Guidance.help

Fish and Game Wardens

Under the title Fish and Game Wardens, workers patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. O*NET rates it as medium preparation, which usually means one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. It leans on speaking, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. One core duty is to participate in search-and-rescue operations. On the six-type interest model it reads RCI, meaning hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world comes first, followed by orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. The job can ask you to compile and present evidence for court actions. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

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

Main tasks

  • Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
  • Compile and present evidence for court actions.
  • Protect and preserve native wildlife, plants, or ecosystems.
  • 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.
  • Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
  • Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Writing

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You need to start within a few months, with no training period.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.

Also called

  • Conservation Enforcement Officer
  • Conservation Officer
  • Conservation Warden
  • Fish and Game Constable
  • Game Warden

Related careers

Is this your direction?

See how your interests line up with RCI and 906 other careers.

Take the career test

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.