feature
NATURE’S CALLING
A look into one game warden’s calling.
WRITTEN BY HEIDI BETHEL
PHOTOS BY CANDICE NYANDO
Buck Tingle always knew he wanted to work in Nevada’s great outdoors. With fond childhood memories of time spent covering the country in Elko County and beyond, Tingle shared a special connection with nature and yearned to uphold the area’s reputation as a memorable, safe place for hunters, outdoorsmen, and fishermen alike.
“Growing up, fishing and hunting were enjoyable activities that also provided good meat for my family,” Tingle says. “Being close to nature is how I was raised and [was] a way of life.”
Embracing this natural calling, Tingle earned his bachelor’s degree in ecology and conservation from the University of Nevada, Reno; he now serves as a game warden for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Defenders of law
Tingle is a certified category one police officer who attended the Nevada Law Enforcement Academy and completed specialized training for game wardens. He also continues to receive credentials in firearms, wildlife conflict, and active-shooter scenarios.
“As law enforcement officers, game wardens are tasked with enforcing all Nevada state laws and, many times, we are doing so when those we come in contact with have weapons on them,” Tingle says. “That’s always a challenge that we try to keep in mind and approach differently than others in our field. … We try to relate to people and portray ourselves, as an agency, in a positive light. We are out there for the good of everyone.”
Each day anew
“There is no true typical day for a game warden,” Tingle explains.
With duties ranging from checking fishermen’s licenses at the Sparks Marina to responding to a dispatch about a bear in Incline Village, and patrolling for poachers in Warm Springs Valley, the responsibilities of a game warden in Nevada are as vast as the territory they cover, with each season offering unique circumstances.
“During the fall, we focus on the hunting season,” Tingle says. “We spend days on end camping and patrolling for hunters. We’ll watch to see what they’re doing and make sure people are following the law. Many times we catch offenders who have loaded weapons in their vehicles, are harvesting an animal in the wrong area, or are harvesting without a tag — all of which are illegal and punishable with anything from a misdemeanor to a felony arrest for poaching a big game animal.”
Recently, through NDOW’s Operation Game Thief hotline, which allows anonymous reporting of questionable hunting and fishing activities, Tingle and other local officials caught an antelope poacher in Central Nevada.
“I got the call from OGT from a witness who saw someone actively shooting antelope before the season started,” Tingle recalls. “We connected with law enforcement [officials closer to it] than us, the poacher was caught, and charges are currently being brought against that individual.”
Tingle is passionate about protecting Nevada’s wildlife. “Poaching is one of the reasons why most game wardens are in this career. It irks you to hear of someone taking a big animal. I grew up hunting in Nevada and, at the very core, want to do right by it.”
Heidi Bethel, owner of Bethel Communication and Events, also grew up in Elko, Nev. While she never ventured out on a big game hunt, she has fond memories of fishing the urban waterways and great lakes of this fine state. And she always did so with the proper licensing in hand.
Resources
While recreating, hunting, or fishing in Nevada, outdoorsmen are expected to know the laws of the area. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Know the Laws
• Read NDOW’s hunting and fishing regulation brochures and booklets, which are updated each year.
• When hunting big game, be sure you have a tag and are hunting in the correct unit and area. Do not have a loaded firearm in your vehicle.
• When hunting upland game birds or fishing, get the appropriate licenses and be aware of the limit you may take in a single day, as well as the total amount you may possess at a single time.
• If you suspect illegal activity, report it to Operation Game Thief at 800-992-3030.
• For details, visit http://www.Ndow.org
