mountains
Challenges of winter hiking
The conditions of Kate’s hike
Her plan and the issues around it
Kate’s drive to succeed
The group that got her out
The issue with personal location devices
Ty’s interviews with on-scene wardens
The drive of law enforcement and how to keep them safe
Mental health of volunteers and law enforcement
The changes at altitude
Retracing Kate’s story for a book
The good out of a tragedy

053 Carlos Gomez – Oklahoma Department of Wildlife – Part II

Posted on February 11, 2021June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Carlos Gomez, a retired Game Warden for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, sits down with Wayne in the continuation of his interview. Though now retired after a 41 year career, Carlos is still an active outdoorsman and a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation. In this episode, they discuss cases Carlos has been involved with and his interactions with other wardens.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What We Discuss:

International Game Warden Magazine
Operation Cody
Interactions and cases with Todd A. Vandivert
The money-maker case
When to bluff
The praying poacher
Keeping the racks, donating the meat
16 deer, 3 county warrants
Enjoy the cuffs
Poacher suicide

Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer/Editor: Jay Scott Ammann
Social Media/Marketing: Morgan Day

052 Carlos Gomez – Oklahoma Department of Wildlife

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

Carlos Gomez spent 41 years as a game warden in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation – 34 years serving Tulsa County and 7 years serving in Oklahoma County. He is the only game warden in Oklahoma’s history to spend his entire career in urban areas. Despite this, his time was filled with hunting and fishing interactions, as well as education of the public. In his retirement, he actively enjoys the outdoors and regularly attends meetings with conservation clubs.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What We Discuss:

Wayne’s experience with Oklahoma
Carlos’s energy
Operation Jersey
Undercover turtles
Wildlife war with China
Importance of prosecution
Judge shopping
Educate and build relationships with violators
Game wardens are hunters too
Interactions with Tiger King
Stolen polar bear
Carlos’s deer case
Stay tuned for part two!

051 Brian Albert – Maryland DNR

Posted on January 7, 2021June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

After 28 years, Capt. Brian Albert has retired, but that doesn’t mean he’s done working. Brian spent time in the Air Force and then became a Ranger with Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He also worked as a Public Information Officer and was in charge of a criminal investigations division during his career. Despite retirement, Brian is heavily involved with Maryland’s International Wildlife Crimestoppers and other conservation organizations.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

HERE’S WHAT WE DISCUSS:

John’s New Mic!
Waterways Criminal Investigation
Suicides – Discovered by Hunters, Covered by Game Wardens
Maryland DNR Captain
Executive Director Maryland Wildlife Crimestoppers
Chesapeake Bay
Stripers, Crabs, Turkey, Deer
40% of the Time on the Water
Rockfish and Striper are the Same Thing
Cast Nets and 77 Rockfish, $500 Per Fish Fine
Eastern Shore MD State Park
Fort Frederick State Park
Marijuana In the Campgrounds
Alaskan State Troopers
Exhausting Hours to Make a Case
An Old Dodge Ram Charger
Farmers Don’t Want People Driving in Fields
A Red Dot Target
Suicide in a Kayak
Inner Harbor Baltimore Coverage Area
Freddie Gray Riots
More Positive than Negative, Media Sells the Negative
Participation in Local Events
Jerry Kirkwood
An Out of State Duck Case
Illegal Deer Kill on Out of State Pennsylvania Resident
Stopping the Spread of CWD

050 Sean Cronsberry – Ontario Warden

Posted on December 24, 2020June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Wayne and John discuss a warden life across the border in Canada with special guest Sean Cronsberry. Sean is a dog handler and warden with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. He’s handled several interesting cases with his K-9 companions Timber and Blaze. Sean covers a large area and has a unique area that involves the commercial fishing industry out of the great lakes.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What’s Discussed in this Episode:

