personnel" to the list of those that the com- 

 mission could appoint as ex-oificio wardens. 

 It was felt that an active ex-officio program 

 would be a great benefit to the Enforcement 

 Division. On May 3, 1966 the first ex-officio 

 school was started in Helena. Seven depart- 

 ment personnel who are affiliated with game 

 ranges throughout the state attended. They re- 

 caive classroom instruction pertaining to game 

 warden duUes, including "use of law book," 

 "crime investigation," "court appearance," etc. 

 Successful candidates will be appointed to 

 three-year terms as ex-officio game wardens 

 with powers the same as those of a regular 

 state game warden. 



The objective of the ex-officio program is 

 to augment the warden force throughout the 

 state. These appointees will work in close 

 harmony with their local wardens when pos- 

 sible but with training will be able to investi- 

 gate and bring about successful prosecutions 

 of wildlife law violators on their own if needed. 



It is hoped that in the future the program 

 can be broadened, and interested city, county 

 and government agencies can send qualified 

 men to an ex-officio school. Only those men 

 who have a genuine interest in wildlife law 

 enforcement would be selected. Their appoint- 

 ments would be for a period of three years 

 and only those who take an active part in the 

 program will be retained and reappointed. 



Water Safety Program 



Montana has a basic boat and water safety 

 law that sets safety regulations for boaters and 

 other uses of water areas. With the increase 

 in popularity of our water recreation areas, 

 an improved water safety enforcement pro- 

 gram is needed. Plans are underway to expand 

 water recreation in this state. In order to do 

 this, funds will have to be obtained through 

 legislative enactment. These funds, if obtained, 

 will be used for equipment, salaries and ad- 

 ministration. Although Montana's water safety 

 law falls within the limits that are approved 

 by federal law, some improvements are still 

 needed. 



Warden Training 



Upon passing resident, age, educational, 

 written, oral and physical examinations and 

 a personal investigation, a warden applicant 

 enters a basic training school as a probation- 

 ary warden. In the basic school the trainee is 

 subject to intensive training lectures, practical 

 training and orientation to the department's 

 policies and programs. He is thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with fish and game codes, civil rights, 

 laws of arrest, first aid training and practical 

 field work relating to observation, investiga- 

 tion, and public contact. By the end of the 

 training school the new warden builds a ref- 

 erence notebook so he may review the many 



subjects that have been introduced during the 



previous few weeks. 



After leaving the training school he is sta- 

 tioned in one of the seven fish and game 

 district headquarters and is introduced to his 

 Warden Development Program which is car- 

 riad through the remainder of his probationary 

 year. At the district headquarters he is under 

 direct supervision and must complete items 

 listed in his training plan. The plan includes 

 all phases of fish and game practical work 

 and the study of assigned texts related to his 

 future work with the department. 



After a satisfactory probationary year he is 

 given a permanent warden position. From this 

 point his training is gained through practical 

 experience and in - service training sessions 

 which are given throughout the state. 



Firearm and Hunter Saiety 



The Firearm Safety Program administered 

 by the Information-Education Division is an- 

 other important part of the game warden's 

 duties. All resident persons under the age of 

 18 years, by law must take a course of in- 

 struction in the safe handling of firearms and 

 receive a certificate of competency in order to 

 obtain a hunting license in Montana. During 

 the past biennium a number of adult courses 

 were held and were well attended, setting a 

 good example for the children in the state. 



Land Access Program 



Much of the warden's time is spent on the 

 land access program of purchase and devel- 

 opment of public fishing access areas. Rules 

 and regulations have been adopted to regu- 

 late public use of these sites. Free camping 

 areas bordering fine trout streams or moun- 

 tain lakes are a big attraction for our resident 

 and nonresident sportsmen. Not only do these 

 areas provide free camping facilities for recre- 

 ationists but they also alleviate some of the 

 acute sportsmen-landowner problems. Develop- 

 ment of these areas consists of fencing, instal- 

 lation of picnic tables, hont rnmi^s and sani- 

 tary facililios. 



Game Damage and Bear 

 Depredation 



Each year brings many complaints by pri- 

 vate landowners regarding game damage and 

 bear depredation. These complaints received 

 by the Fish and Game Department are given 

 immediate attention by the game wardens. 

 Cooperation of landowners in working out mu- 

 tual problems and programs will help insure 

 public access to private land in future years. 



Landowner-Sportsman Relations 



Much ot Montcuiii'a lulure liuntinq and tish- 

 iiig depends upon good relations between 

 sportsmen and private landowners. District 

 game wardens make many contacts with 

 ranchers and try to work out problems that 



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