Fish and Game Wardens

Career summary

#closest match is 4126 fish & wildlife spec, checked 2/24/15 lh

Fish and game wardens perform the following duties:

• Monitor wildlife
• Enforce laws
• Work with the public

Monitor wildlife

Fish and game wardens monitor wildlife populations. The term wildlife applies to animals that are not raised by humans, such as deer and wolves. Wardens want to be sure there are not too many or too few of each type of animal. Wardens gather data through research and observation. If the number of animals is low, wardens recommend changes to protect animals. If the number of animals is high, wardens must determine how to decrease the number. In addition, wardens must determine whether the change in the number of animals is a long-term event or just a one-year change.

Enforce laws

Wardens also enforce hunting and fishing laws. They check that hunters and fishers have the proper licenses and are not taking too many animals. Wardens may write tickets when they find people who have broken the law. They may also seize hunters' or fishers' gear, or their catch if it was caught illegally. In addition, they promote hunter safety and investigate hunting accidents. Fish and game wardens may use cars, boats, horses, or airplanes to monitor wildlife areas.

Some wardens become wildlife inspectors or special agents. Wildlife inspectors work at major US entry ports to decrease the illegal trade of fish and wildlife. Special agents are trained as criminal investigators. They may work undercover to expose illegal businesses, such as people hunting animals that are at risk of being extinct.

Work with the public

Fish and game wardens frequently work with the public. They may make presentations to schools or sporting clubs about where animals live, how they survive, and what is being done to protect them.

Fish and game wardens also work with people who live near wildlife areas. They investigate property or crops that may have been damaged by animals. Wardens suggest ways that property owners can prevent future damage. They also record the amount of damage and estimate how much the owners will be paid for their loss.

Related careers

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Agricultural Inspectors
• Border Patrol Agents
• Conservation Scientists
• Detectives and Investigators
• Foresters
• Forestry Technicians
• Park Naturalists
• Police Patrol Officers
• Private Detectives and Investigators
• Security Guards

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to fish and game wardens.

• Promote hunter safety and protect and preserve wildlife and ecosystems.
• Patrol assigned areas by car, boat, airplane, horse, or on foot.
• Ensure hunters or fishers are using legal methods and equipment.
• Issue licenses and assist in promoting hunter safety training.
• Investigate hunting accidents and reports of fish and game law violations.
• Issue tickets and citations or arrest people who violate laws.
• Inspect commercial operations, such as fisheries and recreational parks.
• Seize equipment used in violations.
• Search area for animal tracks and other evidence to identify species of animal responsible for property or crop damage.
• Photograph damage, record other evidence, and estimate financial loss for property owners.
• Advise property owners on ways to prevent damage from happening again.
• Collect and report information on population and condition of fish and wildlife in their habitat.
• Recommend changes in hunting and trapping rules to obtain balance of wildlife and habitat.
• Address various groups to educate the public and promote wildlife conservation habits.

Common work activities

Fish and game wardens perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Perform for or work with the public
• Document and record information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Think creatively
• Schedule work and activities
• Process information
• Use computers
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Assist and care for others
• Teach others
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Handle and move objects
• Analyze data or information
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Coach others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, fish and game wardens:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of interaction with hunters, fishers, staff, and people from other agencies.
• Communicate by phone, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis. They also write letters and memos, but less often.
• Are often placed in conflict situations where people might be unpleasant or angry.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of the public, especially hunters and fishers.
• May on occasion work as part of a group.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.

Physical work conditions

• Often wear a special uniform. Part of the uniform may include carrying a weapon.
• Often work outdoors. May do some office work when writing reports. Indoor locations may not be temperature controlled.
• Drive to different job sites in a truck, van, car, or cart.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous situations that may produce cuts, burns, or stings.
• Are sometimes exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outdoors.
• Are sometimes exposed to extremely bright or dim lighting conditions.
• Are occasionally exposed to hazardous equipment and contaminants.
• May occasionally wear protective or safety attire. Those who handle animals may wear leather gloves to protect themselves from bites.
• Are occasionally exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• May share office space with other workers.

Work performance

• Often make decisions that greatly impact hunters, fishers, and wildlife. They usually act independently when deciding a course of action.
• Must be sure that all details of the job are performed and everything is completed accurately. Errors can severely affect wildlife populations and human safety.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor.
• Work in a somewhat stressful atmosphere where strict weekly deadlines must be met.

Hours/travel

• May work day, evening, or weekend shifts.
• May work more than 40 hours per week.
• May travel to other parts of the wilderness areas where they work.

