Tag: Wildlife Crimestoppers

North American Game Warden Museum

Here’s what we discuss:

Upcoming YouTube channel featuring NH game wardens
Investigation began as an illegal deer baiting case
Cell phone pictures reveal a protected bobcat shot at night
US Fish & Wildlife is brought in
Multiple search warrants are executed
A mountain of digital evidence reveals several suspects
Poaching activities were incredibly well-documented
“It was like they had a camera crew.”
One suspect attempts to hide a cell phone… but is foiled by K9 Winni
Bobcat, deer, crows, fisher, coyotes, and foxes were all targeted
Speed and coordination are key when executing warrants
The importance of preservation letters to prevent destruction of evidence
Poaching also occurred in other states, more charges could be pending
Five people were arrested, charged with over 50 night hunting violations alone
Felony charges were also laid
County attorneys were integral to these cases
Local sportsmen were “appalled, and wanted to help.”
Poaching is still prevalent and ongoing
“One guy may start, but it takes a team to get a win.”

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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135 Whooping Crane Shootings with Emily Long – Oklahoma

Posted on October 24, 2024 by nhfishcop10

In late 2021, members of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation responded to a report that would lead to a nearly two-year, multi-departmental investigation into the shooting deaths of four whooping cranes, one of the rarest and most endangered birds in North America. In this episode, Wildlife Investigations Specialist Emily Long, whose dedication and meticulous work on this case earned her the title of 2024 IWC Game Warden of the Year, details the story.

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North American Game Warden Museum

Here’s what we discuss:

Sole full-time investigator in Oklahoma
New positions created to investigate both state and federal wildlife crimes
Jointly funded by both state and federal departments
Fewer than 600 whooping cranes left worldwide
OK closes hunting when advised by USGS that cranes are migrating
Local wardens respond to a call about an injured whooping crane
The wounded bird is rescued, but does not survive
Days later, a stationary tracking device is detected nearby
Game wardens discover the crime scene
Investigation reveals three more deceased cranes
Painstakingly searching thousands of cell tower records
Suspects are slowly eliminated
Geolocation data finally offers a break
The first confession exposes four suspects
Potentially accidental shootings lead to intentional coverup
Charges are brought under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
All four men plead guilty
A collective total of $71,000 in fines
Multiple agencies at all levels collaborated to bring the case to a successful conclusion

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

Posted on September 7, 2023September 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

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

Posted on August 31, 2023September 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

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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079 Chad Eyler – PA Game Commission: Command Staff

Posted on February 24, 2022March 16, 2022 by nhfishcop10

In our final installment from the PA Game Commission, Wayne talks with PGC Special Permits Division chief Chad Eyler. Besides being an administrator for Pennsylvania’s Operation Game Thief program and the architect of one of the most successful wildlife crime reporting lines in the US, he also has the unique perspective of having worked for all three state conservation agencies. In this episode, Chad explains the formation, structure, and funding of the agency, the Deputy Game Warden program, and much more.

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Here’s what we discuss:

A good game warden story
Leader in wildlife forensics
Forensics skills can apply to all aspects of the job
Formation of the Game Commission
Refuges and ranges
Game lands help fund the agency
Low-cost hunting and trapping licenses
Explaining the Deputy Warden program
Almost a hobby
Hundreds of thousands of hunters
Keeping the agency moving forward
Issued a typewriter and a revolver
Refocusing priorities and adapting with the times
“It literally takes my breath away”

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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076 BRAD DANNEFAERD – NEW ZEALAND

Posted on February 1, 2022March 16, 2022 by nhfishcop10

The son of a hunting and fishing store owner, and an avid outdoorsman himself, Brad Dannefaerd worked with New Zealand Fisheries for nearly 20 years before retiring to found his own company. During his long and colorful career, he has worked alongside agencies in Australia, Canada and the United States, and literally written the book on defensive tactics and training for the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. Today, his company trains and equips everyone from law enforcement to librarians, teaching “people who deal with people” how to manage interactions safely and effectively.

