Behind the Badge

With each of North Dakota’s seasons comes a shift in focus for the state’s game wardens. Follow one warden, Joseph Lucas, through the seasons in this Behind the Badge.

In this post, ride along with District Game Warden Connor Folkers as he navigates a day in the life of a game warden.

A sense of humor is virtually a job requirement for game wardens. Learn why in this Behind the Badge.

Oftentimes in the field things don't go according to plan which can sometimes make a day on the job as a game warden...well...a wee bit problematic.

Between the hours of 5:00 p.m. on February 24 and 8:00 a.m. on February 25, 2022, a cow moose was shot and left to rot on the side of the road approximately 1 mile south of Hanks, ND in Williams County.

The path to becoming a Game Warden can take many twists and turns. Read one warden's story in this week's Behind the Badge.

At times honesty can seem like a rare and undervalued resource. But honesty still means something and can make a big difference in difficult situations as Game Warden Peter Miley relates in this Behind the Badge post.

How many hunters does it take to harvest a duck? More than you might think...

Sometimes in a battle between rutting bucks neither wins. Sometimes both are lucky to survive. Read one pair's story from District Game Warden Alan Howard.

For some anglers, the legal maximum limit of poles just seems too limiting, and they're willing to go the extra mile to try and hide that illegal additional pole or 2...or 3...or 11...
 

Devils Lake can offer some amazing fall fishing making it easy for anglers to catch their limit of fish…and then some. Read more in this Behind The Badge post from Game Warden Drew Johnson.

Game wardens do a lot for our communities including stepping outside of their core duties and assisting with efforts to provide our kids with positive experiences. Learn more in this post by Game Warden Jerad Bluem.

When dealing with people who have committed a hunting violation, wardens are often treated to lies and evasion, so much so that encountering honesty and integrity can come as a bit of a shock.

Sometimes the call from dispatch ends up being about a serious incident, sometimes...not so much...

Ice fishing is a much loved and time honored sport here in North Dakota, but it has its treacherous side as Warden Ken Skuza can attest. 

While boating started out as a hobby for District Game Warden Shawn Sperling, it led him to his profession. 

Sometimes the experience of mentoring a new hunter can rival the experience of hunting itself and create cherished memories, as Warden Tim Phalen illustrates in this Stories from the Old-Timer.

Game and Fish officials are looking for information in connection to a deer poaching case at the Cass County wildlife club gun range near Casselton. One young button buck was shot and left on the gun range west of Casselton. The deer was most likely shot in the evening of October 15 or early morning of October 16, 2021.  

For many, each day on the job is fairly routine and predictable. Not so for game wardens, as Warden Keenan Snyder shows in this post, “A Day in the Life of…”

Game and Fish officials are looking for information in connection to a moose poaching case near Tolley. A cow moose was shot and left in a field likely between 10 p.m. on October 1, 2021 and 7 a.m. on October 2, 2021.

District Game Warden Jerad Bluem began his career with the Department in 2009. Now he is helping train the next generation of wardens. 

While the majority of violations wardens deal with are wildlife related, as licensed peace officers they sometimes must address violations outside of their typical purview.

While most hunters are fully aware of how many and what species of ducks they may shoot in a day, a few are unaware how many they may have in possession. Learn more in this post from District Game Warden Erik Schmidt.

After a months-long investigation, two individuals have been sentenced to jail for killing five moose near Dunseith in May of 2020. Learn more in this post from District Game Warden Jonathan Tofteland.

Insufficient PFDs is one of the most-cited violations each year, especially paddlecraft related violations. Learn more in this post from District Game Warden Courtney Sprenger.

Department Game Wardens are tasked with enforcing the rules protecting the state's waters from ANS. Learn more in this article from District Game Warden Andrew Dahlgren.

Back in 1987 when Game Warden Tim Phalen started his career, field training wasn’t a thing, which made starting out a bit more rocky.