How to Become a Game Warden in Oklahoma

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