180 Will Seegers - VermontVermont Game Warden Will Seegers joins Wayne to discuss life as a conservation officer in the GreenMountain State. From water survival training and cold-water emergencies to boating safety, ice rescue,and working Vermont's lakes and waterways, Will shares stories from the field and lessons learnedthroughout his career.Our Sponsors:Thin Green Line PodcastDon Noyes ChevroletNorth American Game Warden MuseumHunt RegsWiseEyeSecureIt Gun StorageXS Sights“A Cowboy in the Woods” BookIron Skillet SeasoningsMaine Operation Game ThiefNew Hampshire Operation Game ThiefConservation Officers of PennsylvaniaNorth East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs AssociationInternational Wildlife CrimestoppersNorth American Wildlife Enforcement Officers AssociationHere’s what we discuss: Will's path to becoming a Vermont Game Warden Seven years on the job and finding his stride Training and mentoring the next generation of wardens Becoming involved in instructor and field training roles NASBLA officer water survival training Why game wardens work in high-risk water environments How duty gear affects swimming and survival Experiencing full-uniform water immersion training Learning to function in realistic emergency scenarios Creating flotation devices from duty pants Surprising lessons about ballistic vests in the water "The biggest surprise for me was just how quickly you fatigue wearing duty gear in the water." Which pieces of equipment become the biggest burden Firearm retention and survival considerations When equipment can be replaced and when it can't Psychological challenges of abandoning gear Cold water immersion and ice rescue realities Why panic is often the greatest danger after falling through the ice The importance of spreading body weight and self-rescue techniques The story behind a game warden earning the nickname "Otter" Life jackets and why experienced wardens wear them more often as their careers progress Inflatable PFDs versus inherently buoyant life jackets Potential failure points with inflatable life jackets Why checking CO₂ cartridges matters Officer safety considerations around waterways Real-world case studies involving law enforcement encounters in the water How quickly a routine contact can become a life-threatening situation "All you need is to be near water and it could become a relevant variable in what unfolds." Running Vermont's first officer water survival courses Teaching wardens how to protect themselves during falls from boats and docks Extrication techniques and getting back aboard safely Why the training is practical rather than "high-speed" tactical instruction The value of experiencing problems before they happen for real Lake Champlain and the challenges of large-water operations Open-water survival techniques Conserving energy and body heat while awaiting rescue Vermont's world-class fishing opportunities State-record fish from Lake Champlain The legend of Champ, Lake Champlain's famous lake monster Expanding water survival training throughout Vermont and neighboring agenciesCreditsHosts: Wayne Saunders and John NoresProducer: Jay AmmannWarden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley HannettResearch / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRochesSubscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazonGoogleWaypointStitcherTuneInMegaphoneFind More Here:WebsiteWarden’s Watch / TGL StoreFacebookFacebook Fan PageInstagramThreadsYouTubeRSSLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices