I Took Down Outlaws, Poachers, and Plenty of Politicians in My 22 Years as Chief Game Warden

This story, “Poachers, Politics, and Perils: An Outdated Warden Remembers,” appeared within the March 1974 problem of Outside Life.

The muzzle of a rifle grows larger and blacker when you’ve an eye-level view three toes out of your face and the outlaw behind it means enterprise. The person who confronts it’s loss of life.

That’s the way it was with Forest Ranger J. W. Johnson one November afternoon within the distant Pecos excessive nation of northern New Mexico.

Deer and elk seasons had closed, however Johnson had discovered two males in a half-dugout cabin, with elk and deer heads scattered round exterior. A number of the kills had been clearly recent.

The boys recognized the officer by his hat and resented the intrusion. Johnson reined in his horse only some toes from the cabin door and located himself wanting down the unsuitable finish of a rifle.

“Flip your horse and get the hell out of right here,” growled the voice behind the gun.

The officer tried to purpose with the person however acquired nowhere. His personal pistol was on his belt, underneath a tightly buttoned heavy coat. Lastly the ranger turned his horse and rode away — half anticipating the smashing influence of a bullet at the back of his head.
The ranger phoned me that evening, and I promised to ship two of my greatest deputy wardens out the subsequent morning to return to the cabin with him.

The three officers made camp the primary evening at a Forest Service cabin 12 miles again within the wilderness. They rode seven miles to the suspects’ cabin the subsequent morning, however the males had skedaddled. Nonetheless, they’d left bedrolls, provisions, and traps, indicating they may return. The officers watched the cabin till darkish, then rode again to the Forest Service camp for the evening. They spent the subsequent two days the identical method, and I heard nothing from them.

Frightened, I went to see for myself what had occurred. Regardless of six inches of snow and 0 temperatures, Dee Bibb, a deputy sheriff, and I began the trip at 2 a.m. and reached the Forest Service cabin at daybreak. To my reduction, there was a light-weight within the window. My males had been okay.

All of us rode to the suspected poachers’ place after breakfast, however the one scrap of identification we may discover within the cabin was a little bit of paper with “Mora, New Mexico” written on it. Mora was a city on the opposite aspect of the vary.

We additionally discovered coyote and bobcat carcasses half buried within the snow, and amongst them I noticed the carcasses of two pine martens.

“These will clinch the case,” I mentioned. Though martens had been extraordinarily uncommon in New Mexico, it was authorized to take them. It was uncertain that anybody aside from the 2 suspected poachers would have marten skins to promote. If we may discover the fur seller who had purchased them, we’d be capable to get the names of the boys we wished.

I believed the skins could be bought to a seller I knew in Las Vegas, New Mexico, 30 miles south of Mora.

Johnson and I referred to as on the seller and resorted to subterfuge. assured that he wouldn’t knowingly reveal the names of the violators. He had just lately paid $3,000 to settle an unlawful beaver transaction of his personal.

“Joe,” I mentioned, “we wish you to settle an argument. My pal right here claims there are pine martens within the Pecos excessive nation. I’ve guess him ten bucks there aren’t. What have you learnt about it?”

The ruse labored. “You made a foul guess. Barker.” Joe mentioned. “I purchased two skins final week.” He led us to a again room and confirmed us two prime marten pelts.

“All proper,” I mentioned, “who bought you these?”

He lastly confirmed us his buy file with names and addresses.

Ve drove to Mora and picked up one of many suspects. however the mom of the opposite mentioned he wasn’t house. We didn’t consider her. and we waited in the home for 2 hours. Lastly I noticed a closet door opening slowly. I coated it with my .45 and mentioned, “Come out with ’em up.” He did.

The pair drew fines of $300 on the sport violation and 6 months in jail at arduous labor for assaulting a forest ranger with a lethal weapon.

That kind of factor needed to be anticipated from time to time. It was a part of the job of being a recreation warden. It nonetheless is, for that matter.

In my early years as chief recreation warden of New Mexico, nonetheless, politics posed extra of a risk than weapons. I used to be appointed to the submit in 1931.

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At the moment the chief recreation warden was additionally director of the sport division. With only a few exceptions, state recreation and conservation departments of the day had been run by and for politicians — often by small-time politicians for big-time ones.

I knew one state by which the operate of the state recreation farm was to produce the governor, judges, members of the legislature, and different bigwigs with pheasant dinners at Thanksgiving. Christmas. and different events. The boss of the occasion in energy listed the names of the eligible and handed the checklist to the director of the conservation division, and the birds had been delivered.

Later a brand new conservation director took workplace, and at Thanksgiving time the political boss dropped a paper on the director’s desk with a curt “Right here’s your checklist.” The director regarded on the checklist, tore it up, dropped the items into the wastebasket, and answered with an equally curt “Don’t slam the door whenever you exit.”

