Occupation · SOC 33-3031
Fish and Game Wardens
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
Median wage
$68,180
$35,670–$94,470
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
6,420
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
11 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessPersuasion
Knowledge areas
Law and GovernmentPublic Safety and SecurityBiologyEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Customer relationship management CRM softwareData base user interface and query softwareMobile location based services softwareMap creation softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
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.Promote or provide hunter or trapper safety training.Participate in search-and-rescue operations.Arrange for disposition of fish or game illegally taken or possessed.Seize equipment used in fish and game law violations.Address schools, civic groups, sporting clubs, or the media to disseminate information concerning wildlife conservation and regulations.Recommend revisions in hunting and trapping regulations or in animal management programs so that wildlife balances or habitats can be maintained.Inspect commercial operations relating to fish or wildlife, recreation, or protected areas.Survey areas and compile figures of bag counts of hunters to determine the effectiveness of control measures.Collect and report information on populations or conditions of fish and wildlife in their habitats, availability of game food or cover, or suspected pollution.Design or implement control measures to prevent or counteract damage caused by wildlife or people.Provide advice or information to park or reserve visitors.Investigate crop, property, or habitat damage or destruction or instances of water pollution to determine causes and to advise property owners of preventive measures.Issue licenses, permits, or other documentation.Document the extent of crop, property, or habitat damage and make financial loss estimates or compensation recommendations.Supervise the activities of seasonal workers.Perform facilities maintenance work, such as constructing or repairing structures or controlling weeds or pests.Participate in firefighting efforts.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Assigned patrol areas — conduct foot, vehicle, and boat patrols under direct supervision to observe and report potential fish and game law violations.Game and fish regulations — read and apply foundational rules and statutes under supervisor guidance in routine field enforcement situations.Field observation notes — document wildlife sightings, license checks, and patrol activities using agency-provided report templates.Hunting and fishing licenses — inspect and verify documentation from the public under close supervision during routine contact stops.Warning citations — issue basic written warnings for minor infractions following established protocols and with supervisory review.Evidence collection — assist senior wardens in gathering and preserving physical evidence at accident or violation scenes.Hunter safety programs — support certified instructors in delivering hunter and trapper safety training to community participants.Agency databases and CRM software — enter patrol reports, contact records, and citation data into agency information systems with guidance.Wildlife habitat — recognize and report signs of ecological disturbance or poaching activity to senior officers in the field.Law enforcement radio and GPS tools — operate mobile location-based services software and communications equipment under supervision during patrols.
developing
Assigned patrol territories — independently conduct multi-mode patrols by vehicle, boat, horse, or on foot to enforce wildlife and boating laws across varied terrain.Fish and game violation investigations — interview witnesses, collect evidence, and prepare investigation files for routine cases with minimal supervisory oversight.Violation citations and written reports — issue warnings, citations, and file accurate incident reports in compliance with state statutes and agency standards.Court evidence packages — compile and organize witness statements, photographs, and physical evidence to support prosecution of fish and game violations.Hunting accidents — investigate reported incidents, determine contributing factors, and document findings using standardized investigative procedures.Arrest and warrant procedures — serve warrants and make lawful arrests in the field, applying agency use-of-force and legal standards appropriately.Hunter safety training courses — coordinate and deliver trapper and hunter safety sessions to community groups using approved curriculum and instructional materials.Interagency coordination — provide requested assistance to local law enforcement agencies during joint operations or emergencies in a supporting role.Spreadsheet and mapping software — analyze patrol data, create basic GIS maps, and produce reports to identify enforcement trends in the assigned district.Public contact interactions — apply social perceptiveness and active listening to de-escalate tense encounters with the public during enforcement activities.
