Near as I can tell, all the wardens in the southeast portion of our state had come together to help our neighbor with his elk season. At least four of them out there on the radio, scattered across the valley.

But that meant there wasn't anybody else out any place else in that part of the state.

Naturally, a call came in to dispatch. Just off the Interstate, near Capitol City. Far enough away, whoever responded, that would be all they did the rest of the day. I listened as the warden who first took the report called from one warden to the next, to see who could best break free from the fun stuff in the mountains, to go out on the asphalt.

When the fourth and last finally responded, he was asked if he had heard the radio traffic yet.

"Yeah, but I wasn't listening."

So, after the details were passed on yet again, it was mutually concluded that the warden who first responded was also the most reasonable to go.

Dejectedly, with his pronounced cowboy drawl, he called back to the last warden, "You know, just 'cause it's me talking doesn't mean you should stop listenin'."

As no one volunteered to take this call off his hands, he broadcast, even more sadly...

"Have fun, you guys."

"Me and my gummy worms are leaving."

And then it was quiet again.