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
A Professional Mouthful
Warden’s Watch International – Crossing the Border into Canada
Cases with the United States – Michigan, Lacey Act, US Fish and Wildlife
Working in Quebec and Needing an Interpreter
Ice Fishing on Lake Simcoe
Deputy Conversation Officer Program
1000 Hours of Volunteering
Fish House and Open Holes
Whitefish and Lake Trout
Great Lakes and the Commercial Fishery
Southwestern Region Ontario
A K-9 Handler
Timber, a Chocolate Lab
Finding the Right Dog
K-9 Blaze, a Yellow Lab
Timber Would Wrap Up Cases on His Own
Losing a Service Dog
Into the Lions Den
A Good Game Warden Story
A Trespass to Hunt Call
Finding Poached Turkeys, Only with a Dog
A Sudden Death Call, Blaze Opened the Case Wide Open
Finding a Bullet
Labs- English vs US
The Gun Powder Wag
Tighty Whities
Shooting Towards the Road
The Cases we Remember Most are the Cases we Didn’t Make
99% Time the Dogs Will Find the Evidence
Protecting the Interest of Other Hunters
Sleeping in the Truck after 8 Hour Trip
3 Rotten Fish in a Net
165 Field Officers
Naming Dogs, the Timber Wolf
Spreading the Word for Wardens, a Way of Life

049 John Anderson – Nevada Department of Wildlife

Posted on December 10, 2020June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

John Anderson is a Game Warden with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. John patrols hundreds of acres in some of Nevada’s best elk habitat and has seen his fair share of incredible cases over the years. John shares with us 3 of his best poacher cases along with some stories about how he became a game warden under what might be considered an unusual turn of events.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What’s Discussed in this Episode:

Dedicated to Capt Brian Allard
Ducks Unlimited Podcast
Warden’s Watch Gear
The Case Unit 231 Nevada to Utah
A Poached Elk
Was It Depredation?
A SpotLight on Camera and an ATV
The Flat Brim Army
The Whole Crime on Game Cam
Take a Look at Zachary – Instagram and Facebook
Felony Conviction, No Jail Time
$20,000 Fine
Nevada Isn’t the Wild West
The Crime Checked All the Boxes
What Changed? Family and Kids
Matlock, My Dad’s Kid
Connection with the Outdoors, but Unguided
Flintlock Muzzleloaders from Scratch
Poached a Doe and an Elk in Yellowstone
A 9 Year Old, an Apple Orchard, a Tag, and a Doe
An Honest Poacher, No Lying
No Electricity, Middle of Nowhere
Dove into the Application Process, Nevada was Hiring
There’s Always Evidence, and Generally Witnesses
Sometimes Your Only Friends Are Other Game Wardens
Treasuring Civilian Relationships
Life Balance
70 Active Prosecutions
2013 Writing a Warrant
Deer and Elk Tags, Undocumented Immigrants Poaching
Non-Game
Las Vegas Metro and Mexican Cartels
Random Meat in Ziplock Bags
Samples Tested, 5 Different Deer
Timing is Everything
Starts with a Little Tip, then it Grows
CSI from Crime to the Court, Homicide School
A Fork on the Left G4 Identification Measure
Working with Maggots, Stages, Time of Death
3rd Case No Secrets
Photographs Contain Metadata
Great Witnesses are Instrumental
COVID is Messing Up Jury Trials
Usually Don’t Get Jail Time
20 Days in Jail is a Big Message
Massachusetts and New Jersey Last Ones IWC
Reciprocation License Loss (Nationwide and Canada)
Sheep Cases are Rare – Serious Dedicated Hunters Typically
Transformation from Child to Adult

