Deputy Game Warden patrol — Absaroka Wilderness 

 Area, June, 1942. At Crevice Creek-Hellroaring- pass. 



jbeyiUtif, Qame IVa/ixlletvl 



In the spring of 1941 a Law Enforcement 

 school was held for all the deputy game wardens 

 at Helena. The personnel of the Attorney Gen- 

 eial's office cooperated with the department in 

 interpreting the proper enforcement of the stat- 

 utes governing the fish and game laws. 



In February, 1942, the department held a 

 short course for the deputies at Montana State 

 College. Authorities in various fields dealing with 

 wildlife, from the State College, Montana State 

 University, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U. S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Public Health 

 Service at Hamilton, the Montana Veterinary Re- 

 search Laboratory, and our own department co- 

 operated to make this course one of exceptional 

 interest to the game wardens. Beyond doubt each 

 man received valuable training that will be use- 

 ful to him in his field work. It was the intention 

 of the commission to hold a short course annual- 

 ly and follow each school with correspondence 

 work; however, the armed services have called 

 so many of our men that it was decided to dis- 

 continue this for the duration. 



Deputy Game Wardens have a very diffi- 

 cult assignment in carrying out the provisions of 

 the state fish and game laws. Each man should 

 be qualified in the many fields of fish and game 

 management and law enforcement. He should be 

 capable of recognizing the environmental condi- 

 tions affecting each wildlife species. He has to be 

 familiar with the streams and lake in his dis- 



trict and be conversant with proper planting 

 methods and requirements for each body of water. 



To qualify for this position a man must be 

 physically fit, mentally alert, and willing to learn. 

 His work is progressive, and factors which will 

 apply to a given situation one season may not 

 the next. Recently state colleges and universities 

 have been graduating students whose major 

 course of study has equipped them for wildlife 

 work. However, since these courses do not teach 

 methods of law enforcement, there is much for 

 the graduate to learn. Anyone entering the game 

 warden's field has to be imbued with a spirit to 

 conserve the state's wildlife resources if he is to 

 be successful. When a man enters the service, 

 he leaves behind him many of the freedoms he 

 might enjoy in other lines of endeavor. 



He is subject to call day and night. 



He must in the best interests of his duty often 

 be out in all kinds of weather and for days at a 

 time under the most trying conditions. 



He can not indulge in political activities. 



He must be capable of treating the public in 

 a courteous manner. 



He must not only be adept at his outside ac- 

 tivities, but also must be able to execute his field 

 findings into writing for use in the Helena office. 



He is subject to transfer of his headquarters 

 ime and to any place in the state. 



One point should be clearly defined and und- 

 erstood in this report: The duties of a deputy 



[12] 