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Here’s what we discuss:

One big international family
An introduction to New Zealand
The traditional haka
All NZ agencies under one jurisdiction
Type of offender has changed
We had to get a lot smarter
More authority than police
Working with Customs agencies
Building intelligence to make a larger case
Targeting the high-level offender
Only two licenses required
Still able to enforce Fish & Game laws
NZ police do not carry firearms
Enforcement by consent
Never lost a fisheries officer
Different style of enforcement
Bright blue uniforms
Non-escalation vs. de-escalation
Founding CERT (Compliance, Enforcement & Regulatory Training)
NZ Police purchased CERT technical comms package
Never met a game warden I didn’t like
Game wardens are a tight knit community
Developing contacts worldwide

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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075 Heidi Murphy – New Hampshire

Posted on January 13, 2022February 24, 2022 by nhfishcop10

Fans of the Animal Planet television series North Woods Law will recognize Sgt. Heidi Murphy, an 18-year veteran Conservation Officer with New Hampshire Fish & Game, and the state’s first and only female CO. She has been an active member of the Advanced Search and Rescue Team, instructs courses for Fish and Game’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, and was awarded the Shikar-Safari International Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2015. In this episode, Heidi and Wayne discuss some of her more memorable cases, what drew her to a career in wildlife management, and her hopes to attract more women to the profession.

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Here’s what we discuss:

18 years on duty
Only female officer on staff
Don’t need to fit a “box” to become a game warden
Attracting more women into the profession
Need to be passionate about job
Moving from Lieutenant to Sergeant
A boat at dawn is a pretty nice office
Work smarter
Busy Search & Rescue area
Bringing loved ones home
Sending rescuers into danger
Twenty-six hour days
Turkey magnet
Sometimes you get lucky
A memorable moose case
Filming North Woods Law
Inspiring the next generations of game wardens
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Teachers make good game wardens – and vice versa
Following clues to get to the facts
On the spot necropsies
Variety is the greatest part of the job
Networking with game wardens from other states
Keeping conservation relevant

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Social Media: Stacey DesRoches

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074 The Ellises – Father & Son Game Wardens

Posted on December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Lee Ellis knew he wanted to be a South Carolina game warden from the time he was a teenager. His son Hunter considered a few different occupations before realizing his destiny was in his father’s footsteps. Listen as they discuss their respective career paths, the unique benefits and challenges of growing up in a game warden family, and the changes they’ve each seen through the years. They may be Captain and Officer, but at the end of the day, they’re family.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Not the first South Carolina father/son warden team
Hunter always wanted to be a game warden… sort of
Not a lot of dads can say they work with their kids
Perseverance paid off for Lee
The Swiss army knife of law enforcement
Shrimp baiting
It’s all about preserving nature
Education and enforcement go hand in hand
Take One Make One program
Non-traditional law enforcement role; it’s a lifestyle, not a job
Family support is essential
Cat and mouse
Everyone knows the game warden
Adapt using technology, but keep your roots
How to catch an alligator
President of International Wildlife Crimestoppers
Hosting the 2021 IWC conference
Telling wardens’ stories is key
Promoting positive interactions
Encouraging the next generation

073 Scott Gray – Reformed Poacher

Posted on December 16, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Wayne, Lt. Jim Kneeland, and reformed poacher Scott Gray gather to discuss Scott’s poaching scheme that started in the 1990s. He took poaching to a new level. He practiced at home to see how how quiet he could make his weapons, buried a freezer in his shed, and believe it or not, once took the warden’s entry test. Wayne discusses with Scott and Lt. Kneeland, Scott’s tactics, preparation, and to what extent he took his illegal craft, and how it all changed one day.

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International Wildlife Crime Stoppers

072 Benny Richards – Texas

Posted on November 18, 2021 by nhfishcop10

Benny Richards is a former Game Warden for Hunt County, Texas. Richards worked for over 25 years for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, and is well known for his appearances on “Lone Star Law”. During his time as a warden, he earned accomplishments such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Officer of the Year (2015) and the Shikar-Safari International Wildlife Officer of the year award. In this episode, Wayne interviews Benny on his role as a Texas warden and the stories of “Lone Star Law”.

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