proficient
Multi-jurisdictional patrol operations — autonomously plan and execute enforcement patrols by air, water, and land to address complex violations across a large geographic district.Complex wildlife law violations — lead full investigations from initial complaint through evidence presentation in court, managing all documentation and chain-of-custody requirements.Non-routine violation cases — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to interpret ambiguous evidence, identify patterns, and build prosecutable cases for novel or serious offenses.Ecosystem protection initiatives — design and lead field operations to protect native wildlife populations, invasive-species control efforts, and sensitive habitat areas.Expert court testimony — present compiled evidence, explain investigative findings, and respond to cross-examination with clarity and credibility before judges and juries.Critical incident management — assume field command of hunting accidents, large-scale poaching operations, or environmental crimes, coordinating resources and communications.Interagency law enforcement support — direct joint operations with state police, federal agencies, or tribal authorities, ensuring seamless information sharing and legal compliance.Advanced data analysis — use database query tools and map creation software to conduct spatial analysis of violation trends, habitat conditions, and population data.Regional hunter education program — develop, evaluate, and continuously improve hunter and trapper safety curricula tailored to local ecology and community demographics.Systems evaluation and adaptive management — assess effectiveness of wildlife management programs using field data and recommend evidence-based adjustments to agency leadership.
advanced
District or regional enforcement strategy — set long-term patrol priorities, resource allocation, and enforcement policies to address systemic fish, game, and boating law compliance challenges.Statewide wildlife protection programs — lead cross-agency initiatives to preserve native species, restore ecosystems, and integrate conservation science into enforcement planning.Warden workforce development — design and oversee training pipelines, field training officer programs, and professional development plans for agency warden staff at scale.Legislative and regulatory advocacy — collaborate with lawmakers, agency directors, and stakeholder groups to shape fish and game statutes, regulations, and interagency agreements.Organizational performance systems — establish key performance indicators, audit enforcement outcomes, and drive continuous improvement across patrol divisions using data-informed frameworks.Executive interagency partnerships — represent the agency in multi-state or federal task forces addressing large-scale poaching networks, habitat crimes, or migratory species enforcement.Crisis and emergency leadership — direct agency-wide response to major environmental incidents, mass-casualty hunting accidents, or wildlife disease outbreaks, coordinating public communications.Technology and innovation adoption — evaluate and authorize deployment of new enforcement technologies — including drone surveillance, mobile CRM systems, and predictive mapping tools — across the agency.Stakeholder and community trust — lead public engagement strategies with tribal governments, hunting associations, conservation NGOs, and media to build lasting support for wildlife law enforcement.Institutional knowledge stewardship — author agency-wide best practices, publish enforcement case studies, and mentor senior wardens to sustain organizational expertise across leadership transitions.
Also known as
50 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Environmental Conservation OfficerWildlife Control AgentWildlife ProtectorFish WardenSpecial Reconnaissance Craftsman (Air Force 1Z471)Conservation OfficerDistrict Resource OfficerWildlife and Game ProtectorWildlife Control PartnerLaw Enforcement and Security Officer, Afloat (Navy 2771)WardenSpecial Reconnaissance Helper (Air Force 1Z411)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Craftsman (Air Force 1Z371)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprentice (Air Force 1Z331)Natural Resource OfficerFishing Game WardenGame ProtectorFish and Game WardenInvestigations (Coast Guard INV)Park GuardFish and Wildlife WardenTactical Air Control Party (TACP) Journeyman (Air Force 1Z351)Game AgentCommunity Resource OfficerWildlife OfficerState Game WardenState Game ProtectorFisheries Enforcement OfficerTactical Air Control Party (TACP) Superintendent (Air Force 1Z391)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Helper (Air Force 1Z311)Special Reconnaissance Apprentice (Air Force 1Z431)Park WardenMilitary Police (Army 31B)Mammal Control AgentSpecial Reconnaissance Superintendent (Air Force 1Z491)Security Forces (Air Force 3P0X1)Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist (Coast Guard MLES)Marine Safety Specialist Response (Coast Guard MSSR)Wildlife Enforcement MajorInvestigator (Coast Guard IV)