Canadian Subscribers Winter Issue Notice
We wish to inform our Canadian subscribers that due to the Canadian Postal strike, the issues of our Winter International Game Warden Magazine will unfortunately be delayed. Our printer is holding the magazines at their facility until I am notified that the strike is over and mail can be delivered again. The IGW staff appreciates your patience and your continued support of our magazine.
Spring 2025 Issue Now Available

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WHAT IF?
By Terry Hodges

Warden Zeke Awbrey, California Department of Fish and Game, was on the prowl. At the wheel of his Ford Bronco patrol vehicle, on low-speed patrol along the All-American Canal, he scanned with sharp eyes the road ahead and the desert lands to the north. He drank in the scent of the canal, a damp riverbank smell that to him somehow promised adventure, and again the euphoric feeling of extreme good fortune washed over him as he was reminded of how lucky he was to be a game warden. Two years into the profession he had loved from day one, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
It was January 30th, 2000, Super Bowl Sunday, a day most wardens would be glued to their TV sets. But Awbrey’s lieutenant, with good reason, felt that at least one warden should be out and about, and because Awbrey was junior in seniority, he drew the short straw. Awbrey was fine with it, and eagerly awaited whatever action might come his way.
At that time, about 40 miles of the All-American Canal was the only barrier between California and Mexico. No fences had yet been built there. Ahead on the canal, Awbrey spotted activity and stopped. He then watched through his binoculars as a teenage boy, with one end of a rope, swam for the U.S. side some 20 yards distant. Awbrey held his breath, for swimming the canal was highly dangerous due to swift and deadly undercurrents not apparent on the surface. Hundreds of unwary swimmers had been sucked under and drowned there over the years. Awbrey, in fact, had spotted and helped recover the badly decomposed remains of a probable drowning victim a few weeks earlier. But on this day, this boy was lucky and scrambled ashore on the U.S. side. Aware of what was coming next, Awbrey picked up a handset radio on loan from the U.S. Border Patrol and gave them a call on their frequency.
From a gap in the tules, the boy hauled on the rope, and a crude raft of wooden pallets floated by truck inner tubes appeared on the Mexico side. The raft, bearing three people, started across. People on the Mexico side paid out a second rope tied to the raft. When the three people clambered ashore on the U.S. side, the empty raft was pulled back to the Mexico side and the process repeated. About a dozen illegal immigrants made the crossing as Awbrey watched. They had reached the great land of opportunity, but their jubilation was cut short by the sudden arrival of several Border Patrol units. They didn’t know it, but their arrests on that day might easily have saved the lives of one or more of them, for their immediate future otherwise would have been fraught with substantial danger.
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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
- patrols
- 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 assaults
- 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.