Vermont Game Warden Association

02/14/2026

Did your ex shoot a buck after dark?
Or maybe they’ve got a trophy rack hanging that never made it onto a harvest report? 👀🦌

Don’t text them this Valentine’s Day— text us. Our Vermont Game Wardens would be happy to deliver a “Valentine” straight to their door. 🎫💔

Tips can be submitted anonymously through Operation Game Thief.
If your information leads to a conviction, you may be eligible for a reward — just enough for a great dinner (and maybe a maple creemee 🍦) with your real Valentine.

📞 Call: 1-800-75-ALERT (1-800-752-5378)
🌐 Web: https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunting-regulations/operation-game-thief

09/01/2025

Senior Warden Circe and Warden Truong were out on a patrol of Waterbury Reservoir this afternoon when they approached an angler to conduct a routine license check.

Before a word was said, the individual unexpectedly took off running, leaving behind a reusable grocery bag filled with pumpkinseed and rock bass (52 in total).

All the fish were legal, and there was no apparent violation. Encounters like this remind us that there’s often more to the story than what we see on the surface.

If you’re fishing legally — there’s never a reason to run.

Please save yourself from having to run through the woods, it’s not too late to buy your fishing license and learn the fishing regulations.

Please let us know if anyone’s looking for their reusable grocery bag and their 52 pan fish, we’d love to return it to them.

07/25/2025

Update 7/25/2025: Thanks to a tip from the community a suspect was apprehended. Thank you to everyone who played a part in helping bring this to a close in record time. Your tips, your voices, and your support made all the difference.

🛑 Dead Bear Found – Investigation Underway 🛑

On Wednesday July 23rd, Vermont game wardens responded to reports of a dead bear found in the Trout River in Montgomery, near the Route 118 / Dreamers Road intersection.

Upon investigation, wardens confirmed the bear had been shot and illegally dumped in the river.

Authorities are now seeking any information related to this incident.

📞 If you saw or heard anything suspicious in the area, please come forward using our Operation Game Thief anonymous tip line:

1-800-752-5378

👉 Respect wildlife. Protect our ecosystem. Report illegal activity.

05/22/2025

Congratulations Major Reed!!

Join all of us at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the Vermont Game Warden Association in offering our heartfelt congratulations to our newly promoted Game Warden Major Jenna Reed!

Major Reed has been a Game Warden for 15 years. For the majority of her career, Major Reed served as the local Game Warden for the greater Newport area. In 2021, Major Reed was promoted from Game Warden to Game Warden Sergeant. In this role, she led the Department's and Warden Service's boating enforcement and education initiatives.

The Game Warden Major is responsible for the overall day-to-day supervision and administration of the Warden Service. With her promotion from Sergeant to Major, Reed will now oversee the Warden Service's daily operations and assist with the development of operating policies, budgeting, equipment procurement, planning and hiring, and the general management of the Service's law enforcement operations.

📷 Game Warden Major Jenna Reed (center), Game Warden Colonel Justin Stedman (left) and Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Interim Commissioner Andrea Shortsleeve (right), along with Game Warden district leaders, celebrate Major Reed's promotion at VFWD Headquarters in Montpelier this past Tuesday.

05/16/2025

03/20/2025

Apply Now: Arnold Magoon Memorial Scholarship

Are you a graduating high school senior or a recent graduate (within the last two years) from Vermont with a passion for our natural resources? The Arnold Magoon Memorial Scholarship, in memory of fallen Vermont Game Warden Arnold Magoon, is now accepting applications!

Scholarship Details:

Award Amount: $1,000

Eligibility: Open to students intending to major in Forestry, Conservation, Ecology, Fish & Game Management, Biology, or similar fields.

Application Deadline: April 15th

Award Notification: Recipients will be notified in May.

Application Requirements:

Complete the application form (link is below)

Submit a letter of recommendation.

Write a personal letter detailing your leadership roles, reasons for deserving this scholarship, and your future educational goals. Feel free to include any additional information you deem important.

Upon successful completion of your first semester, recipients must provide a progress report, after which the scholarship funds will be disbursed.

For further inquiries, please reach out via the contact information provided on the application.

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/sites/fishandwildlife/files/documents/About%20Us/Employment/Magoon-Scholarship-Application-VGWA.pdf (https://vtfishandwildlife.com/sites/fishandwildlife/files/documents/About%20Us/Employment/Magoon-Scholarship-Application-VGWA.pdf)

02/28/2025

Yesterday morning Vermont Game Wardens responded to a plane crash on Mt. Equinox in Manchester. Wardens utilized snowmobiles and snowshoes to reach the crash site and were among the first on scene.

All three passengers survived and were hoisted off the mountain via helicopter by and

Wardens assisted many additional local law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies including Manchester Police and Fire.

11/14/2024

POTENTIAL REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION REGARDING BALD EAGLE ILLEGALLY SHOT IN BRIDPORT, VERMONT

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 to eligible individuals for information that significantly furthers the investigation into, or leads to enforcement action against, the person(s) who illegally shot a bald eagle in or near Bridport, Vermont, this past October.

Game wardens with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department first responded to reports of a dead adult bald eagle near East Street in Bridport on October 15, 2024. A radiography analysis found metal pellets and recent wounds consistent with shotgun fire in the eagle’s body. Officials confirm these are the cause of death. Data from a research band on the eagle’s leg showed that it was first observed in Vermont in August 2006.

The case is being jointly investigated by the special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and game wardens with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Anyone with information should contact Game Warden Detective Sgt. David Taddei with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department at (802) 498-7078. Wildlife crimes can also be reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through their online tip form or at 1-844-FWS-TIPS (1-844-397-8477).

“U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department game wardens have a strong history of working together to enforce federal wildlife law in our state,” said Game Warden Col. Justin Stedman with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. “Vermonters also have an impressive record of stepping up with information about poaching cases and wildlife violations when law enforcement asks for help. If you know something that could help us hold the person who shot this protected, native bird accountable, we hope you will come forward.”

Although bald eagles have been recovered under both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and Vermont’s state endangered species statutes, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Maximum fines for killing an eagle under these federal laws are $15,000 and $100,000 respectively.

06/27/2024

Are you interested in spending an evening fishing with your local Vermont State Game Warden? Vermont State Parks will be hosting Fish With a Warden sessions and we want you to join us! At these events, improve your angling skills, ask questions, or just enjoy a relaxing evening by the water. These events are perfect for those looking for a mentorship style fishing outing. Admission into the park is also free during these events. For more information, go to the link in our bio!

06/14/2024

Proceeds from this years raffle will benefit our Warden Service K9’s! Our four K9s play a crucial role in wildlife investigations among many other important duties. Visit WWW.VTK9.COM/SHOP to purchase tickets ($20 each).

Fletch, Boone, Ramsey, and Rezi along with the rest of the VT Warden Service appreciate your support!

06/03/2024

On June 1st, Game Wardens were on patrol in the Weybridge area when they were notified by dispatch of a report from a concerned citizen regarding a group of anglers observed catching and keeping a number of bass on the Otter Creek. It is currently the closed season for bass, and it is illegal to catch and keep them.

Game Wardens responded to the area and were able to locate the mentioned anglers. Through investigation Game Wardens discovered 31 illegal bass, and 5 anglers in violation. The illegal bass were seized, and the anglers were issued criminal tickets.

The Vermont Warden service encourages citizens to call in about illegal activities they observe to ensure the protection of Vermonts natural resources.

If you witness a wildlife crime or you are aware of poaching activities please contact the Operation Game Thief anonymous tip line at 1-800-752-5378