LAW ENFORCEMENT 



Jim Jordan is pictured here in the regulation warden 

 uniform. (Photo by B. J. Rose.) 



During the past biennium there has been 

 an increased work load in Fish and Game law 

 enforcement. This increase is partly due to 

 new laws that have extended the duties of 

 State Game Wardens into fields with which 

 they were not formerly concerned and partly 

 due to increased use of fish and wildlife re- 

 sources. 



By law, it is the duty of State Game 

 Wardens to strictly enforce Fish and Game 

 laws of Montana and the orders, rules and 

 regulations of the State Fish and Game Com- 

 mission. As a part of this duty they must 

 see that all those who hunt and fish or take 

 game or fur-bearing animals, game birds or 

 fish, have proper licenses. This phase is ex- 

 tremely important in assuring the Department 

 an adequate operating income. 



It is their duty at all times to assist in 

 the protection, conservation and propagation 

 of fish, game and fur-bearing animals, game 

 and non-game birds, and to assist in the plant- 

 ing, distributing, feeding and caring for fish, 

 game and fur-bearing animals, and game and 

 non-game birds; it is their duty when ordered 

 by the State Fish and Game Commission, to 

 assist in the destruction of predatorj animals, 

 birds, and rodents; it is their duty to do and 

 perform all other duties prescribed from time 

 to time by the State Fish and Game Com 

 mission. 



To fulfill these requirements, il Ls necesi arj 

 for the division to change over the years in 

 order to meel changing demands broughl aboul 

 by increased use of wildlife resources and the 



resulting complexity of Fish and Game man- 

 agement. Today, the Warden has many addi- 

 tional duties prescribed by the State Fish and 

 Game Commission, and only about 30% of his 

 time is spent in direct Fish and Game law en- 

 forcement activities. 



He spends 15% of his time in administrative 

 duties such as rotuine inspection of license 

 dealers, game and fur farms, fish ponds, out- 

 fitters, fur dealers, locker plants, and also 

 routine maintenance of buildings and equip- 

 ment. 



Twenty-five per cent of his time is directed 

 to Fish and Game management activities such 

 as game and fur damage control, trapping and 

 transplanting, game-bag and creel census, fish 

 planting, stream and lake surveys, predator 

 control, checking stations, game and game-bird 

 census. 



Public information and education activities 

 involve thirty per cent of the State Game 

 Warden's time. This activity has become in- 

 creasingly important during recent years. 

 More intense game management has demanded 

 greater and greater public understanding, and 

 the warden is a field representative whose 

 constant public contact can be extremely ef- 

 fective in promoting a better understanding. 



In addition to this, youth training in hunter 

 safety and adult training in boat safety and 

 hunter safety also consumes the warden's time. 

 State Game Wardens are also an important 

 part of the civil defense organization of the 

 state and cooperate closely with other state 

 enforcement and fire-fighting agencies. 



During the biennium, the warden force has 

 been maintained at an average of fifty State 

 Game Wardens and sewn Distrut Warden 

 Supervisors. An effort has been made to im- 

 prove the effectiveness of tins field force by 

 selecting better qualified individuals and by 

 conducting formal in-service training programs 

 for new employees. Two way radios in prop- 

 erly maintained vehicles have helped make 



this field lone more effective, 



Listed on page 9 ai e comparative Pish 

 and Game law violation information Eor this 

 biennium, These data are onlj concerned with 

 the law enforcemenl phase of the State Game 



Warden's aeli\ ities. 



