Becoming a

GAME WARDEN

(Conservation Ranger)

LAW ENFORCEMENT— Off the Pavement

Revised 1/2018

Conditional Employment Applicants selected to fill Law Enforcement positions must accept Conditional Employment with DNR. The terms of this Conditional Employment are as follows:

Applicants must successfully complete the P.O.S.T. Basic Law Enforcement Training Course and the DNR Game Warden Academy in order to continue employment with DNR

Training All cadets will attend 23 weeks of law enforcement training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, GA in order to meet P.O.S.T. mandates and learn the specialized skills required for the position. Upon successful completion of this training, the applicant will become a Game Warden. The next step in the training process is a six-month probationary field-training period. Game Wardens also receive annual in-service training updates consisting of a minimum of 20 hours each year.

Salary and Benefits Entry Salary: $41,236.08 As a employee of the State of Georgia, Game Wardens are eligible to participate in the State Health Benefit Plan and Flex Benefits such as life, vision and dental insurance. Employee’s retirement includes a Defined Benefit in addition to the Peach State Reserves 401(k) and 457 plans.

Assignments Applicants for Game Warden positions must be willing to work anywhere in the state of Georgia. Assignments vary from county responsibilities to boating safety positions on lakes, rivers and coastal saltwater.

Additional Information For additional information on becoming a Game Warden, visit www.gadnrle.org/careers-le call the DNR Training Academy at (478) 993-4540 or e-mail the Academy at: DNR.Training.Academy@dnr.ga.gov Written inquiries must be submitted to: DNR Training Academy 1000 Indian Springs Drive Forsyth, GA 31029

Serving Since 1911

mailto:DNR_Training_Academy@dnr.state.ga.us

What is a Game Warden?

A Game Warden (Conservation Ranger) is a Peace Officer certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Council and is employed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division (LED) to enforce wildlife, environmental, boating and other State and Federal laws, rules and regulations. Patrols are made by boat, aircraft, ATV and on foot. Game Wardens conduct hunter and boater education classes and informative presentations for interested groups concerning hunting, fishing, boating, anti-littering and environmental laws.

Qualifications for Employment

Minimum Qualifications Completion of an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university. OR Completion of at least 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university. OR Completion of an Associate’s degree from a Technical College. Technical College certificates and/or accumulated hours without an Associate’s degree do not qualify. In addition to the above minimum qualifications: Applicants who are not P.O.S.T. Certified must pass the P.O.S.T. Entrance Exam to be considered for a Game Warden position. A copy of the test scores must be included with the application.

Preferred Qualifications Preference may be given to:

Applicants who are currently P.O.S.T. Certified

Applicants who already possess experience and knowledge in the areas of hunting, fishing, boating and other related outdoor activities

Applicants with an Associate’s degree, or higher, with a major in a related field such as Wildlife Management, Criminal Justice, Natural Science or Forestry

Necessary Legal Requirements Applicants must:

Be at least 21 years of age

Be a citizen of the United States

Be eligible to obtain a valid Georgia drivers license at the time of appointment

Have a clean criminal background

Medical Standards Vision: Minimum distant vision of 20/60 correctable to 20/40 in each eye. Hearing: Hearing loss not greater than 24dBA average of 500, 1000 and 2000 frequencies in the better ear.

P.O.S.T. Entrance Exam Applicants who are not P.O.S.T. Certified must pass the P.O.S.T. Entrance Exam to be considered for Game Warden opportunities. Scores from the ASSET exam, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS exam, SAT, ACT and CPE are accepted. Below are the minimum scores required for satisfying O.C.G.A. 35-8-8 regarding completion of the P.O.S.T. Entrance Examination:

Selection Process

The selection process for Game Warden employment is designed to evaluate an applicant’s suitability for a career with DNR.

Background Investigation All applicants are subject to a background investigation. An applicant must not have been convicted of any crime, for which the punishment has been imprisonment in a Federal or State prison, nor shall he/she have been convicted of sufficient misdemeanors to establish a pattern of disregard for the law. Each applicant must successfully pass a polygraph examination. The polygraph examination will consist of a series of questions, dealing with substance abuse and/or criminal activity.

Physical Skills An applicant must pass a physical agility test demonstrating physical skills, which are used in the performance of duties as a Game Warden. The physical agility test consists of the following events:

¾ mile run— must be completed in 7:42 or less

¾ mile obstacle run—must be completed in 9:17 or less

50-yard fully clothed swim

Oral Interview Each applicant must compete for current vacancies before a panel of experienced Game Wardens. The panel will ask each applicant a series of questions to determine the applicant’s experience and knowledge in the areas of hunting, fishing, boating and related outdoor activities.

Medical Evaluation, Drug Screening, Psycholog-ical Evaluation and Polygraph Exam Applicants selected to fill Law Enforcement positions must successfully pass a thorough medical evaluation, drug screening, psychological evaluation and polygraph exam.

Body Art, Tattoos, Brands, Images, Expressions Any of the following will disqualify a person from employment in a sworn position with the DNR LED:

Body art, tattoos, brands or images that are visible or may become visible while on duty or in uniform

Body piercing which is visible anytime while on duty and/or in uniform is prohibited

The display of any unprofessional or offensive image, phrase or other expression, or excessive tattoos

Illegal Drug Use Any of the following will disqualify a person from employment in a sworn position with the DNR LED:

Current illegal drug use

Illegal sale, distribution, transporting, possession, or manufacturing (to include growing) of any drug

Deliberate association of a personal nature within the past one (1) year with persons who use or possess illegal drugs in the presence of the applicant

Use or illegal possession of marijuana or any cannabis derivative within three (3) years of the application date

Use or illegal possession of any illegal drug or combination of illegal drugs, other than marijuana or any cannabis derivative, within ten (10) years of the application date

Use or illegal possession of any illegal drug or combination of illegal drugs, other than marijuana or any cannabis derivative, more than five (5) times

Any pattern of drug use that suggests un-rehabilitated substance abuse

Use of any prescription drug prescribed to another will be evaluated by the LED Director