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 MakingSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationWritingSystems AnalysisService OrientationTime ManagementSystems EvaluationOperations MonitoringInstructingActive LearningOperation and ControlNegotiationLearning StrategiesScienceMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisTroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Law and GovernmentPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageBiologyCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyGeographySociology and AnthropologyEducation and TrainingAdministration and ManagementAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaMathematicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesTelecommunicationsTransportationMedicine and DentistryMechanicalSales and MarketingTherapy and CounselingChemistryHistory and ArcheologyPhysicsForeign LanguageEconomics and AccountingDesignPhilosophy and TheologyFood ProductionEngineering and TechnologyBuilding and ConstructionProduction and ProcessingFine Arts
Technology & tools
Customer relationship management CRM softwareDatabase softwareGlobal positioning system GPS softwareMapping softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPuppetSpreadsheet softwareSwiftWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDocumenting/Recording InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersThinking CreativelyScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationWorking with ComputersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesAssisting and Caring for OthersTraining and Teaching OthersSelling or Influencing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsAnalyzing Data or InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming Administrative ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCoaching and Developing OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesDeveloping and Building TeamsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
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
31 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Community Resource OfficerConservation Enforcement OfficerConservation OfficerDistrict Resource OfficerEnvironmental Conservation OfficerFish and Game WardenFish and Wildlife WardenFish WardenFisheries Enforcement OfficerFishing Game WardenGame AgentGame and Fish ProtectorGame ProtectorGame WardenMammal Control AgentNatural Resource OfficerPark GuardPark WardenResource OfficerState Game ProtectorState Game WardenState Wildlife OfficerWardenWildlife and Game ProtectorWildlife Conservation OfficerWildlife Control AgentWildlife Control PartnerWildlife Enforcement MajorWildlife OfficerWildlife ProtectorWoods Warden