101 Audrey Hunter – Arkansas Game & Fish

Audrey Hunter grew up in a home where hunting is a family affair. Through her father, grandfather, and uncles, she and her and four brothers were taught to respect the resources, the impact of conservation, and the importance of sharing the outdoors. This led to a natural career with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, where after only five short years she’s proven herself an outstanding officer – and now she has the hardware to back it up! Join us as Wayne sits down with the first female to win the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Officer of the Year award, AGFC Wildlife Officer 1st Class Audrey Hunter!

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

Sovereign Sportsman Solutions

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

  • Winning NWTF Officer of the Year at the national conference – surprise!
  • Drove home with trophy in the front seat
  • Focused on illegal bait sites
  • A memorable baiting case; educating the next generation
  • Violator had multiple bait sites
  • Hunting and wildlife is a family tradition
  • Experience has taught patience
  • Tough cases can be the most rewarding
  • The pros and cons of patrolling in your hometown
  • Getting involved in the local chapter of NWTF
  • What’s a Jakes Day?
  • The diversity of Arkansas wildlife
  • Surprising a field full of baiters

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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100 CJ Box – Joe Pickett Series

CJ Box is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the enormously popular Joe Pickett series, now a small-screen sensation streaming on Paramount Plus. An avid outdoorsman, the Wyoming native’s hit novels capture the vast, unspoiled beauty of the American West, the conflict between new and old ideas, and feature authentically believable (and sometimes heinous) characters, lightning-quick plots, and truly gruesome crimes. We are thrilled to welcome CJ to the show for a chat about the inspiration for Joe Pickett’s character, two successful TV shows, and much more!

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

Sovereign Sportsman Solutions

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

  • 100th episode introduction – thank you!
  • Game wardens are all collectively Joe Pickett
  • Making Joe as authentic as possible
  • The inspiration for the first Pickett novel – the Endangered Species Act
  • Never intended to be a series
  • Wanted to introduce the element of family
  • Game wardens can be called on for any number of situations
  • Local wardens are integral to a rural community
  • Joe Pickett show runners are fans of the book series
  • Second season incorporates parts of three books
  • Wasn’t the first offer for a Pickett-inspired television series
  • A peek at Season Two
  • The show was an immediate success on Paramount Plus
  • Filming in Alberta, Canada
  • Capturing the family dynamic has helped broaden the audience
  • Making sure Joe wasn’t perfect; “he screws up.”
  • Joe’s character has grown and changed, but he still can’t shoot
  • Finding experts on every topic to seek different points of view
  • Joe arrests the governor – based on a true story!
  • Tackling socially relevant and contemporary issues
  • Consulting with game wardens to ensure accuracy

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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94 Wild Tech – with Steve Beltran & Eric Richey

Steve Beltran is an award-winning Conservation Police Officer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources who combines his passion for both technology and the outdoors through his Timber-Tech column, a regular feature in International Game Warden Magazine. Eric Richey is the founder and CEO of Sovereign Sportsman Solutions (S3), an industry leader in customized electronic license and permitting innovations throughout North America. Join us as they discuss recent outdoor technology developments, and some exciting possibilities for the future.   

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

Sovereign Sportsman Solutions

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

  • “Probably the largest, most unknown tech company in the industry”
  • Systems are built and branded to the specific state’s requirements
  • Mobile platforms allow officers access to real-time information
  • S3 developed the first mobile solution for conservation officers
  • Technology has typically been marketed to large law enforcement agencies
  • Access to data in the field increases efficiency – no need to go to the office for info
  • QR codes allow access even when offline
  • RFID advancements could allow coastal officers to gather all license info from a nearby vessel without having to board
  • Tech and the outdoors don’t need to be mutually exclusive
  • Electronic data can allow officers to quickly get a complete picture
  • Potential for faster access to license revocations under the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
  • Each state currently uses its own format
  • A standardized system could identify violators on the spot
  • Violations in one state can result in different restrictions in different states
  • Timber-Tech column helps bridge the technical gap
  • Taking the tech into the field to determine exact needs
  • Why not use every tool that we have?

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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W08 MooseMan Nature Photography

When Rick Libbey saw his first moose in 1981, he was hooked for life.  An entirely self-taught photographer, Rick and his wife Libby travel between New England and Alaska to capture stunningly beautiful and rare photos and videos of loons, bear, lynx, raccoons, wolves – and of course, moose – all of which they showcase on their YouTube channel and website, MooseMan Nature Photos. Often rising at 3am, they launch their kayaks before sunrise and wait silently for that perfect moment when a mighty bull moose emerges into a marsh, or a pair of loons appears in the morning fog. Taking great care never to intrude, they have spent years gaining the trust of some of these animals, frequently naming and photographing the same individuals year after year. The end result is not only spectacular, but conveys a profound sense of respect for wildlife, and the majesty and wonder of the great outdoors. 

