In Oklahoma, the Department of Wildlife Conservation employs game wardens at the state level. The state is one of the most ecologically diverse in the country with more than 760 different species of wildlife. Hunting and fishing are so popular in Oklahoma that sportsmen are allowed to enjoy more than 1.6 million acres of wilderness area.
Oklahoma’s game wardens are trained law enforcement officers who also serve as stewards of the state’s natural resources. They help biologists perform tasks like assessing the status of fish populations in a particular lake, which helps anglers decide where to fish.
Another aspect of their jobs involves helping the public. This service ranges from speaking to schools and scout groups to helping teach gun safety and hunter education courses.
With such an array of skills required, Oklahoma’s game wardens must be experts in a variety of areas. The state sets the bar high for game wardens, since they are in the public eye and the face of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Therefore, becoming a game warden in Oklahoma is a challenging endeavor. Applicants who are highly familiar with the selection criteria and the application process will be best prepared for success.
![](https://www.gamewarden.org/wp-content/themes/gamewarden/images/states/OK.jpg)
Oklahoma Game Warden Eligibility Requirements
The ideal game warden job candidate in Oklahoma combines expertise in law enforcement with a love of the natural environment and the great outdoors. In addition to protecting the diverse array of fish, birds, and game that call Oklahoma home, the state’s game wardens may be called upon to enforce any law within state jurisdiction. Oklahoma’s game wardens also work in partnership with federal law enforcement and other state agencies.
Basic Conservation Officer Job Qualifications
The website of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation lists additional information along with job postings.
Age: 18 years of age or older before beginning training
Citizenship: Proof of U.S. citizenship or of permanent resident alien status; must be a citizen at time of appointment and a resident of Oklahoma.
License: A valid Oklahoma-issued driver’s license is required. Individuals must maintain an acceptable driving record.
Military Service: Applicants who are former members of the United States military require ‘Under Honorable Conditions’ discharge documentation.
Work Eligibility: New employees must present original documents that establish identity and eligibility for U.S. employment opportunities as per federal law – applicants must be eligible to accept employment before the process continues
Background and Legal History: Candidates should be aware that they are subject to a thorough background investigation in order to continue the application process. Disqualifying elements include:
- Convicted of a felony in Oklahoma or any other state;
- Convicted of any offense in any state that would have been a felony if committed in Oklahoma
- Determined to be a sex offender
- Addicted or in danger of becoming addicted to narcotics
- Convicted of any offense which precludes you from carrying a firearm under State or federal law
- Failed drug testing prior to employment
Academic Credentials: High school diploma or GED is required; while a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management or natural resources management is preferred, candidates should have at least 16 hours of courses related to this field in order to be considered.
Additional Requirements:
- Standardized employment exam for prospective game wardens.
- Personal references
Law Enforcement and Field Training
Law Enforcement Training
576 hours from the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) which covers the following topics:
- Field training
- Six months of on the job training in groups and partnered with senior officers.
Interview: Candidates will have an in-person panel interview session during the later stages of the application process
Medical Condition: The applicant must be examined by a licensed physician to ensure that they are in good health.
Hearing: The applicant must have good hearing that is adequate to perform all the essential duties and functions of a Warden while unaided and which includes discerning sounds in an environment of ambient noise.
Vision: Visual acuity of 20/20 either corrected or uncorrected. Normal binocular color vision with standard peripheral vision. Applicants who have undergone corrective eye surgery to meet minimum visual standards may be required to submit additional information.
Physical Readiness: The applicant must be in sound physical condition and able to swim. Applicants must successfully complete every component of the physical readiness testing in the allotted timeframe.
Psychological Condition: The applicant must be in good psychological and emotional health to complete training and be eligible for hire
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Desired Qualifications
- Required to carry and deploy various firearms and weaponry
- Demonstrate an aptitude for collecting and preserving evidence, writing reports, and testifying in court.
- Ability to promote and coordinate hunter education programs
- Ability to collect and report information on the conditions of fish and wildlife and their habitat
- Professional development or college courses in natural resource management, criminology, psychology, business management or sciences
- Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, database and email software in a networked environment
- Mechanical aptitude and logical thinking.
- Ability to use professional level English grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, and composition; reading and comprehension
- Ability to use foundational math skills including advanced arithmetic, payroll/accounts receivable, and estimation
- Additional languages are an asset
Salaries for Environmental Investigators with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported that environmental investigators earned an average salary of $51,770 ($24.89/hour) as of 2015. Experienced investigators earned within the top 25%, making an average of $58,594 ($28.17/hour), while their less experienced colleagues in the lower 25% earned an average of $43,867 ($21.09/hour) that year.
