In Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday, three Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, their division chief and the DNR director pose for a photo promoting the Feb. 6 premiere of "Wardens" on the Outdoor Channel. From left, DNR Conservation Officer Jon Busken (Mackinac County), Sgt. Mike Hammill (Luce, Mackinac and Chippewa counties), Conservation Officer Bobby Watson (Luce County), DNR Director Keith Creagh and DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler. Busken, Hammill and Watson appear in the premiere episode.
February 01, 2017
By Game & Fish Online Staff
https://youtu.be/WFhKA5Gj0bg
From press release
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has partnered with the Outdoor Channel on production of the 2017 season of its television series "Wardens."
Each episode of the season, which will air on Outdoor Channel Mondays at 9:30 p.m. (beginning Feb. 6), will showcase law enforcement work of DNR conservation officers and the DNR's natural resources management efforts.
Videographer Kristin Ojaniemi and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mark Leadman talk in Leadman's truck, as Ojaniemi films for the "Wardens" television show.
"We are thrilled to have the Outdoor Channel in Michigan to showcase our state's world-class natural resources – fabulous forests, award-winning state parks, an abundance of wildlife and the largest portfolio of freshwater fisheries in the world," said DNR Director Keith Creagh. "This is a unique opportunity to give the public a closer look at what the men and women of the DNR – our dedicated conservation officers, but also biologists, foresters, park managers – do to conserve, protect and manage Michigan's natural and cultural resources."
"Outdoor Channel continues to provide interesting and compelling outdoor lifestyle programming," said Outdoor Channel Executive Producer Tom Dooley. "'Wardens' is one of those programs and we hope viewers are as excited as we are to see this show."
From left, videographer Kristin Ojaniemi; Paul Theriault and his grandson Andrew Stahl, both of Petoskey; and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mark Leadman. Leadman talks with deer hunters Theriault and Stahl in Marquette County during the firearm deer season in November 2016, while Ojaniemi captures the scene for the "Wardens" television show.
Michigan-based Wolf Creek Productions is filming episodes at locations around the state. Approximately 40 conservation officers, as well as many staff members from other DNR divisions, will be featured throughout the season. The episodes will delve into a wide variety of topics – from Black Lake sturgeon conservation to off-road vehicle riding at Silver Lake State Park to bear and deer hunting.
"For 130 years the Law Enforcement Division of the Michigan DNR has been protecting the state's natural resources and wildlife," said Tom Nichols, president of Wolf Creek Productions. "We can't wait to share their stories with viewers across the nation."
"Wardens," on air since 2011, chronicles the lives of conservation officers in America. To learn more about the show, visit outdoorchannel.com/wardens . — Articles, photos from Michigan DNR
In Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday, three Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, their division chief and the DNR director pose for a photo promoting the Feb. 6 premiere of "Wardens" on the Outdoor Channel. From left, DNR Conservation Officer Jon Busken (Mackinac County), Sgt. Mike Hammill (Luce, Mackinac and Chippewa counties), Conservation Officer Bobby Watson (Luce County), DNR Director Keith Creagh and DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler. Busken, Hammill and Watson appear in the premiere episode.
