LAW ENFORCEMENT 



Fish and Game law enforcement is a phase of wildlife management 

 which has changed in general objectives within the past few years. 

 At one time, the primary emphasis was on the apprehension of 

 violators, but today, an increasing effort is directed toward preven- 

 tion of violations by education. 



However, a certain percentage of the people continues to be 

 willful violators so law enforcement remains a primary duty of the 

 warden force. The imposing of laws and regulations governing the 

 take or harvest of wildlife is a necessity in assuring all hunters 

 and fishermen an equal opportunity to share in the wildlife crop 

 while at the same time protecting game populations from excessive 

 over-kill. This is an important tool in management. It is the warden's 

 job to see that this portion of a management program is effective. 



To sum up briefly, the enforcement phase of a warden's job is to 

 "encourage a regulated use and to discourage an abuse of wildlife 

 resources." 



The warden force has expanded during the past two years and 

 presently is composed of 52 district wardens and seven district super- 

 visors. Each district supervisor has supervision of from six to ten 

 district wardens. The district supervisor is the coordinator of the 

 work of the district wardens within the district and with other 

 Department field project personnel. 



DISTRICT MEETINGS 



Periodic meetings of personnel on each district are held for the 

 purpose of discussing district administrative problems and instruction 

 and training programs are provided. Information is given to warden 

 personnel about their Department projects, fiscal matters, policies, 

 and a variety of subjects are discussed and explained in order to put 

 a better informed officer in the field. 



At such group meetings, also come recommendations for seasons 

 and bag limits for consideration of the Commission when it sets the 

 seasons on the various wildlife species. Another important value of 

 these meetings results from supervisory personnel obtaining first- 

 hand information from the field as to existing conditions of wildlife 

 for management purposes. 



RECRT ITIXG 



New warden employees are chosen from an eligible list which 

 has been establi.shed from applicants who have succe.ssfully passed a 

 competitive written examination and a subsequent oral interview. 

 During the past two years, examinations for filling the warden 

 positions were held on December 18, 1952 and March 15, 1954. New 

 wardens are placed in training under the district supervisor before 

 receiving an assignment as a district warden. 



— 14 — 



