Behind the Badge

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.

History tells us that the fall is the deadliest time of year for boating fatalities. Learn more in this week's Behind the Badge by enforcement operations supervisor Jackie Lundstrom.

What is the most important part of any hunt? Planning probably isn't the first thing many think of to answer that question, but perhaps it should be as is evidenced in this Behind the Badge by warden Zane Manhart.

What does it take to catch an escaped prisoner? Combines and tree stands probably aren’t the first things to come to mind, but sometimes they’re just what’s needed. Learn more in this week’s Behind the Badge by Warden Andrew Dahlgren.

Building a foundation for working as a game warden can be a multifaceted, engaging endeavor as warden Clayton Edstrom shows in this week’s Behind the Badge.

One of the most important considerations when choosing a PFD is, will you wear it. Modern inflatable PFDs can be a comfortable option, but are they right for you? Learn more in this week’s Behind the Badge by Warden Erik Schmidt.

Most associate game warden duties with hunters and anglers … such as checking them for valid licenses, abiding by daily and possession limits, and so on and so forth.

But there is so much more that goes into the life of a game warden. The following, a letter of recognition for warden Greg Hastings, is just one example of what a game warden does to help ensure the safety of all citizens.   

Sometimes, when we have a goal in mind, we focus so narrowly on reaching that goal that we miss the many small wonders found along the way. And sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to get us back on track.

Lending a hand when needed is a part of most people’s jobs, but for game wardens that effort can be a wee bit more exciting than it is for most of us. Read one such story in this Behind the Badge by Warden Greg Hastings.

When the smallest act of kindness can make your week – A story from Warden Kylor Johnston

Sometimes people, with the best intentions, can cause a great deal of harm when they think they’re helping. Read one such story in this Behind the Badge by Warden Daniel Hoenke.

Many city homeowners have little experience with wildlife, so when a call comes in about a worrisome critter in the yard, it is best to proceed with a little skepticism, as this Behind the Badge by Warden Courtney Sprenger shows.

For hunters, sometimes the greatest rewards are found not in the hunt itself, but rather in passing on their skills and love of hunting to a new generation. Read one story in this Behind the Badge by Warden Erik Schmidt.

Making a case is always based on hard work, but often it also requires a little luck. Read one such story by Warden Shawn Sperling.