AUGUSTA — Game Warden Investigator Ethan Buuck, of Division B in Sidney, was honored by his peers as the Maine Game Warden of the Year for 2024. Game Warden Sergeant Justin Fowlie of the midcoast region was honored as supervisor of the year, and retired game warden sergeant Dennis McIntosh was honored as Legendary Game Warden of the Year. The awards were presented at the Maine Warden Service 145th anniversary awards banquet this past Friday, March 21. 

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso was the featured speaker for the annual awards ceremony, and she discussed the notable accomplishments of the Warden Service and the Department from the past year, as well as the significance of the Maine Warden Service marking 145 years as the oldest conservation law enforcement agency in the country. 

“Much has changed since game wardens first patrolled the state 145 years ago, yet one thing remains constant through the breadth of those years, and that is the Maine Warden Service’s unwavering commitment to protect Maine’s natural resources and its people” said Camuso. “I look in front of me, and can gratefully state, some things, however, have not changed. The uniform and equipment may be different, but it is what is inside of those in uniform that has remained constant, and that is what is paramount.”

The awards ceremony gives special recognition to game wardens for exceptional performance during 2024. Awards are given for the Maine Game Warden of the Year, Game Warden Supervisor of the Year, the Legendary Game Warden of the Year, as well as awards for conduct above the normal line of duty, outstanding work that merits special attention, and recognizes individuals and groups who assisted the Maine Warden Service. 

Achievements that were recognized included incidents where lives were saved, and other awards highlighted the conservation of Maine’s fish and wildlife resources in ways deserving of special recognition. The following were recipients of this year’s annual awards.

Game Warden of the Year – Investigator Ethan Buuck

Investigator Ethan Buuck consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and teamwork since he became a game warden, and that has continued that as a warden investigator. Ethan is well known for his willingness to assist others with complex cases and his work ethic, experience, and communication skills have made him an outstanding investigator, while balancing his role with the Coast Guard, Dive Team, and family commitments.

In 2024, he worked on several notable cases, including the seizure of a silver fox in Waldoboro after working with a local warden to obtain a search warrant. He also played a key role in resolving a hunting incident in Liberty, where he successfully obtained confessions regarding the shooter who was a convicted felon, and issued multiple summonses. Throughout the 2024 hunting season, he assisted in various criminal hunting investigations with multiple game wardens, lending his expertise which assisted in obtaining search warrants and seizing evidence.

Ethan also worked diligently on a case involving a company that was illegally registering vehicles through a pathway they created to falsely register vehicles through the State of Maine. Ethan uncovered the fraud operation and was able to put an end to it. In 2023, Ethan worked on a fatal ATV crash, conducting a thorough investigation of the crash which led to multiple charges.

Ethan has been instrumental in training new game wardens in boat operations, utilizing his extensive Coast Guard experience for five different warden schools. He also is an invaluable member of the Warden Service Dive Team, applying his leadership and skills in recovery operations, bringing closure to families who have lost a loved one.

Outside of work, Ethan enjoys spending time with family, woodworking, and coaching his boys in football and hockey, and still finds time to lace up his skates with his family. Ethan always is a team player and is invaluable with his methodical approach and thought process while investigating cases. His calm demeanor and willingness to work with everyone are among the many reasons he was named the 2024 Warden of the year.

Outstanding Supervisor of the Year – Sergeant Justin Fowlie

Sergeant Justin Fowlie has shown exceptional leadership and dedication in his role as a sergeant. He seamlessly manages his section and his wildlife conflict agents in order to provide the best service to the public while maximizing time to protect Maine’s natural resources. Fowlie also fosters strong inter-agency relationships, organizing joint operations with Maine Marine Patrol and Border Patrol to create a positive, team-oriented environment, and to build lasting relationships with other officers. He supports his team with personal gestures, such as thoughtful holiday gifts, handwritten letters, and even covering shifts on Christmas Eve so other families can be together. He leads by example in the field with his calm demeanor and is able to defuse escalating situations. He works with his team and leads by example, setting the up to succeed with organizing aircraft details, and volunteering to be in the plane.

Justin has contributed to various Maine Warden Service teams, including the Critical Incident Stress Management Team, the Honor Guard, and the Evidence Response Team. During his longstanding career with the Maine Warden Service, he has been a cadre and curriculum developer at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. He is dedicated to personal growth for him and his staff, and since becoming a game warden, has graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies.

Justin is respected by colleagues and senior leaders, and he is praised for his leadership, work ethic, and commitment to his team and community. His balance of career and family life highlights his strong character. For his exceptional service, Sergeant Justin Fowlie is the 2024 Outstanding Supervisor of the Year.

