Your County Wildlife Officer

[Olevern]

Seems I'm often reading posts "bashing" a wildlife officer, and I've certainly done some bashing myself of the TWRA (the "agency" as well as the "commission") but seldom a county wildlife officer.

Most county wildlife officers are great guys (a few are great women) who work very hard, and provide us great services, especially CONSIDERING THEIR LACK of "RESOURCES".

The biggest LACK of "resources" is man-power, as there is typically only a single wildlife officer assigned to each of TN's 95 counties. Obviously, they cannot be everywhere in the county at once, and they do need to sleep a few hours nightly. But they're also "on call" 24/7, and most seldom get 8 hrs straight of "off" time without a work-related call.

Having a county man-power force of ONE (1) is certainly a very different situation than say a typical county sheriff department, which may have many deputies simultaneously "on the clock" at all times, and patrolling in multiple patrol vehicles all over a county simultaneously.

But one aspect of a county wildlife officer's job description many are not aware:

In Tennessee, county wildlife officer are 1st Responders.
This means they are often called to accident scenes, home invasions, and armed robbery locations whenever they just happen to have the good fortune of being closer than some other law officer or paramedic.

Our county wildlife officers are "back-up" to the Sherriff Dept. and the paramedics. Of course, will have to give credit to the county sheriff departments in their backing up a county wildlife officer any time a wildlife officer requests from concern of his being in a particularly violent or threatening situation (which can be often).

As but one example of a wildlife officer's day, and why he might not be available to come investigate a poaching, there was a State Trooper shot multiple times yesterday in Kentucky. A Kentucky wildlife officer was the 1st Responder, and transported the wounded trooper to a hospital, where he was treated until being taken to a different hospital with a trauma center.

Just saying, sometimes we need to walk a mile in the moccasins of those we might be about to criticize for . . . . . . .

Kentucky state trooper shot; suspect apprehended, authorities say

A suspect in Friday's shooting of a Kentucky state trooper has been apprehended, according to authorities.

www.foxnews.com

Much respect and kudos for all our law enforcement & first responders, paid or volunteer

 

[BigAl]

I have nothing but good things to say about the officers I've met and encountered over the years in various counties. I can't say the same for the office in the county where I currently reside and hunt as I've never met him or talked to him. Probably because he never responded on the two occasions I tried to contact him, and he lives just a few miles away.

 

[Sasquatch Boogie Outdoors]

I would think that officers understand being contacted (through proper channels) when there is a legitimate need for an officer, but to contact them or approach them off duty just to throw out a question or comment that could most likely be answered by reading the twra regs would be very aggravating in my view. They would probably really enjoy your conversation as long as it isn't about work. I know I would if i were an officer.

 

[RUGER]

my experience wardens great
commissioners - absolutely clueless

That pretty much sums it up.

 

[RobDooley]

Did Bill work in Perry County back around 2003? Drive a TWRA SUV, like maybe an Explorer or Expedition?

I hunted Perry County in the eighties and as I recall Bill was an older gentleman then and drove the old green pick up. Who knows...it could have been Bill.

 

[Safari Hunt]

Know many in the TWRA and they have my utmost respect. Probably the most dangerous for an officer as one officer said that his backup might be an hour away.

 

[Andy S.]

I hunted Perry County in the eighties and as I recall Bill was an older gentleman then and drove the old green pick up. Who knows...it could have been Bill.

Gotcha. I met a middle aged warden/supervisor on Weyerhaeuser property in early 2000s and he was a joy to talk to. Perry County.

 

[TNTreeman]

Gotcha. I met a middle aged warden/supervisor on Weyerhaeuser property in early 2000s and he was a joy to talk to. Perry County.

Mr Stocksdale is in that area now I believe and a really nice fellow.

 

[Duck dogn]

Within the last year I've talked to several (nothing I done bad I just hunt alot of wmas) Clint Borem in columbia, Clint from laurelhill in lawrenceburg, Tommy Edward's from columbia, Ryan Goats from columbia,and Rusty Thompson all but 2 gave me there cell numbers and said if I ever have any questions or need anything give them a call all are great guys.

 

[garnermtn]

Wayne Sanders used to cover Franklin County but retired. He may have been one man but they must have made holograms of him because he was everywhere. Would show up at the dock at 2 in the morning and count every white bass. Hate to say it but I miss the old dude