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Game wardens across the country perform much of the law enforcement work required to police the nation’s wilderness areas. These duties include regulating fishing and hunting, fighting against poaching, enforcing camping and alcohol related regulations, and even helping the public in cases related to dangerous encounters with wildlife. Game wardens have a storied history in the country, and for good reason. The officers provide a wide range of services in sparsely populated areas, while engaging in a job that requires patience, critical thinking skills, and a love for nature.
Game wardens have varying job functions depending on the needs of different municipalities across the country. In many areas game wardens are responsible for issuing fishing and hunting licenses, and enforcing regulations related to fishing and hunting. For example, in areas where a specific species of fish is endangered or protected, fish and game wardens may be responsible for monitoring local fish stocks to ensure that people are not illegally fishing them. Similarly, game wardens are tasked with ensuring that hunted species are only taken during the proper time of year, and not out of season.
Many areas use game wardens’ services in order to police campgrounds. These policing duties may include regulating the number of campers allowed at a specific campsite, ensuring that campers are safe during their stays, and even providing campers with assistance and information regarding proper food storage and campfire control techniques. In this way, game wardens serve not only as law enforcement officers, but in many ways serve as officers of public education.
In their law enforcement duties game wardens come across those who would illegally take species from their native habitats, not only to hunt them, but to smuggle or poach them. For example, game wardens in northern states are now on the lookout for those who would poach black bears for their valuable gallbladders. Add to this the fact that game wardens also help to protect the public against the wildlife found in many wilderness areas, and it becomes clear that game wardens have some of the most diverse and adventure-filled jobs in the nation.