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Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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W07 Winter Ticks with Alexej Sirén

The winter tick is a small, external parasite which, like all ticks, survives on the blood of its host. Although winter ticks are not dangerous to human health, they can pose a significant threat to wildlife – moose calves in particular. In this episode, wildlife biologist Dr. Alexej Sirén describes the relationship between winter ticks and the eastern moose, how ticks spread, and efforts underway to help mitigate damage to the moose population.

Our Sponsor:

The Village Gun Store

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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88 Terry Hodges – Warden Force

Award winning author Terry Hodges is the creator of the popular Warden Force series of short stories, the true adventures of game wardens and the wildlife-destroying outlaws they pursue. Having been a California Fish & Game warden himself for over three decades, Terry writes with the special authority found only among those who have worn a badge on behalf of wildlife. In this episode, he shares some compelling – and often comical – stories of the legendary game warden who would become not only a mentor, but also the inspiration for the book that would launch a surprising new career.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

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Sovereign Sportsman Solutions

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

  • Documenting history
  • The many tales of Ol’ Sabertooth
  • The first book
  • Learning to self-publish
  • Inventing an alter ego
  • Staying in the field after promotion
  • Frenchy’s last ride
  • Goose poaching in rice country
  • Snake gets sapped
  • Surprising a poacher deep in the woods
  • Sometimes moonshiners made good allies
  • Poacher escapes, but leaves Mercer a gift
  • Nine collections of short stories
  • From the latest collection: Death on Snake Mountain
  • Where to find the Warden Force series
  • In the works: two new books of Sabertooth stories

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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W06 Moose with Lee Kantar

Lee Kantar is man with moose on his mind. Whether he’s conducting aerial population surveys by helicopter, attaching specially adapted tracking collars, or racing to the scene of a mortality to conduct a field necropsy, Maine’s official state moose biologist is dedicated to the health and survival of the largest herbivore in the North Woods. Throughout the last decade, he has been integral to building a moose management program that’s been described as one of the most modern and comprehensive in the US.  

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The Village Gun Store

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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W05 Moose with Alexej Sirén

Historically native to the Northeast, the mighty eastern moose declined throughout the last century due to over hunting and land clearing. With the establishment of hunting laws and forest restoration efforts, the population slowly expanded, but is again under threat from climate change.  Warden’s Watch WILD is joined by wildlife biologist and postdoctoral researcher Alexej Sirén discussing he and his colleagues’ efforts to build a regional monitoring system to track moose populations and health in the Northeastern US, as well as their work to develop and improve tools to analyze the data they collect.

Our Sponsor:

The Village Gun Store

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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W04 Fisher with Jill Kilborn

As far as names go, no animal has had it quite like the fisher. Often called a “fisher cat”, it is not a feline, and doesn’t really care much for fish. One of nature’s few porcupine predators, this feisty, forest-dwelling expert climber is actually a member of the weasel family. Join us for this episode of Warden’s Watch WILD,  as we meet once again with wildlife biologist Jill Kilborn to learn more about the small but mighty fisher.

Our Sponsor:

The Village Gun Store

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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85 Hunt of a Lifetime

From the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA, we meet two representatives for Hunt of a Lifetime, a non-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling hunting and fishing dreams for people 21 and under facing life-threatening illnesses or disabilities. Grant Fritz is a lifelong hunter who has been volunteering with the organization for over twenty years. Gabe Kerchner is a cancer survivor who shares the story of his Arizona mountain lion hunt. Together, they are part of a team of dedicated volunteers that reaches across the US and Canada to help make dreams come true when it matters most.

Our Sponsors:

Thin Green Line Podcast

Don Noyes Chevrolet

Sovereign Sportsman Solutions

“A Cowboy in the Woods” Book

Hunt of a Lifetime

Maine’s Operation Game Thief

Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH

International Wildlife Crimestoppers

Here’s what we discuss:

GRANT

  • Over 20 years with Hunt of a Lifetime
  • Joining the organization; the first hunt
  • Close to 2000 hunts
  • Moose hunting in a broccoli patch
  • They didn’t choose this
  • Being part of the solution
  • My world is in a tree stand
  • Many tears have been shed
  • You can help
  • Bringing joy to a sick child
  • Reach out if you know a child who would like a dream fulfilled

GABE

  • Diagnosed at 12
  • Making contact with Hunt of a Lifetime
  • Receiving and training with a new rifle
  • Hunting with hound dogs
  • Others joined the hunt
  • Why mountain lion?
  • Gearing up at Bass Pro Shops
  • Hunted on a ranch
  • Post-surgical challenges on the hunt
  • 2015 relapse
  • Fishing trips are also an option
  • Lifelong friends
  • Importance of supporting the organization
  • An amazing experience, even without a mountain lion
  • The grizzly bear hunt was too risky

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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