Spring 2024 Issue Now Available
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Beer and Snakebites
WCO Vance Dunbar, PFBC (retired)
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission
I served as a Waterways Conservation Officer for 24 years. I’ve been retired for awhile but some people still remember me. Last year one of those people sent me a news feed. It was about a guy being extradited to PA for felony Game charges and for threatening the life of a PA Game War- den. I’d been waiting for that little pig sucker to pop on my radar again. It had been several years since I’d busted him, but he was a hard man to forget. Let’s call him Jack. He had a live-in girlfriend we’ll call Jill. Jack and Jill were running an illegal reptile rescue operation out of their trailer in Mifflin County. I was the special investigator assigned to the case.
It was an easy case to build. Jack’s number was listed on Facebook, he answered his phone and he had loose lips. He told me about a rattlesnake den in the state forest by his place and offered to take me hunting, even though they were out of season and he had no license. He even sent me a picture of a large black phase timber rattlesnake in a tank at his home. He had just caught it and asked if I wanted to come see it – stupid question. I planned to meet him two days later. We secured the search warrants and put a team together con- sisting of officers from the Fish & Game Commissions, local police, animal con- trol & Jack’s probation officer (he was on probation for Game violations). My job was to meet him, see the rattler & scout for other violations in the home. I was to call my handler with an update before we left for snake hunting and then the team would move in to execute the war- rant while we were gone. It was a good plan that went south quick.
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International Game Warden Magazine
IGW is a growing trade magazine dedicated to serving the professionals in natural resource and wildlife law enforcement. In our early years, primarily serving US and Canadian conservation officers, IGW became known as “THE trade publication of the profession” In North America.
Illinois Conservation 0fficer Don Hastings and his family launched IGW in 1984. although the idea had been percolating for years. Part of our founders’ vision was to create a means for officers to communicate with one another. Don credits a brave 1000 officers for IGWs early success _ they subscribed to the concept, and supported the effort, well before the first IGW Magazine was Published. In 1999, after producing 58 issues of the
magazine over 14 years. the Hastings retired for the second time and sold the magazine to Creative Street. The North American Wildlife Enforcement 0fficers Association (NAWEOA) took over with the fall 2002 issue and continues expanding with the gracious support of this profession and the public’s fascination with conservation heroes.
IGW has truly entered the international conservation arena. First, we are broadening our content to better reflect global conservation concerns. Second, we are actively expanding our international subscriber base to reach more conservation professionals. especially in areas where resources and training opportunities are limited.
IGW works closely with the US and Canadian concerns of NAWEOA, Federal Wildlife Officers Association. International Association of Natural Resource Crimestoppers and Canada National Park Warden Association in addition to state and provincial associations and agencies. We have recently forged a relationship with International Ranger Federation, an active force in advancing this profession throughout the world.
Our Focus
Our content is specific to the work and interests of Conservation enforcement. Regular columns include:
- firearms training
- communication
- parktrols
- game warden book reviews
- a comprehensive digest of case investigations
- work outside North America
Longer Features address topics such as:
- dangerous animal or poacher situations
- forensics
- professional commentaries
- officer assults
- animal human conflicts and trends
- a history of the profession
Each issue we publish detailed stories of big cases and busts- both to acknowledge officer’ good work and serve as training reference for other wardens and rangers.