Celebrated NH Fish & Game Officer Retires
Saunders came face-to-face with killer Carl Drega
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A storied New Hampshire Fish and Game officer recently retired after more than 20 years with the organization. Lt. Wayne Saunders is possibly best remembered in the state for coming face-to-face with killer Carl Drega in 1997. Drega had already killed two police officers, a judge, and a newspaper editor in a rampage when Saunders came upon him under a train trestle. Drega shot Saunders, and the round went through his badge and out his shoulder. Drega was later killed by police. Saunders’ life-saving badge still hangs at NH Fish and Game headquarters. NH Fish and Game and the White Mountain National Forest collaborate on the hiker safety program hikeSafe.
