Episodios

  • 167 Amanda McKune – Illinois

    167 Amanda McKune – Illinois
    Mar 6 2026
    It’s Women’s History Month, and there’s no better time to highlight CPO Amanda McKune - Illinois officer, new mom, and the 2025 NWTF Officer of the Year. Amanda shares the behind‑the‑scenes reality of the job: the long hours, the high‑stakes turkey and deer cases, the instincts that guide her, and the determination that has already defined her first six years in the field. Humble and relentless, she’s exactly the kind of story this month is made to celebrate. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · Stepping onto the NWTF stage and realizing the scale: “I had no idea going into that… wow.” · Working turkey and deer hunters in southern Illinois - being “in the right place at the right time.” · The habitual turkey poacher and the tip that set everything in motion. · Working 3 AM mornings through April until she finally caught him. · Charging him with 8 birds she could prove, knowing the real count was far higher. · Spending another April up before dawn to catch him again during suspension. · The rush when officers from another district caught him a third time. · Why turkey cases are so tough: long hours, staying still, waiting. · “Sometimes it doesn’t add up… but 90% of the time it leads to something.” · The strain of April on her young family - “They put up with me the whole month of April.” · A wild deer case: a shot at dark, a suspect in Long Johns, and three huge bags of illegal deer corn. · Interviews stretching for hours as he claimed he was “just looking.” · Finding his gun buried in a creekbed, wrapped in his unworn camo: “We were all amped up… we got him.” · Growing up fishing, discovering her interviewing superpower — “People just like to talk to me.” · The importance of catching a single word out of place. · Illinois’ massive deer - with 26‑pointers becoming normal in some counties. · Ongoing cases involving 30+ illegally killed deer. · Starting her career in the same county she grew up in. · Knowing the land, families, and history. · Tips and informants as the backbone of most big cases. · Balancing motherhood, a state‑trooper husband, and long hours: “I’m taking advantage now and trying to catch these guys while I can.” · The rise of night road hunting and non‑residents chasing big Midwest deer. · October–December feeling like another April. · A new era of poaching — thermal optics and crossbows with thermals. · Working across the Missouri border and the challenges of multi‑state cases. · District teamwork: “It takes all of us to make these big cases.” · The impact of heavy illegal take on local populations — especially in concentrated areas. Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 m
  • 166 Badges on the Bayou

    166 Badges on the Bayou
    Feb 26 2026
    On this episode of Warden’s Watch, we head deep into Louisiana with Captain Will Roberts and Sergeant Terry Hicks — two wildlife agents who bring the state’s culture, cases, and Cajun humor to life. From crawfish wars and cooking secrets to big-game patrols, wild night‑hunting busts, and the state’s legendary boat poker runs, Will and Terry share stories that reveal a Louisiana most of us have only imagined. It’s part culture lesson, part law‑enforcement adventure, and entirely Louisiana. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · Cajun cooking traditions, heavy seasoning, and why the roux matters. · “You season everything two or three times.” · Crawfish culture, regional boil methods, and the friendly “crawfish wars.” · How Louisiana farms, regulates, and harvests crawfish — and how dry weather affects production. · Wildlife across the state: deer, turkey, black bears, and tightly regulated alligator seasons. · Long deer seasons, electronic tagging, and how multiple hunting seasons overlap. · Busy waterways, boating safety, and enforcing alcohol laws on the water. · “A DWI on the water is the same as on the highway.” · The Tickfaw 200 poker run, big boats, long routes, and how safety has evolved. · Career paths, teamwork, and how Operation Game Thief works behind the scenes. · Memorable trespass, baiting, and night‑hunting cases, including turkey hunters caught sitting on cracked corn. · Decoy operations and the mix of funny, tense, and unpredictable encounters. · Working small communities where they often know the people they catch. · Strong landowner relationships and why most hunters follow the rules. · Cajun identity, accents, and local names like sac‑a‑lait and pull‑dues. · What keeps them in the job — the adventure, the outdoors, and the humor. · “I’m surprised they pay us for a lot of the stuff we do.” Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 m
  • 165 Shawn Elmore – Georgia DNR