2025 Legendary Game Warden – Retired Sergeant Dennis McIntosh

Dennis McIntosh, a retired Maine Game Warden, is the 2025 Legendary Game Warden due to his outstanding career. Dennis served in the U.S. Air Force before pursuing a degree in Conservation Law Enforcement at Unity College, and joined the Maine Warden Service in 1974. He began his career in the Chamberlain Lake District and later transferred to Embden, where he became known for his relentless pursuit of poachers. In Chamberlain Lake, Dennis often worked with other game wardens on the Canadian Moose hunt, focusing on illegal hunters who crossed the border in order to take an illegal moose. In Embden, he quickly became well known for his relentless pursuit of night hunters, and his dogged persistence of following up on tips and leads.

Dennis served as a dive recovery team member for 15 years, bringing closure to many families by recovering loved ones who had drowned. In 1986, he transferred to the Gray District, where he mentored younger wardens, instilling strong work ethic, dedication, and pride in the service. As a supervisor, Dennis led by example, working side by side with his team and remaining committed to catching intentional violators.

Promoted to Sergeant in 1996, Dennis continued to exemplify the values of the Maine Warden Service until his retirement in 2001. He is remembered for his unwavering dedication to the resource, the Warden Service, and his colleagues. His legacy of mentorship, work ethic, bravery, and love for his work makes him a deserving candidate for the 2025 Legendary Game Warden award.

K9 Awards

K9 Conservation case of the year for Tyler Harhart for his work with K9 Tex in Limerick in charging a man with illegal hunting over bait, unlawful possession of a deer and illegal transportation of a deer.

K9 Search and Rescue Case of the Year for Chad Robertson and K9 Storm for their work in tracking and finding two missing children in Phillips, ages 2 and 3, who had wandered down their driveway and then off the road and out of sight.

Meritorious Service Awards

Game Warden Eric Rudolph and Game Warden Chief Pilot Chris Hilton for their work in the rescue of four missing 12-year-old children in December who had walked out onto the ice on Graham Lake in Ellsworth and had broken through and were rescued by Rudolph and Hilton with help from the Ellsworth police department and fire department.

Exemplary Service Awards

-Game Sergeant Harry Wiegman and Game Warden Investigator Josh Smith of Warden Service Division A in Gray for their meticulous and relentless work regarding a missing Windham man, who due to the work of Wiegman and Smith, his remains were found in New Hampshire and another man being charged with murder.

-Game Warden Troy Dauphinee of the Guilford District for his tireless work in  apprehending an impaired snowmobile driver.

-Game Warden Sergeant Adrian Marquis, Game Warden Investigator Seth Powers, and Game Wardens James Gushee, Nick Raymond, Kayle Hamilton, Preston Pomerleau and Kale O’Leary of the Ashland Division for their part in a year’s long illegal bear trapping operation.

-Game Warden Paul Mason of the Brownville District for his work in apprehending a poacher who was killing bear illegally on land he was not allowed to hunt on.

-Game Warden Sergeant Josh Beal and Game Warden Joe McBrine of the Machias Section for apprehending a moose poacher who illegally killed a moose out of season.

-Game Warden Chris Carney of the Biddeford District for his help in rendering care in fatal car crash.

-Game Wardens Chad Robertson, Marc D’Elia and Isaiah Dyer of central Maine for their part in apprehending an illegal poaching group that resulted in over 30 summonses for illegally hunting and theft.

-Game Wardens Tyler Leach, Warden Brandon Sperrey, Warden Joshua Lugdon, Warden Kevin Richards, Warden Charles Brown, Warden Sergeant Andy Glidden, and Investigator Seth Powers for their work regarding an illegal and unethical bear hunting operation.

-Game Warden Melinda Rugg of the Rumford District for her exemplary work in her district, protecting Maine’s natural resources, including issuing multiple summonses for OUI’s and illegal fishing, hunting and trapping violations.

-Game Warden Timothy Coombs of the Lovell District for his work in creating the Maine Warden Service Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Team, which has become invaluable for search and rescue cases.

-Game Warden Hunter Howard of the Waterville District for his work patrolling a very busy district, and his work as a Warden Training Officer and recreational safety instructor in a section where four of the six warden sections were vacant.

-Game Warden Mark Hutcheson of the Clayton Lake District for his help in the rescue of two snowmobilers who had gone through the ice on Churchill Lake.

-Game Warden John Carter of the Deer Isle District for his work in apprehending three men for fishing commercially on waters closed to the commercial taking of baitfish, as well as other successful investigations for illegal baiting, and over the limit cases on alewives.

-Game Warden Nick Johnson of the Winslow District for his work as a warden training officer, drug recognition expert, operation game thief liaison, and as the primary investigator of a bear case where a man illegally killed two bears, and other cases involving multiple illegal deer killings.

-Game Warden Johnathan Parker of the Milford District for his work in the rescue of two elderly man who had gone missing after they went for a December drive on the Stud Mill Road.

-Game Warden Matthew Tenan of the Cherryfield District for his work during the year including the fall hunting season where he caught two night hunters with six illegally killed deer that resulted in 19 summonses.