Oklahoma’s job site provides salary ranges for different levels of environmental investigators as of 2017. Level III investigators supervise investigations, while level IV employees oversee the environmental investigators and support staff. The ranges within each level represent the difference in pay associated with different levels of education, experience, time-in with the Department and locality pay:
- Environmental Investigator 1: $31,848 – $58,388
- Environmental Investigator II: $35,032 – $64,226
- Environmental Investigator III: $38,885 - $71,288
- Environmental Investigator IV: $43,163 – $79,132
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
2145 NE 36th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone: (405) 521-4640
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/laws_regs/badge.htm
School Programs
Program | Programs Offered |
---|---|
Bacone College 2299 Old Bacone Rd, Muskogee, OK 74403-1597 Phone: (918) 683-4581 x7340 |
|
Cameron University 2800 West Gore Blvd, Lawton, OK 73505-6377 Phone: (580) 581-2200 |
|
Carl Albert State College 1507 S McKenna, Poteau, OK 74953-5208 Phone: (918) 647-1200 |
|
Connors State College Route 1, Warner, OK 74469 Phone: (918) 463-2931 |
|
East Central University 1100 E. 14th Street, Ada, OK 74820-6999 Phone: (580) 332-8000 |
|
Eastern Oklahoma State College 1301 W Main St, Wilburton, OK 74578-4999 Phone: (918) 465-2361 |
|
Great Plains Technology Center 4500 W Lee Blvd, Lawton, OK 73505-8399 Phone: (580) 355-6371 |
|
Langston University 102 Page Hall, Langston, OK 73050 Phone: (405) 466-3428 |
|
Mid-America Christian University 3500 SW 119th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73170-9797 Phone: (405) 691-3800 |
|
Murray State College One Murray Campus, Tishomingo, OK 73460 Phone: (580) 387-7000 |
|
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College 200 I St NE, Miami, OK 74354 Phone: (918) 542-8441 |
|
Northeastern State University 600 N Grand, Tahlequah, OK 74464-2399 Phone: (918) 456-5511 |
|
Northern Oklahoma College 1220 E Grand Ave, Tonkawa, OK 74653 Phone: (580) 628-6200 |
|
Northwestern Oklahoma State University 709 Oklahoma Blvd, Alva, OK 73717-2799 Phone: (580) 327-1700 |
|
Oklahoma Baptist University 500 W University, Shawnee, OK 74804 Phone: (405) 275-2850 |
|
Oklahoma Christian University 2501 E Memorial Rd, Edmond, OK 73013-1100 Phone: (405) 425-5000 |
|
Oklahoma City University 2501 N Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1402 Phone: (405) 208-5000 |
|
Oklahoma Panhandle State University 323 Eagle Ave, Goodwell, OK 73939-0430 Phone: (580) 349-2611 |
|
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus 107 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1015 Phone: (405) 744-5000 |
|
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City 900 N Portland, Oklahoma City, OK 73107-6195 Phone: (405) 947-4421 |
|
Oklahoma Wesleyan University 2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299 Phone: (918) 333-6151 |
|
Oral Roberts University 7777 S Lewis Ave., Tulsa, OK 74171 Phone: (918) 495-6161 |
|
Rogers State University 1701 W Will Rogers Blvd, Claremore, OK 74017-3252 Phone: (918) 343-7777 |
|
Rose State College 6420 S E 15th, Midwest City, OK 73110-2799 Phone: (405) 733-7311 |
|
Seminole State College 2701 Boren Blvd, Seminole, OK 74868-1901 Phone: (405) 382-9950 |
|
Southeastern Oklahoma State University 1405 N 4th Ave, Durant, OK 74701-0609 Phone: (580) 745-2000 |
|
Southern Nazarene University 6729 NW 39th Expy, Bethany, OK 73008 Phone: (405) 789-6400 |
|
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 100 Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK 73096-3098 Phone: (580) 772-6611 |
|
St. Gregory's University 1900 W MacArthur, Shawnee, OK 74804 Phone: (405) 878-5100 |
|
Tulsa Community College 6111 E Skelly Dr, Tulsa, OK 74135-6198 Phone: (918) 595-7000 |
|
Tulsa Technology Center-Peoria Campus 3850 N Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74106-1619 Phone: (918) 828-2000 |
|
University of Central Oklahoma 100 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034 Phone: (405) 974-2000 |
|
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus 660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019-3072 Phone: (405) 325-0311 |
|
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma 17th Street and Grand Avenue, Chickasha, OK 73018-5322 Phone: (405) 224-3140 |
|
University of Tulsa 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104-3189 Phone: (918) 631-2000 |
|
America’s Poaching Epidemic
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Sponsored School(s) All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed…Effects of Climate Change Require Game Wardens to Adapt
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Sponsored School(s) All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed…A Guide to Haleakalā & Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Sponsored School(s) All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed…The Preservation of Rocky Mountain National Park
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Sponsored School(s) All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed…Protecting Glacier National Park
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Sponsored School(s) All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed…