7The word game warden is a generic term for a group of wildlife enforcement officers. Harold "Bud" L. Holste developed from a boy who loved to watch wildlife, to work in the mountains, to a man, to a poacher hunter, to a thirty-one-and-a-half-year career wildlife enforcement officer, even working undercover with a beard and ponytail for eight years to arrest the hardened criminals. The events and stories told here are true, some humorous and entertaining. Bud started as a field officer called a game protector in Ohio, moved to the state of Washington with a position of wildlife agent, was promoted to a sergeant, transferred to SIU, and finally, was promoted to captain, supervisor of the Washington Statewide Special Investigation Unit. The DNA test results for a game protector, a wildlife agent, a sergeant, a special investigator and a captain, all came back to one and the same person, a game warden called Bud. The common gene found in them all, an inquisitive mind. Bud has had many opportunities to fish, hunt, raft white water, and enjoy the great outdoors. Bud's many opportunities watching and working with wildlife was an additional benefit. Bud received a black eye, received a broken nose, was assaulted, had to physically arrest several violators, saved a child from being kidnapped, and felt like he was going to get shot four times. He also thought he was going to die in a vehicle accident thirty days before he would retire. Always keep your finger off the trigger until a target is acquired, the refrigerator you save might be your own! Bud's instincts and, on a couple occasions, a compass always brought him back to his vehicle so he wouldn't have to walk around a tree all night to keep warm. Was he lucky or gifted? You decide.