    165 Shawn Elmore – Georgia DNR
    Feb 13 2026
    After more than 30 years with Georgia DNR, Sgt. Shawn Elmore joins Warden’s Watch for a long‑awaited conversation filled with humor, hard lessons, and unforgettable cases. From hunting alongside his dad as a child to becoming one of Georgia’s leading boating‑incident investigators, Shawn shares a mix of heartfelt family stories, outrageous poaching cases, and high‑stakes investigations that helped change state law. Join us for a candid, funny, and deeply human look at life behind the badge. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · Finally recording after four years of trying · Shawn’s 30+ year career with Georgia DNR · Growing up hunting with his dad · “That’s what I’m gonna do for a living.” · His son becoming interested in law enforcement · Catching multiple in‑laws over the years · “It takes you a long time to build your credibility… and a snap of a finger to lose it.” · People claiming to “know” wardens to get out of trouble · Losing friends after catching them or their kids · Multi‑year landfill hunter case with warnings, tickets, then arrest · A later case involving another family connection · Hunting traditions, beagles, rabbits, and swamp rabbits · Southern sayings and the “Lost in Translation” team · The convicted felon firearm case: “Let me guess - the bullet fairy put this in your pocket.” · Reading body language as a critical warden skill · “Our mouths can get us into trouble, and they can keep us out of trouble.” · The 501‑charge poaching investigation · Conspiracy, false statements, and multi‑year suspensions · Charging only what can be won in court · Identifying violators based on decades of local knowledge · His role with Georgia’s boating reconstruction team · Early fatal boating cases and long‑lasting emotional impact · High‑profile boating incident involving police officers · The Jake and Griffin Prince case and Georgia’s BUI law change · Challenges unique to boating investigations: sinking, drifting, disappearing evidence · Teaching reconstruction and impaired‑operation detection nationwide · The Georgia Outdoor News “Hall of Shame” bait case Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 9 m
  • 164 James Mortimore - Nevada

    164 James Mortimore - Nevada
    Jan 29 2026
    In this episode, Wayne sits down with Nevada Game Warden James Mortimore from the floor of the Sheep Show® in Reno, NV - complete with bugling elk echoing in the background! From rescuing kayakers in monsoon swells on Lake Mead to blow-darting mountain lions and tracking illegal alligator sales on Facebook, James has lived the full spectrum of wildlife policing in one of the most diverse law enforcement landscapes in the country. His stories from Las Vegas to Reno show the grit, humor, and sheer unpredictability of being a modern Nevada warden. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · The “Las Vegas warden” · Crowded urban ponds and busy boat patrols made every day unpredictable · Watching for the folks who pack up quickly when a warden shows up · A wild monsoon rescue in six‑foot swells · For Colorado River wardens, rescue calls are everyday business · Low water levels reveal old mob‑era secrets - and the jokes that came with it · “I think that’s why we got our water back.” · An illegal alligator seller learns the meaning of “take a bite out of crime.” · Blow-darting mountain lions in neighborhoods and on golf courses · Dealing with a sedated mountain lion while a homeowner complains through their doorbell cam · Moving from Vegas to Reno and learning the world of bears and mountain lions · The importance of biologists and cross-team collaboration · Nevada’s pay and retention challenges · Covering massive patrol areas — sometimes thousands of square miles during vacancies · Poaching investigations built using GPS dog collar data · Odd urban cases: “dinosaur bones,” sea turtles, and surprisingly realistic bald eagle replicas · Working with the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and other federal partners · Learn more about Nevada wardens in the new Animal Planet series, Nevada Wild! Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 m
  • 163 Larry Hergenroeder – Pennsylvania

    163 Larry Hergenroeder – Pennsylvania
    Jan 16 2026
    From growing up with a game warden father to leading investigations, Staff Sergeant and canine handler Larry Hergenroeder has seen it all—and loved every minute of it. In this episode, Larry shares why he believes being a game warden is “the coolest job on earth,” how his canine partners have cracked cases in record time, and why networking through NAWEOA matters more than ever. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · Growing up in western Pennsylvania and finding his calling · “I had game warden blood in my blood.” · From Montana guide school to the academy · “My only regret is losing those years I could have been doing this full-time.” · Why being a game warden is more than a job · “I live, eat, sleep, breathe this profession… I just want to be a game warden.” · The power of NAWEOA networking and lifelong friendships · “I haven’t had a month go by without a call from another state or province.” · K9 program success stories: Storm and Rio crack tough cases · “In 33 seconds, Storm found the evidence that solved a fatal shooting.” · Challenge coins and the stories behind them · Inspiring the next generation of wardens through conferences and mentorship · Hunting-related shooting incidents and the emotional side of the job · “One is one too many.” · Family, sacrifice, and the brotherhood of game wardens · “A profession sought by many, held by few, and only made possible by those family members that know the true meaning of sacrifice.” Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 12 m
  • TGL045 Andy Huynh

