The Game of Wardens and Poachers

This paper is a descriptive analysis of the main aspect of the job of game wardens, the apprehension of poachers. Based on data from interviews with 62 game wardens the author describes the actions of game wardens in attempting to enforce wildlife conservation laws. Extensive quotations from interviews with game wardens are presented. The analysis is focused around their responses to guiding questions regarding the probability of apprehension of poachers. These include: (1) poaching alone, (2) very experienced at poaching, (3) nevertalks about their poaching activities, (4) the use of informants, (5) remaining mobile, (6) being familiar with the geographic area in which one poaches, and (7) poaching in a large area (not relegated to hunting in a small specific area). The concept folk crime is discussed