Vermont Game Warden Will Seegers joins Wayne to discuss life as a conservation officer in the Green Mountain State. From water survival training and cold-water emergencies to boating safety, ice rescue, and working Vermont’s lakes and waterways, Will shares stories from the field and lessons learned throughout his career.
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North American Game Warden Museum
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North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association
International Wildlife Crimestoppers
North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association
Here’s what we discuss:
- Will’s path to becoming a Vermont Game Warden
- Seven years on the job and finding his stride
- Training and mentoring the next generation of wardens
- Becoming involved in instructor and field training roles
- NASBLA officer water survival training
- Why game wardens work in high-risk water environments
- How duty gear affects swimming and survival
- Experiencing full-uniform water immersion training
- Learning to function in realistic emergency scenarios
- Creating flotation devices from duty pants
- Surprising lessons about ballistic vests in the water
- “The biggest surprise for me was just how quickly you fatigue wearing duty gear in the water.”
- Which pieces of equipment become the biggest burden
- Firearm retention and survival considerations
- When equipment can be replaced and when it can’t
- Psychological challenges of abandoning gear
- Cold water immersion and ice rescue realities
- Why panic is often the greatest danger after falling through the ice
- The importance of spreading body weight and self-rescue techniques
- The story behind a game warden earning the nickname “Otter”
- Life jackets and why experienced wardens wear them more often as their careers progress
- Inflatable PFDs versus inherently buoyant life jackets
- Potential failure points with inflatable life jackets
- Why checking CO₂ cartridges matters
- Officer safety considerations around waterways
- Real-world case studies involving law enforcement encounters in the water
- How quickly a routine contact can become a life-threatening situation
- “All you need is to be near water and it could become a relevant variable in what unfolds.”
- Running Vermont’s first officer water survival courses
- Teaching wardens how to protect themselves during falls from boats and docks
- Extrication techniques and getting back aboard safely
- Why the training is practical rather than “high-speed” tactical instruction
- The value of experiencing problems before they happen for real
- Lake Champlain and the challenges of large-water operations
- Open-water survival techniques
- Conserving energy and body heat while awaiting rescue
- Vermont’s world-class fishing opportunities
- State-record fish from Lake Champlain
- The legend of Champ, Lake Champlain’s famous lake monster
- Expanding water survival training throughout Vermont and neighboring agencies
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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