In one other case, the freeway commissioner of a sure deer state, who had his eye on the governor’s job, was adopted into an area Indian tribe as a publicity stunt. He despatched two henchmen to a reputed poacher to purchase venison for the dinner party. On the way in which again to city, the automobile was stopped by recreation wardens. Two unlawful deer had been within the trunk. An indignant freeway commissioner phoned the sport director.

“Your rattling recreation wardens have gotten two of my males in jail,” he sputtered. “I’ve acquired to have that venison for the dinner tomorrow evening, and I need it taken care of.”

“You’ve got my phrase,” the director promised. “It’ll be taken care of — in court docket. And I’ll even see that the papers get the story,” he added. All makes an attempt to get even failed.

My house state of New Mexico — the place I’d lived since I used to be three (I used to be born in Texas in 1886) and the place I had labored for the U.S. Forest Service from 1909 to 1919 — was no exception. The politicians had it nearly their very own method.

I made a decision firstly of my profession that my largest job was to get politics out of my division. That meant imposing the sport and fish legal guidelines impartially.

After I discuss my experiences in attempting to hold out that coverage, I don’t imply to boast: I solely wish to give as we speak’s sportsmen an thought of how closely politics weighed on recreation departments 40 years in the past, and inform how one state managed to rid itself of the burden.

I used to be lucky to have a powerful fee behind me, and it backed me to the hilt.

I took workplace as State Sport Warden of New Mexico on April 1, 1931, and retired on July 1, 1953, on the age of 66. In these 22 years we efficiently prosecuted a lieutenant governor, a governor’s son-in-law, the state chairman of the occasion in energy, a legislator. a chief of state police, outstanding ranchers, docs, and attorneys, and even a member of my very own recreation fee — in addition to 10,000 different residents.

My first massive check got here quickly after I took workplace.

A outstanding lawyer and a long-time pal of mine was apprehended by considered one of my deputies for fishing out of season and and not using a license, and for preserving undersize trout.

He was arrested and requested to attend whereas a close-by fisherman was checked, however when the warden returned, the lawyer was gone. When the warden lastly nabbed him 12 miles down the highway, the lawyer turned abusive and demanded that the case be dropped.

“Your boss is an efficient pal of mine,” he mentioned. “I even endorsed him for his job. You’ll be out of labor should you press these prices.”

I went to Las Vegas to again my deputy and located the lawyer on the warpath.
“You recognize I endorsed you to the governor in your job,” he mentioned. “Who does your pipsqueak warden assume he’s prosecuting?”

“I do know you endorsed me,” I mentioned. “I also have a copy of the wire you despatched the governor right here in my pocket.”

I pulled it out and skim: “I like to recommend my pal, Elliott Barker, for state recreation warden as a result of I do know he’ll implement the legislation with out worry or favor.”

“Overlook that baloney,” he growled. “You recognize I didn’t imply … “

“You made the governor a promise,” I mentioned, “and I wouldn’t allow you to down for the world. On prime of that, I took an oath of workplace. Let’s go see the choose.”

He paid a $50 high-quality and court docket prices and acquired a good quantity of unwelcome publicity. That case did our division a world of fine.

Some folks mentioned my job wouldn’t be price a plugged nickel if I attempted to prosecute the state chairman of the occasion in energy. However I had no selection. The chairman killed a doe antelope in an space the place solely bucks had been authorized, and when considered one of my wardens arrested him the politician insisted that I deal with the case. The incident occurred in a distant space, however the warden agreed to let the chairman deliver the antelope to me in order that I may file prices of unlawful possession.

That wasn’t precisely what the chairman had in thoughts. He confirmed me the doe however begged to be let off, reminding me of the embarrassing publicity that awaited him. I refused, and he went to court docket, entered a responsible plea, and paid a $100 high-quality. Then he mentioned, “All proper, Barker, now let’s go and have a cup of espresso.” The case was by no means talked about once more, and we remained good associates for years.

In one other case a well-liked lieutenant governor, who was a pal of mine, shot right into a herd of antelope and killed a doe as an alternative of a buck. He was arrested, however he appeared to assume he may repair the costs if he may maintain me from discovering out about it.
Nonetheless, the warden who had caught him acquired phrase to me, and I used to be on the checking station when the lieutenant governor reported.

He was abusive and mentioned he’d have me fired if he needed to go to court docket, however the case was dealt with routinely, and the politician paid his high-quality and took the publicity. He was indignant for 2 years earlier than burying the hatchet and resuming our friendship.

Lee Beal, a national-forest supervisor, and I as soon as checked a truck caught within the mud and located blood and deer hair. Tracks indicated that two males had deserted the truck, gone to the homestead of a widely known poacher, returned with a pack mule, and took house one or two deer.

We had tried in useless for years to get a conviction on the poacher, and I used to be particularly wanting to make this case stick.

On the way in which to his house we noticed a automobile with out-of-state license plates and surmised appropriately that one of many suspects was clearing out. However we had no proof that will enable our stopping the automobile.

Once we confronted the poacher he admitted killing a deer. “The meat is quartered and in a carton within the again room,” he mentioned.

