Fish and Game Warden

Fish and game wardens have the opportunity to combine a love of wildlife with participation in a law enforcement field.

Duties

Fish and game wardens patrol a designated territory to enforce fish and game laws and regulations. They have the authority to arrest violators and seize the game and equipment related to the infraction. They also investigate damage caused by wildlife and collect data for wildlife research purposes.

Additional responsibilities for fish and game wardens may include issuing hunting or fishing licenses, conducting safety training seminars for hunters, assisting with search and rescue operations, and coordinating with wildlife rehabilitators to provide assistance to injured wildlife. Wardens also are tasked with responsibly carrying and using their government issued firearm.

Fish and game wardens must work outdoors in variable weather conditions, covering considerable amounts of difficult terrain by foot, off-road vehicle, boat, snowmobile, or airplane. Work during weekends and holidays may be required, as there is generally increased hunting and fishing activity during these periods. Wardens are always “on call” for emergency situations outside of normal working hours.

There are also administrative duties required of fish and game wardens such as filling out reports, conducting interviews, and assisting with preparation of cases for prosecution. Public relations and educational duties, such as speaking to clubs and youth groups, is also a potential responsibility.

Career Options

Fish and game wardens can work in a variety of state or local positions. In a May 2010 survey by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), there were 6,330 state positions and 910 local positions in the U.S. The states with the highest number of employees in this field are Georgia (560), Florida (550), Texas (420), and Tennessee (360).

Most fish and game wardens work for a branch of state government known as a Department of Natural Resources, Department of Parks and Wildlife, or a similarly named entity. Areas of patrol may include beaches, forests, lakes, rivers, deserts, mountains, canyons, and other varied terrain.

Some fish and game wardens specialize by working as part of a canine unit, scuba diving team, incident management unit, aviation team, or a special investigations division.

Education and Training

General requirements for prospective fish and game wardens include completion of at least two years of college (and preferably four) in an area such as wildlife management or law enforcement, taking written and oral exams, and successfully passing a battery of physical tests. Prior experience in a law enforcement field adds strength to an applicant’s resume.

New recruits are generally expected to be at least 21 years of age at the time of application, though a few states permit applicants to be as young as 18 if they are able to meet all other requirements. The vast majority of applicants are over 21 years of age.

Once hired, new recruits are generally required to complete additional in-house and field training as part of a training academy program. This additional training period usually lasts from three months to a full year, depending upon the requirements of the individual state. There may also be an additional probationary period following the academy session before a new recruit is promoted to full fledged fish and game warden status.

Many fish and game wardens choose to join professional membership organizations such as the North American Wildlife Officers Association (NAWEOA). The NAWEOA hosts an annual conference event, publishes an industry magazine and newsletter, and offers other continuing education materials for its members. There are over 8,000 full and associate members involved with this professional organization.

Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) the annual mean salary for fish and game wardens is $56,540 for state government positions and $49,420 for local government positions. The lowest ten percent earned less than $31,340 ($14.97 per hour) and the highest ten percent earned more than $81,250 ($39.06 per hour).

The top paying states by annual mean wage during the 2010 BLS study were Maryland ($67,570), Nevada ($62,070), Washington ($60,280), Wisconsin ($54,790), and Texas ($54,660).

Additional perks for fish and game wardens may include use of a company vehicle, cell phone, and an excellent government benefit package.

Job Outlook

Competition for game warden positions is always keen, as there are usually many more interested applicants than jobs available. Due to limited funding, the total number of fish and game wardens is not expected to expand significantly over the next decade.

While the vast majority fish and game wardens are male, women are beginning to enter the field in increasing numbers.