Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Recruit (In-Training to Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Officer)

Classification:
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer

Job Status:
Full-Time / Permanent

WDFW Program:
Enforcement Program

Duty Station:
Statewide Locations, Washington State

Testing Cycle Deadline:
Interview Timeline TBD

This is an open continuous announcement as testing/application is completed through Public Safety Testing.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Picture yourself as a Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer, commonly known as a Game Warden, enforcing numerous laws and regulations related to health and public safety, dangerous wildlife/human conflicts, fish and wildlife protection, hunting and fishing license regulations, habitat protection, and commercial/recreational fish and shellfish harvest.

These are opportunities to patrol various parts of Washington state using motor vehicles, vessels, ATVs, ROVs, snowmobiles and on foot while investigating complaints and deterring criminal activities.

We are seeking team players with demonstrated talent representing WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy.

• Entry Level Base Pay (In-Training) = $7,141.00
• Base Pay (upon training completion & lateral officer) = $7,713.00 to $10,104.00
• Education Incentive
  • Associate degree 2%
  • Bachelor’s degree 4%
• Assignment Pay (upon training completion) 10%
• Geographic Pay (upon training completion) Pierce 2%, King 5%, Snohomish 3%
• Longevity Premium Pay starts at five years of DFW Commission

• Onboarding – 2 to 3 Weeks
• Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) – 4.5 Months
  • Entry Level Applicants
• Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy (BLEEA) – 2 Weeks
  • Out-of-state Lateral Applicants
• Fish and Wildlife Police In-House Academy – 2 Months
• Field Training – 3.5 Months

A prospective candidate should understand that this role demands a high level of commitment and resilience. Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers work most weekends, some holidays, and frequently outside of standard hours...day or night, and in every type of weather. The job often requires operating independently in remote areas with little chance of immediate backup.

Officers routinely confront, cite, or arrest violators and may serve or execute search and arrest warrants involving individuals who are likely armed and potentially hostile toward law enforcement. The position also involves operating vehicles and watercraft in hazardous conditions.

Candidates must be prepared to handle injured or dangerous wildlife, including situations where euthanizing animals with firearms is necessary. At times, the work includes dealing with decomposing animals.

Daily interaction with the public is a core part of the job, and officers must be skilled at resolving conflict. Although the primary focus is wildlife and natural resource enforcement, officers also respond to a wide range of emergency calls, including serious motor vehicle collisions, domestic violence incidents, disturbances, search and rescue operations, and the recovery of deceased individuals.

Washington State Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers are fully commissioned peace officers. As such, public safety law enforcement is a significant and essential component of the job.

Conduct Law Enforcement and Provide Public Safety:

• Enforces all fish, wildlife, food fish and shellfish laws, department rules/regulations, all laws of the state and specific federal and tribal laws, including hydraulic codes, the Forest Practices Act, the Model Litter Control Act, sanitary shellfish laws, and boating safety regulations.
• Patrols fresh and saltwater ways and adjacent lands by vessels, auto, foot, ORV, etc. Monitors commercial and recreational harvest of food fish, game fish, shellfish, game animals and birds.
• Checks commercial and recreational licenses, monitors buyers and processors of food fish and shellfish; checks special license holders and permittee to ensure compliance.
• Contacts resource users to ensure species, season, bag-limit, and gear compliance.
• Inspects taxidermists, fur-dealers, and commercial fishing/shell fishing/aquaculture…