Tag: Podcast

Here’s what we discuss:

Grew up dreaming of becoming a game warden, just like his great uncle
From fighting wildfires in Alaska to 22 years as an Idaho game warden
Helped a local warden with a poaching case in high school
“I was in awe of that truck.”
Early warden experiences laid the foundation for undercover work
A deadly poisoning case
A lawyer’s gamble that paid off – for law enforcement
Began writing after retirement
First book was a short guide to examining and matching firearms evidence
Fight or flight mode in undercover officers
The challenge of writing fiction after years of factual case reports
Game wardens never quite retire
Writing can bring unexpected rewards
A sneak peek at the latest work in progress: The Charley Cove series
Wildlife crime is often tied to more serious crimes
If you see something, say something – always
Returning home to 26 “hot tips”
Sharing skills learned
Chasing wildfire in Alaska
“I wanted to be a game warden.”
Getting into undercover work
Uniformed one week, undercover the next
The prolific poacher who would not say ‘elk’
Most cases can be handled by uniformed officers
Visit Tony online

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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130 Lukas Madsen – Alberta, Canada

Posted on July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 by nhfishcop10

Ahead of NAWEOA 2024 in British Columbia, Canada, Wayne discusses warden life across the border with special guest Sgt. Lukas Madsen, a Fish & Wildlife officer in the neighboring province of Alberta. Sgt. Madsen discusses his path from growing up in the rugged beauty of the Northwest Territories to becoming a game warden, Alberta’s many outdoor opportunities, and shares a few adventures he’s had along the way.

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Here’s what we discuss:

What Canadian accent?
Originally set out to become a biologist
Growing up in Yellowknife; one road north, one road south
Great Slave Lake is one of the deepest in Canada
Outdoor experience creates an advantage
Education never stops
Had to build experience to be hired full-time
Working as a park ranger – aka the Party Police
Adventures in bear trapping
Sometimes euthanasia is the only option
The Western Conservation Law Academy
“The best job in the world.”
Alberta has an abundance of wildlife
A couple of unethical outfitters
Wildlife crimes in another country can result in big problems
NAWEOA: “We all have the same stories.”
Always move forward, always try to do better

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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129 Jason Blaylock – Mississippi – Officer-Involved Shooting

Posted on June 30, 2024June 30, 2024 by nhfishcop10

When an officer-involved shooting occurs, we often hear a lot about the victim, but what happens to the person who pulled the trigger?

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Here’s what we discuss:

Officer-involved shooting: no one knew how to handle it
Systemic problems
You’re never the same person
One trauma can be a huge setback
Fit for duty
Stigma created by the word “homicide” in media
Called to investigate a suspected night hunter
Suspect fired at a citizen
The chase
Suspect stops, then rams Blaylock’s truck and flees
Vehicle does not stop at a roadblock
Suspect again rams officers’ trucks
“I’m not making it home tonight.”
Less a decision than a reaction
Driver was a 15-year-old male
Praying for the driver
A helpless, solitary feeling
Driver recovered, and was later convicted only of night hunting
Officer Blaylock is immediately cleared of wrongdoing
Months of interviews and uncertainty
A single counselling session
“You have to talk about it. You cannot hold it in.”
Nearly eleven months off work
Stress and its impacts on the body
The entire family is affected
Friends – and even fellow officers – don’t know what to say
Law enforcement, PTSD and alcoholism
It’s okay to not be tough
Subjects went on to commit more felonies
“We don’t know how to handle needing a helping hand.”
The importance of being proactive
Learning what to expect, how to heal, and how to help

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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128 Father & Sons – with Bill, Wayne, and Aaron Saunders

Posted on June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 by nhfishcop10

Bill Saunders’ legacy is a testament to the enduring bond between family and nature. His love for the wilderness, deeply instilled in his sons, has blossomed into a tradition that transcends generations. This Father’s Day, we explore their story; it’s a legacy of living off the land, teaching the next generation to hunt ethically, and nurturing a passion that would one day set a young man on a familiar career path. A family’s tradition, flourishing under the canopy of the great outdoors.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Dad grew up fishing and hunting
Snakes!
The story of the cowboy in the woods
Growing up on roadkill
“I’d arrest Mom if I had to.”
Adventures with Uncle Warren
Learning never to waste a resource
The deer that kept standing up
Aaron’s first deer
Bonding with your kids in the outdoors
Hunting hazards: hand injuries and dented tailgates
The duck that crash landed
Walking through the woods with your kids; it’s about the experience
Wildlife populations have changed over the years
“If you’re gonna shoot it, you’re gonna eat it.”
Porcupines and perch eggs
Being related to a game warden can sometimes change your point of view
The outdoor legacy continues in Wayne and Aaron’s children

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & 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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126 For the Fallen: Julian Keen – Florida FWC

Posted on May 18, 2024May 12, 2026 by nhfishcop10

Florida FWC Officer Julian “Batman” Keen was known for his bright smile, relentless enthusiasm, and deep commitment to the people and wildlife of his home state. On a quiet Sunday morning in 2020, he heard a crash outside his home and looked out to see a truck driving recklessly. He gave chase without hesitation, eventually intercepting the hit and run suspect – who escaped – but inexplicably returned to the scene, opened fire and sped away. Officer Keen was 30 years old. His friend and mentor, FWC Lt. Pam Steelman shares the legacy of a remarkable young man, determined to fulfil a lifelong dream, and give back to the community he loved – and who loved him so dearly in return.

“It is not how these officers died that made them heroes; it is how they lived.” ~ National Law Enforcement Memorial, Washington, DC

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Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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125 Maple Syrup – With Chris Simmons & Ken St. Pierre

Posted on April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 by nhfishcop10

Late winter and early spring can find a New England game warden with a little more free time than they’re used to, and many have found a sweet way to tap into one of the nature’s greatest springtime gifts. As maple syrup season draws to a close, we catch up with Maine’s Chris Simmons, of Simmons and Daughters Sugar House, and Ken St. Pierre, of Big Lake Maple in New Hampshire, to learn just what it takes to run a successful sugar house.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Chris got started making syrup with his brothers on the family farm
Tapping and processing with whatever they could find
Ken was inspired by a colleague who tapped
“That’s an awful idea.”
Rebuilding a 100-year-old evaporator
The expense of expansion
Buckets vs. tap lines
Weather has made this season’s sap run unpredictable
Syruping can be an activity for the whole family
Can be as basic or as complex as you want it to be
“A heat source, a thermometer, a vessel, and sap.”
Make room for friends and neighbors!
Chris’ recipe for maple hot dogs
Natural syrup is an antioxidant
More than a topping: cooking with maple
Travel-sized containers can come in handy
Where to find Chris and Ken’s websites

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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