Physical demands

Fish and game wardens frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for fish and game wardens to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Determine the distance between objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for fish and game wardens to be able to:

• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• See objects in very low light.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.

Skills and abilities

Fish and game wardens need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Teach others how to do something.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Law Enforcement and Police Science
• Wildlife Sciences and Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Conservation Biology
• Fisheries Sciences and Management
• Natural Resources Conservation
• Natural Resources Policy and Management
• Wildlife Biology

Training

To work as a fish and game warden, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have at least an associate degree; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Most fish and game wardens learn their skills through both formal and on-the-job training. Requirements vary by state and agency. Wardens must have at least an associate degree and many have a bachelor's degree. Combining a wildlife management major with law enforcement courses is good preparation. Community colleges, technical schools, and universities all offer these courses.

Work experience

Experience as a law enforcement officer is a good background.

Gaining experience in the field is important while attending college. One way to get experience is a summer job or internship at a national park or fish hatchery. You might work with crews that perform stream or wildlife surveys.

On-the-job training

The length and type of on-the-job training varies by the type of job. Most fish and game wardens attend the same law enforcement academy as police patrol officers. Training generally lasts up to one month. Those who are wildlife special agents or inspectors generally receive extra training.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Animal Science
• Computer Applications
• Criminology
• Natural Resources Management
• Physical Education
• Psychology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.  Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer to hire applicants who have at least two years of college. They may accept three years of related work experience instead of a degree. For special agent positions, the federal government requires applicants to have a bachelor's degree. Special agent positions also require an applicant to be between the ages of 21 and 37.

Employers look for applicants who have strong morals. Applicants may be required to pass a background check and a physical exam. Some agencies may require a physical endurance or agility test.

In Washington, fish and wildlife officers must have a four-year degree in natural resource science or criminal justice, or a two-year degree and two years of experience in natural resource science, or two years paid, full-time, fully commissioned law enforcement experience, or three years active military duty within the last nine years. For more information on becoming a state fish and wildlife officer, contact:

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Enforcement Program 
360.902.2936

The Department also offers a volunteer program. For more information about it see:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/volunteer/ 

#Checked info 4/11/16, 3/28/18 cj. updated urls 2/26/19 lh

Tips

To learn more about being a fish and wildlife officer, go with an officer on his or her daily rounds. This can be arranged through captains at regional Department of Fish and Wildlife offices. An understanding of current environmental issues is important. A willingness to be flexible in terms of location, hours, and duties is helpful when first entering this field. Fish and game wardens often work alone and in remote areas. They may encounter potentially dangerous situations when investigating violations of and trying to enforce fish and wildlife related state laws.

#Comments on working alone & dangerous situations based on article, "Wildlife officers play dangerous role," Seattle Times, July 26, 2010 that LH found, cj.

Costs to workers

Workers who join a professional association may pay a membership fee and annual dues.

Licensing/certification

Fish and wildlife officers must be at least 21 years old and be certified as peace officers by the State of Washington and the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). They must meet the same CJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy requirements as other law enforcement officers.

For more information on the law enforcement academy, contact:

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission 
19010 - 1st Avenue South
Burien, WA 98148
206.835.7300

#Verified above 4/11/16, 3/28/18 cj. 2/26/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Fish and Game Wardens 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages increase as workers advance in the government ranking system. Wages also vary by experience and level of responsibility. Special agents earn more than other wardens.

Fish and game wardens usually receive benefits such as paid vacation and sick leave. They may also receive health insurance and a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

#In Washington, ongoing state budget cutbacks are reducing hiring of fish and game wardens. Wardens must handle more public contact and larger case loads.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• State and local government agencies
• Federal government agencies (US Fish and Wildlife or National Park Service)

National outlook

The number of jobs in this field is related to the amount of money state or federal governments spend on fish and game management. This amount depends on what issues are priorities locally or nationally. In addition, funding depends on whether elected officials see wildlife management as an important issue.

Other resources

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 

American Fisheries Society 
425 Barlow Place, Suite 110
Bethesda, MD 20814-2144
301.897.8616

Association of Field Ornithologists 

Delta Waterfowl Foundation 
PO Box 3128
Bismarck, ND 58502
888.987.3695
701.222.8857

The Wildlife Society 
425 Barlow Place, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.897.9770

US Fish and Wildlife Service 

Wildlife Conservation Society 
2300 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10460
718.220.5100

References

Career cluster

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Fish and Game Wardens (33-3031.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Fish and Game Warden (379.167-010) 
• Wildlife Control Agent (379.267-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Investigative/Social

COPSystem

• Outdoor