    TGL045 Andy Huynh
    Jan 1 2026
    In this powerful episode of The Thin Green Line Podcast, we sit down with Andy Huynh, a conservation professional whose career has taken him from global conflict zones to the front lines of wildlife protection. Andy shares his journey from growing up in Southern California, to military service, to nearly a decade working overseas combating illegal wildlife trade, environmental crime, and transnational criminal organizations. His firsthand experiences reveal how wildlife trafficking fuels terrorism, human trafficking, armed conflict, and genocide—particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This conversation goes far beyond poaching. It exposes the global criminal networks behind ivory, rhino horn, illegal timber, and conflict minerals—and how modern technology, consumer demand, and corruption all play a role. Now back in the United States, Andy is beginning a new chapter in wildlife law enforcement, bringing a rare international perspective to protecting natural resources at home. How Andy’s upbringing and military service shaped his path into conservation The reality of illegal wildlife trade as a global criminal enterprise Poaching, poverty, coercion, and organized crime The humanitarian and environmental crisis in eastern DRC and Virunga National Park Wildlife trafficking’s connection to terrorism, human trafficking, and conflict minerals Corruption and failures in international peacekeeping efforts Why protecting wildlife and protecting people are inseparable Andy’s transition into wildlife law enforcement in California Environmental crime is not a niche issue—it is one of the largest drivers of global instability. This episode offers rare, firsthand insight into how deeply connected wildlife conservation is to human rights, national security, and the future of the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 35 m
  • 162 Polar Bears & Patrols – With Jack Skillings

    162 Polar Bears & Patrols – With Jack Skillings
    Dec 24 2025
    From patrolling on sea ice and responding to polar bear calls to managing wildlife in remote communities, Conservation Officer Jack Skillings takes us deep into the Canadian Arctic. Offering a rare glimpse into wildlife enforcement in the far north, Jack shares the rewards and realities of protecting the environment in some of the most isolated places on Earth. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine's Operation Game Thief International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · Yukon’s Conservation Officer Services Branch and its role · Nunavut: Canada’s newest territory · Nunavut’s unique conservation structure · “There’s at least one conservation officer in every community.” · Patrolling without roads: snowmobiles, ATVs, boats, and planes · Polar bear management and why it’s handled by territories, not federal agencies · Community policing: “education over enforcement.” · Modern polar bear research using DNA instead of tags · Differences between Nunavut and Yukon: isolation vs. road access and teamwork · “The biggest difference in Yukon? Roads. Having a truck changes everything.” · Wildlife species and hunting traditions: caribou, muskox, seals, moose, sheep, and Arctic char · A polar bear deterrence gone wrong · Life in remote communities · “My favorite thing was just getting out on the land - patrolling, hunting, fishing.” Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 m
  • 161 Alone in the Wild – with Isaiah Tuck

    161 Alone in the Wild – with Isaiah Tuck
    Dec 11 2025
    What happens when a game warden takes on one of the toughest survival challenges on TV? West Virginia's Isaiah Tuck joins Wayne to share his incredible journey from enforcing wildlife laws to braving complete isolation on the hit series Alone. Discover the mental grit, survival skills, and life lessons that come from living off the land - and why solitude can be the ultimate teacher. Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine's Operation Game Thief International Wildlife Crimestoppers Here’s what we discuss: · Isaiah’s path to becoming a West Virginia game warden · “Every day as a game warden is about adapting to the unexpected.” · How wildlife law enforcement prepared him for survival challenges · Behind the scenes of Alone · Preparation, mindset, and reality · “The woods teach you patience - and patience is survival.” · The hardest part of isolation: mental battles and self-reflection · “Being alone strips you down to who you really are.” · Hunger, weather, and wildlife encounters · The gear he trusted most—and one item he wishes he'd brought · Lessons learned from solitude and self-reliance · Advice for anyone dreaming of testing their survival skills · “Survival isn’t about strength—it’s about adaptability.” Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator:Stacey DesRoches Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 m