Fish and Game Wardens

Career Overview

Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.

Also Known As

• Game Warden
• Natural Resource Officer
• State Game Warden
• Wildlife Officer

Alternate Job Titles

• Community Resource Officer
• Conservation Enforcement Officer
• Conservation Officer
• District Resource Officer
• Environmental Conservation Officer
• Fish and Game Warden
• Fish and Wildlife Warden
• Fish Warden
• Fisheries Enforcement Officer
• Fishing Game Warden
• Game Agent
• Game and Fish Protector
• Game Protector
• Game Warden
• Mammal Control Agent

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• Patrol assigned areas by car, boat, airplane, horse, or on foot to enforce game, fish, or boating laws or to manage wildlife programs, lakes, or land.
• Compile and present evidence for court actions.
• Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
• Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
• Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
• Serve warrants and make arrests.
• Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.

Emerging Responsibilities

As this field evolves, you may also:

• Operate drones for surveillance of large areas and tracking of wildlife.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Law and Government
• Public Safety and Security
• Biology
• English Language
• Customer and Personal Service
• Psychology
• Geography

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Active Listening
2. Critical Thinking
3. Speaking
4. Reading Comprehension

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Far Vision
• Written Comprehension

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Integrity
• Dependability
• Self-Control
• Stress Tolerance
• Cautiousness

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Independence
• Achievement
• Working Conditions
• Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Puppet
• Swift

Tools & Equipment

• .40 caliber semi-automatic pistols
• 12-gauge shotguns
• Airboats
• All terrain vehicles ATV
• Animal traps
• Blood collection kits
• Canoes
• Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits
• Desktop computers
• Digital camcorders
• Digital cameras
• Emergency first aid kits
• Fingerprint evidence kits
• Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
• Geodetic ground global positioning system GPS receivers

Work Environment

• In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
• Telephone Conversations
• Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
• E-Mail
• Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$35,670
Median	$68,180
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$94,470

Workers Employed Nationally: 6,420

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.