Behind the Badge

Sometimes a little innovation can go a long way towards improving your job. Read this week's Behind the Badge by warden Drew Johnson.
 

Have you ever had that nagging feeling that you forgot something...maybe something kind of important? Warden Mike Raasakka knows that feeling. Read his story in this week's Behind the Badge.

Poachers often attempt to cover up their less than legal activities, sometimes even layering on additional crimes in the attempt. Add to that a little overconfident risk tolerance and you get people like the anglers in this week's Behind the Badge by warden Sam Feldmann.

A game warden’s job is anything but predictable and can go from monotonous to rewarding in the time it takes to drive over the next hill. Read more in this week’s Behind the Badge by warden Kylor Johnston.

What happens when you combine poor decision making, boats and alcohol? Find out in this week's Behind the Badge with warden Mike Sedlacek.

Job shadowing is a great way to show people the realities of a profession, including the good, the bad and the really...well, let's say unappetizing. In this week's Behind the Badge, warden Courtney Sprenger tells the story of a job shadow that didn't stint on reality.

In this week's Behind the Badge, warden Jonathan Tofteland recalls a case where honest mistake and intentional misconduct intermix.

In this week's Behind the Badge, warden Joshua Hedstrom gives some simple tips for being a conscientious steward of the land.

So what do you do when that foolproof plan to find a lawbreaker turns out to be rather less than foolproof? You improvise. Read one such story in this week's Behind the Badge by warden Corey Erck.

Sometimes the impulse to indulge in unmindful small talk can lead down unexpected paths as in this Behind the Badge by warden Zane Manhart.

A district game warden often serves as the go-to person for wildlife concerns in their community. An incident in 2020 highlighted this when a moose, stuck in a muddy wetland, was assisted by warden Erik Schmidt and a local veterinarian.

Like most jobs, a game warden's workday is often routine, but when routine ends, things get interesting. District game warden Ken Skuza shares some examples in this week's Behind the Badge.

On the waters of Devils Lake, the role of a game warden extends far beyond enforcing fishing and hunting regulations. Find out how in this Behind the Badge by game warden Jonathan Peterson.

The question, "Do my eyes deceive me", gets an answer in this week's Behind the Badge by game warden Zachary Biberdorf.

For many, getting some time away from work is as simple as leaving the office (and turning off that cell phone). But if your office extends beyond four walls, getting away can be a bit more challenging.

In a law enforcement career, the foundation of teamwork, cooperation, and safety is trust, as shown in this Behind the Badge by district game warden Connor Folkers.
 

Most adult siblings manage to resolve disagreements by talking over their issues. However, some take other routes, as shown in this week's Behind the Badge by game warden Andrew Dahlgren.

Conducting an effective suspect interview can be challenging...or, sometimes, not so much. Read one warden’s story in this week's Behind the Badge by game warden Alan Howard.

The road to becoming a game warden: How one man turned his love of hunting and fishing into a career.

We all make mistakes and when you make one while hunting, calling a game warden and coming clean is really the best option, as evidenced by this Behind the Badge with game warden Keenan Snyder.

"Waste not, want not" is a motto to live by, but sometimes it can cause a little conflict, as in this Behind the Badge by game warden Jerad Bluem.

How many walleye is too many? Find out in this Behind the Badge by warden Riley Gerding.

In early November, a local landowner made a peculiar call. Their account of a buck encounter left us skeptical, prompting further investigation. Find out more in this Behind the Badge by warden Alan Howard.

While obvious to most, a big part of being a good hunter is knowing what the species you're hunting looks like, but there are those who struggle a bit with this aspect of hunting. Read one such story in this Behind the Badge by warden Mike Sedlacek.

Avoiding a collision with a fleeing buck led to an encounter with a hunter whose excitement at the hunt overrode not only his compliance with rules but also common sense. Read this week’s Behind the Badge by warden Alan Howard.

We hunt to put food on the table and to experience the satisfaction of spending time outdoors in pursuit of wild game. But hunting also entails responsibility. Ignoring those responsibilities can give us all a bad reputation. Read more in this week’s Behind the Badge by warden Daniel Hoenke.

Taking the time to understand hunting regulations before you go into the field can not only keep you in compliance with the law, it can help you avoid missed opportunities as game warden Erik Schmidt shows in this week’s Behind the Badge.