Working as a game warden may be the perfect career choice if you have an interest in law enforcement and love the outdoors. A career as a game warden can entail visiting some of America's wildest, most beautiful and most remote places -- and getting paid to do so. There are several official titles for this job, including wildlife officer, natural resource officer and conservation officer. As with police officers, fish and game wardens are paid based on their rank, which ranges from cadet to captain. Once on the job, game wardens wear badges issued by the state or government entity for which they work.
Education and Preparation
Educational requirements for game wardens, also called fish and game wardens because they also enforce fishing regulations, vary by state. Some positions may require only a high school diploma, while others require some college credits related to conservation, biology or criminal justice. Candidates seeking employment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are required to hold a bachelor's degree. Once they have been hired, fish and game wardens are sent to a training academy similar to academies used to train police officers. The length of training varies by state, but is usually between 6 months and a year. For example, Maine state warden positions require 30 weeks of training, while aspiring wardens in Virginia must undergo 29 weeks of basic law enforcement training followed by an additional 15 weeks of training in the field.
While game wardens spend some time indoors at warden or police stations, the majority of their time is spent outdoors. This frequently involves patrolling roads and trails by truck, all-terrain vehicle or foot. Game wardens also use canoes or motorboats to patrol lakes, ponds and streams. Some game wardens work for state departments of conservation and national resources, and others find employment through local police departments. Others find federal employment through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Park Service.
Fish and game wardens have a variety of responsibilities, but their primary duty is to enforce state and federal laws relating to hunting, fishing and the use of protected lands. For example, wardens make sure that fishers are licensed and do not take home more fish than allowed by law. They also ensure that hunters do not bring home more than the legal limit, and that they only hunt in designated areas and at designated times of the year. Wardens are also responsible for enforcing any state and federal laws that pertain to recreational boating, such as licensing and ensuring that passengers are wearing or in possession of life preservers and are not operating under the influence. Depending on the severity of the crime, wardens may issue a fine or make an arrest. According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, wardens may also sometimes be called upon to help biologists conduct research pertaining to conservation problems.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pay for fish and game wardens was $55,670 per year in 2011. Local wardens averaged $51,550 per year, while those who worked for a state earned an average of $56,210. Of states that reported specific pay information for fish and game wardens, Maryland was the highest-paying, with an average salary of $69,410. Washington ranked second in the nation, with an average of $61,180 per year.
While the BLS expects the employment growth rate to average 14 percent across all occupations between 2010 and 2020, the expected growth rate for all police and detectives is just 7 percent, and the expected growth rate for game wardens in particular is just 5 percent. This is a popular career because it usually entails boating, hiking and being outdoors. Because of this popularity and the relatively slow job growth rate, aspiring fish and game wardens should be prepared for competition when applying for a job.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Police and Detectives
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2011 Wages for Fish and Game Wardens
- iSeek Careers: Fish and Game Wardens
- Oklahoma Wildlife Department: Facts about Oklahoma Game Wardens
- Maine Warden Service: North Woods Law TV Series
- Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries: Conservation Police Officer
- Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images