I opened the carton, discovered one thing fascinating, and informed the poacher I used to be going to cost him with killing two deer illegally. He protested vehemently. “I’ll plead responsible to shootin’ one,” he mentioned, “however not two. There’s solely 4 quarters of deer in that field.”

In court docket the subsequent morning I filed prices for killing two deer, and the poacher hit the ceiling. He shook his fist at me from the witness stand and yelled, “I informed you it was just one deer, and I’ll swear to that!”

I opened the carton and laid out the 4 quarters of venison.

“Your honor,” I mentioned, “I name your consideration to the truth that there are two proper hindquarters right here. In the event that they got here from one deer it was a most peculiar animal. The prosecution rests.”

Earlier than we had been by with the case we filed extra prices for unlawful possession of venison, rising out of the distribution of contraband deer by the person we had met on the highway. He and the poacher had fairly a market-hunting operation going.

One other time considered one of my wardens, watching dove hunters from the highway by binoculars, noticed a person and a lady shoot two unlawful quail. He checked their licenses and requested if they’d seen or shot any quail. They mentioned no, and a verify of their recreation luggage revealed solely doves. When the warden persevered they turned abusive.

Looking out the weeds for the useless quail, the officer seen one thing unusual in regards to the plump girl. There have been three bulges in her shirt the place nature supplies solely two. When the warden accused her of hiding the birds there, her husband blew up.

“You’ll be able to’t speak to my spouse that method,” he yelled. “What she has in her shirt is none of your damned enterprise. You say it once more and also you’ll get a fistful of knuckles in your face.”‘

“Settle down,” the officer mentioned. “You’re each underneath arrest. Hand over your weapons.” The weapons had been surrendered and laid apart. Then the warden turned to the lady.

“Woman,” he mentioned, “I’ll provide you with two minutes to supply these birds. If you happen to don’t, I’m getting in after them.”

She blushed, turned her again, and pulled out not two however six quail.

There was one different case I received’t ever neglect. It concerned as tight a spot as Lee Wang, a forest ranger, and I had ever been in.

Whereas watching a pair of tough-looking characters, just lately come to New Mexico and reputed to be harmful gun toters, Wang noticed one kill a fawn antelope and let it lie. The ranger contacted me, and we took the fawn for proof.

We later confronted the pair at their camp and informed the violator that he had been seen taking pictures the antelope. He mentioned nothing in regards to the cost however objected vigorously to going 80 miles to court docket within the county seat.

There was a justice of the peace close by, and we organized with him to carry the trial on the poacher’s camp that night.

The camp consisted of a giant open-ended tent with a small desk in entrance of it, a number of log-block stools, and a campfire off to at least one aspect. Within the tent had been two beds, on every of which a younger girl was mendacity with a rifle at her aspect. The scene was lighted with two lanterns.

We confronted a hard-looking crowd. On one aspect had been the ranger and myself. On the opposite had been the 2 girls, the suspect and his associate, and an area man who owned a spot close by and had a popularity as a foul actor.

Wang and I had left our pistols in our automobile, to verify we didn’t provoke an incident. Two of the boys had been sporting sidearms. That made 4 weapons towards none, and I didn’t like the chances. After I began to fill out the criticism I favored them even much less. There was a tablecloth masking a pile of dishes on the desk, and once I moved it by accident I noticed the butt of a pearl-handled revolver solely inches from the suspect’s proper hand. He rigorously slid the material again over it.

Then one of many males referred to as me apart. “You higher neglect this, Barker,” he mentioned.

“Why?” I requested.

“As a result of these guys are used to getting out of actual hassle with the legislation. They received’t stand for a piddling case like this.”

I walked again to the desk with out answering, and noticed an opportunity to enhance my state of affairs. The suspect left his seat, and I rapidly sat down in his place, making the hid revolver inside six inches of my hand as an alternative of his. I may see that the group didn’t prefer it.

After listening to the case, the justice of the peace discovered the suspect responsible and fined him $50, plus $5 court docket prices. The outlaw peeled a $50 invoice off the highest of a roll as massive as my fist and supplied a second one to pay the court docket prices, however no person may make change. One in all his buddies walked out with the ranger and myself.

“You had been fortunate tonight,” he mentioned, and I’ve by no means doubted his phrase. However I nonetheless assume that pearl-handled revolver had one thing to do with our luck.

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Since these early days there was a marked upgrading of most recreation and conservation businesses, and enchancment in public attitudes towards the enforcement of game-and-fish legal guidelines. In lots of states, nonetheless, there may be nonetheless a necessity for stiffer penalties towards the game-law violator. However the state of affairs as we speak is significantly better than it was once I started my law-enforcement profession in 1931.

Trying again, I wish to assume that by the years our recreation department-backed by a powerful recreation fee, supported by organized sportsmen, and blessed with a topnotch crew of enforcement officers — succeeded in convincing numerous would-be violators that we meant enterprise. That’s one thing that pays dividends in any state — for sportsmen and wildlife.