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Warden's Watch

Warden's Watch

Written by: Wayne Saunders / John Nores
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This podcast brings you stories from Game Wardens across the world. Listen to their favorite cases, worst cases, what led them to their career, and what makes their job unique. Hosted by retired game wardens Wayne Saunders and John Nores.2022 Warden's Watch Biological Sciences Science True Crime
Episodes
  • W09 New England Naturals - With Jake DeBow

    W09 New England Naturals - With Jake DeBow
    May 28 2026
    W09 New England Naturals - With Jake DeBow Jake DeBow didn’t just grow up around trapping; he grew into it, built a life around it, and somehow turned frozen beaver ponds, late nights, and a sewing machine into a thriving business. In this episode, Wayne sits down in Jake’s trapping shed to talk about New England Naturals, the art of fur, and why more people are starting to care about where their food and even their clothing comes from. Spoiler: beaver might be the best red meat you’ve never tried. 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 Iron Skillet Seasonings Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association Here’s what we discuss:  Kicking off the return of Warden’s Watch Wild: “I’ve got some wild stuff going on.”  Meeting Jake DeBow, three years in the making to get him on the show  Growing up with a father who was a nuisance wildlife trapper  “It was always raccoons and skunks coming home in cage traps.”  Sports first, trapping later, rediscovering it in college and grad school  Getting into beaver trapping because “beaver meat is delicious.”  Starting a trapline together as a couple, relationship goals outdoors style  “She was never squeamish… just fascinated.”  Using everything from a beaver: meat, fur, skulls, and glands  The “rabbit holes” of natural products and curiosity  The quiet, frozen beauty of winter trapping  “There’s something really special about being out there.”  Why trapping is harder to get into than hunting  Appeal for young adults after college looking for purpose and connection  Accessibility of beaver vs deer, “there’s a beaver in just about every ditch.”  Feeding 50% of their red meat intake from beaver  “I’ve never had someone try it and not love it.”  Beaver as the “beef of the river,” rich, mild, versatile  Supplying beaver for a wild game dinner, big reactions from the crowd  Getting 9 to 12 meals plus weeks of dog food from one animal  The origins of New England Naturals and frustration with low fur prices  “We got $12 a beaver… it didn’t feel right.”  Early side hustle, Etsy shop, tinctures, moose antler dog chews  Pandemic pivot and turning $2,000 and fiddleheads into a sewing machine  Teaching themselves fur sewing from scratch  Starting with beaver fur koozies and laughing about early attempts  The TikTok turning point, one video and everything sold out  “We couldn’t keep up… we were sewing until 2AM!”  Hiring their first employee and outgrowing the basement  Moving into a real workspace and rapid growth over two years  Using social media for education, not just selling  Breaking misconceptions about trapping and outdated stereotypes  “Trappers were quiet for 30 years… that time is gone.”  The importance of public understanding and support  Why people are reconnecting with their food  “There’s something special about being responsible for what’s on your plate.”  That same mindset applied to clothing and materials  Fur as durable, warm, and biodegradable  Plastic clothing “is going to be your grandkids’ problem.”  Product focus on practical, hard-use gear  Core products: muffs, mittens, bomber hats, and hand warmers  “We want fur in people’s hands that actually gets used.”  Beaver fur hand warmers - simple, reusable, effective  Cat toys made from real fur: “cats go nuts for them.”  Future ideas: blankets, vests, and more product expansion  Balancing growth, time, and staying true to their mission  Shop New England Naturals  Follow the fun on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram 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 hr and 2 mins
  • 172 For the Fallen: First Sgt. Karl Kelley - Indiana DNR

    172 For the Fallen: First Sgt. Karl Kelley - Indiana DNR
    May 13 2026
    In this National Police Week memorial episode, Wayne sits down with two men who lived through an unimaginable moment when a training exercise turned into a fight for survival. Retired Indiana DNR Lieutenant Colonel Terry Hyndman and First Sgt. Tom Jahn revisit the day they lost their friend and teammate, First Sgt. Karl Kelley, in a swift water incident that still shapes them decades later. It’s a difficult listen at times - but an important one - and a reminder of what service and brotherhood truly mean. “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes; it is how they lived.” ~ National Law Enforcement Memorial, Washington, DC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • 171 Kevin & Kathy Behr - Survivors With Purpose

    171 Kevin & Kathy Behr - Survivors With Purpose
    May 7 2026
    On this episode of Warden’s Watch, we sit down again with Ohio’s Kevin Behr - this time joined by his wife, Kathy - to talk about survival, recovery, and the purpose they’ve found after Kevin was shot in the line of duty. Recorded at the International Game Warden Conference, this conversation goes beyond the incident itself and into what happens after - for officers, spouses, families, and anyone navigating a critical incident. A powerful update, an honest conversation, and a reminder that survival comes with responsibility - and that even in the worst moments, purpose can still be found. 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 Iron Skillet Seasonings Maine Operation Game Thief New Hampshire Operation Game Thief Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association International Wildlife Crimestoppers North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association Here’s what we discuss:  Kathy’s spouse‑focused training on critical incidents - and why she created it  “You don’t realize what you don’t have in place until it’s happening”  Navigating power of attorney, medical decisions, and legal realities mid‑crisis  Being Kevin’s voice while he was unconscious - medically and legally  Why law enforcement statements on medication can be problematic in court  The emotional toll on spouses and kids when an officer is critically injured  Kevin seeing purpose in survival: “We did - they didn’t, so we have work to do.”  Turning trauma into something meaningful, even when healing isn’t linear  Stubbornness as a survival trait (and yes, it helped)  Brain injury recovery, negativity, and recognizing the long road back  Living with permanent change and reframing it positively  “Any fool can get through this - I’m living proof.”  The power of humor in trauma recovery  Doctors who refuse to give up: “Nobody quits on my team. Not even you.”  Finding a new purpose when the old one can’t exist anymore  How Kevin’s experience now helps train officers, trauma teams, and agencies  The ripple effect of sharing hard truths so others can prepare  Sidebar conversations that matter more than the main stage  Why laughing, crying, and telling the story all matter  “Everybody’s the main character in their own story.”  Surviving isn’t the end - it’s the beginning of responsibility  Kevin and Kathy as resources for those walking similar paths  Miracles along the way - and choosing to keep them moving forward 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
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