Fish and Game Wardens
Protective Service
Patrols assigned land, lakes, and other areas by car, boat, airplane, horse, or on foot to enforce fish, game, and boating laws and manage wildlife programs. Hunting accidents, law violations, and wildlife damage to crops or property are investigated, and evidence is compiled for court. Warnings or citations are issued, warrants served, and arrests made when needed; reports are filed and other local agencies may be assisted. Native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems are protected, and hunter or trapper safety training may be provided. Suits people who like outdoor patrol work, enforcing rules in the field, and handling both wildlife cases and public contacts.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$74'060
Median Wage Market Position
$74'060
What you might do
- Patrol assigned areas to enforce wildlife laws
- Look into hunting accidents and game-law complaints
- Safeguard native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems
- Write citations and file the required reports
- Serve warrants and arrest people who break laws
- Run hunter and trapper safety training
Skills that matter
- Listening to wildlife damage reports
- Judging illegal hunts, catches, and kills
- Wildlife-case evidence for court
- Reading fish, game, and boating laws
- Logs of citations, arrests, and patrols
- Hunter and trapper safety instruction
AI & the future of this role
Field patrols, wildlife investigations, and on-the-spot enforcement depend on outdoor presence and judgment that tools are unlikely to replace. AI may assist with records or data analysis, but licensing authority and remote terrain keep most of this work human-led.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details