nate information and coordinate the department 

 programs, thus striving for an efficient and uniform 

 program throughout the state. 



Equipment 



In the past, wardens furnished their own vehicles. 

 In 1954 wardens were issued state-owned vehicles. 

 Wardens ore now furnished vehicles to suit their 

 district and many are using four-wheel drive vehicles 

 to keep abreast with the outdoor recreationist. 



Now the Commission is continually providing the 

 game wardens with newer and better equipment so 

 that they are able to stay abreast in their contacts 

 with hunters and fishermen who use modern day 

 equipment to travel to the fields and streams. In order 

 to adequately check the water recreationists, it is 

 necessary to have water equipment to make proper 

 contact with them. Four-wheel drive vehicles are a 

 necessity on many of the mountain roads and trails. 

 Twenty years ago wardens seldom were able to 

 contact each other or other enforcement officers for 

 assistance and aid in the field. Today, radio 

 equipped vehicles provide more efficiency in law 

 enforcement. These units are on the same frequency 

 with the Highway Patrol and county sheriffs and 

 cooperation between individuals and agencies pro- 

 vides a better law enforcement program. 



Radio equipped planes make possible instant 

 communication from air to ground. In cases of fire, 



night hunting, search and rescue, lost hunters and 

 patrol for out-of-season hunters and fishermen, this 

 is a very important feature. 



A Bell 47 G-3B Helicopter has been added to the 

 department's inventory of equipment. This new bird 

 expedites quicker contact with game violators back 

 in the roadless areas. It has a lot of value as a rapid 

 means of transportation and contacts are much more 

 efficient. 



IBM equipment in the state office has been put 

 to good use by the Enforcement Division. License 

 applications are processed through these machines 

 and in turn many non-residents who take a chance 

 on purchasing a resident hunting or fishing license 

 have been processed in court. 



Contacting license dealers and then working li- 

 cense applications is another time consuming and 

 tedious part of a warden's work. 



Results 



Percentage-wise, the number of hunters and fisher- 

 men now seeking outdoor recreation has far sur- 

 passed the additional game wardens employed by 

 the State Fish and Game Department. However, 

 better trained personnel, using modern equipment, 

 are daily providing more efficient and courteous 

 service to an ever-increasing number of outdoor 

 recreationists. 