048 Scott Fischer – Arizona Game and Fish

Posted on November 19, 2020June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Scott Fischer is an Officer with Arizona Game and Fish and also the director of the department’s Operation Game Thief program. Scott and Wayne discuss the qualification for becoming an Arizona warden, Arizona’s outdoor opportunities for big game outdoors men and women, and a few operations that Scott has been on trying to stop illegal drug trafficking. They also discuss how important the community is to assisting with illegal poaching through Operation Game Thief.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Arizona Command Structure
Law Enforcement Program Manager
Wildlife Managers 92 State Wide
Voluntary Reporting at the End of the Season
Location, Permits, Time Frame Compliance
Higher Education Requirement in AZ
Qualifications for Arizona Game and Fish
Education Component
Background History, Abuse
Dream to Be a Game Warden
Pool of Law Enforcement Dwindling
Loosening the Reins for Applicants
Scientific Method Biology
600 Applicants Down to 120 Today
Minimum Standard Physical Regs
Operation Game Thief
Coos vs Coues
Dispatcher to Officer
2000 Sq. Mile District to Cover
Cactus and Agriculture
Playing Dumb Cop
Sticking to Lies
Cal Fish and Game and Wildlife
Wildlife Canine Handler
The Detail, Treat it Like a Homicide
Big Elk, Lottery Program
Mountain Lion, Deer Archery Over the Counter
Bear Season
Elk Over the Counter – Low Success
Shorts and a T-Shirt Hunting
Desert Mule Deer
Illegal Border Activity
High Human Traffic High Human Traffic
Cowboy Type, Let’s Go Get Him
I’m in Good Shape, But…
Drug Runners are In Better Shape
12 Illegals and a Big Load of Dope
Moose Case on International Lines
State Dispatchers are Life Lines
Arizona is Diverse
We Need the Public Thru Operation Game Thief

047 Chris Wright – Idaho Fish and Game

Posted on November 5, 2020June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Chris Wright is the Assistant Chief with the Idaho Fish and Game Department. Chris began his career in Montana and has had a colorful career involving many cases in Idaho. Chris, Wayne, and John discuss many of the details of Chris’s biggest investigations including a case that involved 86 poached deer and a prosecution attempt that ended in political influences. We also discuss CWD, Operation Game Thief, citizen involvement to catch poachers, and creating gene diversity in wildlife populations when necessary.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What We Discuss:

Assistant Chief Idaho
Starting in Montana
Father was a Fish and Game Employee
School to be a Science Teacher
An Opportunity in Idaho, External Hire
Let’s Take the Case from a Different Angle
Lateral Career Moves, Supervising People Twice His Age
86 Dead Deer on Search
82 of 86 Died from Bullets, Then a Warrant for the House
Political Issues in Prosecution
Frustrating Case vs Outfitter
Competing for Kids Time, Outdoor Solutions
Sports are Different Now
Getting Out, Creating Memories
Never too Late to Start Hunting Again
COVID Effects on Hunting and Enforcement Changes
Big Game Species, CWD
Deer Dying Along River Beds
Operation Game Thief and Turning in a Poacher
Citizens Involvement
Tag Prices for Non-Residents
License Fraud Utah and Washington
A Moose Population in Idaho
Warden’s Working Close with Biologists
Relocating Big Horn Sheep to Create Gene Diversity
Biologize
More Complaints About Wildlife from Non-Hunters
Culture Clashes
Apprentice Hunting License and Passport
Hunter Ed, Online, No Field Day, a COVID Change
Game Wardens are Ambassadors

046 Matt Holmes Part II – The OHRV Crash

Posted on October 8, 2020April 17, 2024 by nhfishcop10

Matt Holmes, a NH Fish and Game Conservation Officer and regular on North Woods Law, jumps in the pick up truck with Wayne to talk more about Matt’s career as a Game Warden. They discuss in detail Matt’s OHRV crash that occurred in June 2020 while on radar patrol. Special narration and commentary from Bob Mancini.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What We Discuss:

Evolution of OHRV Riding in NH
The North Woods Law crew
The Bear that Killed the Chickens
An Errant Discharge of a High-Powered Rifle
2 Vehicle Crash, Running Radar
Connecting with Bob Mancini
2 Side By Sides at Excessive Speed
Blue Lights On
A Red and White Collision
Did I Break My Back? Can I Breathe?
Familiar Faces in the ER
Pain Level
Physical Therapy and Back to Work
My Favorite Trainee
Just Wanted to Clarify that You’re Not From Maine

045 Matt Holmes – Part I

Posted on September 24, 2020June 22, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Matt Holmes, a NH Fish and Game Conservation Officer and regular on North Woods Law, jumps in the pick up truck with Wayne this week to talk about Matt’s career as a Game Warden. Wayne and Matt go way back and have lots of stories to tell on this episode.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Copper Pig Brewery

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

NH Wildlife Heritage

International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

Here’s What We Discuss: