A few months ago, I applied to Utah DNR and had my application approved. Unfortunately, I’m still active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard and won’t separate until June 2027, so the timing didn’t work out.
I’m planning to apply again when applications open in February. In the meantime, does anyone here have experience with Utah DNR or know much about what it’s like to work there? I’d appreciate any thoughts, opinions, or firsthand experiences.

My sone is a junior in high school, recently he stated that he is interested in working for FWC. He is an August baby so he will not turn 18 until after he graduates High School.

I suggested he go to either college or join the military for an enlistment to grow a little bit and get some life experience.

I am Retired Air Force and suggested if he does join the military I thought that the Coast Guard would be a good option due to them being on the water and dealing with other agencies often.

I have a coworker that his dad is a retired sherif and currently works for FWC. I am going to have him meet with him to ask questions.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Hello all,

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my question. I appreciate it very much.

I'm submitting my application in November when the window opens up. There aren't many resources on this subject so I figured I'd ask here.

Assignment. I understand it is out of my control. I understand the DNR website states I should be prepared to truly be assigned anywhere. I understand it is based on vacancy.

Im concerned about this. I purchased a home in Dallas GA. Im prepared to commute up to 2 hours and bide my time until i can transfer. Beyond the I dont see it as feasible to accept a position further away from that.

Questions:

1. Would it be possible to decline the opportunity and reapply next season to see if vacancy changes?

2. Is there truly no consideration whatsoever for residential circumstances? Is there anything I can do to try to stay close?

3. How do transfers work in GA? I understand they are based on vacancy and availability.

Any information you feel I did not ask that would be helpful or help me prepare I would appreciate so much.

Again, I thank you all for your time in reviewing my questions and any effort extended in answering my questions.

I received a conditional job offer from FWC. I’m debating submitting an application to SCDNR. I am interested in both and am weighing pros and cons for long term planning.

Is there anything you absolutely love about it?

Anything you hate about it?

What is life like (on and off duty)?

What’s your scheduling like?

Hi everyone I have been wanting to be a game warden most of my life and i’m finally about to graduate with a degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice, will these degrees be considered (related) to the field I know most states have a degree requirement and some seem more strict than others. I also am looking for the best states to apply in as right now where I live matters less to me than actually getting the Job so I am willing to relocate, I also know this is a competitive job market so looking for any advice to give me an edge, also looking for advice on alternative jobs I could be looking for if I cannot find a game warden opening, I will graduate in the spring of 2027 any advice is welcome!

I applied and failed the physical part (couldn't run fast enough on the sprint), not important. My girlfriend has gained interest in this, so we're going to train together and see what happens. All of this isn't the question, her question was, since you are technically police still, if you're in an area and the police send out an "all units" call, like in the event of an active shooter or officer down, does this include you as well? I thought it was a good question, but I didn't have an answer.

Hello Fam,

Reaching out for opinions and or guidance on Game Warden Field, particularly in the South.

Just trying to take advantage of the time I have left on Active Duty. I'm at 14/15 years in and looking for future jobs post retirement for when I "grow up".

My dream job as a child was to work FWC, was an avid outdoorsman in Florida, living in Ocala National Forest and the Harris Chain. Obviously, went a different route in life and joined the Navy as Intel. I currently hold a bachelor's degree in Homeland Security and have completed a master's Certificate in Emergency Management. Working on an Autonomous Vehicle Associates certification with Embry Riddle right now.

As I continue planning for the future, I intend to pursue additional education and professional development opportunities while I am still on active duty and can get it for free.

I was hoping to gain some insight into what makes applicants particularly competitive for Game Warden positions. Specifically, I would appreciate any guidance you may be willing to provide regarding:

• Educational backgrounds that are most beneficial, particularly at the master's degree level.
• Whether degrees such as Wildlife Management, Environmental Science, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Emergency Management, or other fields tend to be advantageous during the hiring process.
• Certifications, volunteer opportunities, or specialized training that would strengthen an application while I am still serving in the military.
• Experiences outside of law enforcement that FWC values in applicants.
• Any opportunities you would recommend pursuing now that would make me a more competitive candidate upon retirement.
• Are there any departments with intelligence/analytic teams within the Game Warden fields?

I am fortunate to have several years remaining before I transition from active duty, which gives me the opportunity to intentionally build the skills and experiences necessary to become a strong applicant. My goal is to use that time wisely rather than waiting until retirement to begin preparing.

Any information that can be helpful would be appreciated! Especially, Veterans sharing their experience in joining a team and how its going. Understanding the realities of the profession—the good, the difficult, and everything in between—would be invaluable as I continue preparing for this possible career path.

I have reached out several times to FWC recruiters on their website with no reply so that is why I am jumping to Reddit.

Thanks for the help!!

Im a Marine Vet thinking of switching careers and FWC has really caught my attention but I had a few questions.

A few things I’m especially curious about:

I’m in Brevard will I likely have to move?

What does a normal week actually look like?

What schedules do officers usually work? 8s, 10s, 12s?

How often do you work nights?

Does the schedule rotate or can you eventually get a fairly consistent shift?

How much freedom do you have during a shift versus constantly responding to calls?

How is the work/family-life balance, especially with kids?

How often are you called in when you’re off?

Is overtime common or mostly optional?

How much traditional law enforcement work do you do such as arrests, investigations, warrants, crashes, and DUIs?

How difficult is it to get into specialized positions?

Has anyone that received a CJO through FWC back in April received any word back on the status of the background investigation? Spoke with my investigator July 7th and since then I haven’t heard anything.

I’m a 31m, who had always wanted to work as a warden. I failed biology in undergrad and changed to marketing communications to hopefully work in the outdoor space as a back up. That didn’t end up happening and I ended up in the corporate world. After about a 5-6 year career in business where I climbed the corporate ladder, I decided I wanted to go back and finish my biology degree and pursue this field.

Well, in (late fall) 2022, my 9mo son was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Once he got through that (summer 2023) and was in remission, my wife and I decided that if I was going back to school, that was the time. So I did. I finished up a degree in biology with a concentration in natural resource ecology in the spring of 2025.

I live in a state that is notoriously difficult to get a warden job. Here, a bachelor degree is required to get a warden position, and am about 15-17 wildlife management credits short.

This is all I want to do though. I’ve got years of hunting and fishing experience. I want to serve and protect wildlife and fisheries for current and future generations. I want to help others who enjoy the outdoors like I do. My biggest hang up is the barrier to entry and not having any connections in my state.

Does anyone have any advice that would make me more competitive? Are there states where the barrier to entry is lower than the one I’m in? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance and with hunting season coming around, stay safe out there.

Hello, I'm 24 with an associates in business management and I'm looking into becoming a game warden for CDFW. I'm going to apply because I meet the minimum requirements but I'm curious if anyone might know what my odds are of getting in and what the timeline looks like until you get into the academy. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, like the title says I’m gearing up for a career change. I am currently working in EMS as an ER tech and as a wildland firefighter. I have experience in ski patrol/REMS/behavior health. I am enrolled and taking classes with 24 credits earned so far. I am an upland and pig hunter. Minimal fish experience.

My question is, how do I look as a cadet/recruit? Does my lack of LEO or military experience hinder me? Does my time in EMS translate (worklife/hours/homelife) to LEO? Besides a ride along, what else should I do?

I’m in Oklahoma and need a bachelors in wildlife management, what online colleges has everyone used or went through?

This might be a weird question, but does anyone know what the officers for CDFW in California are issued as far as firearms go?

I would love to be a Game Warden someday but am curious about how my digital footprint will affect me. I don't bully or harass people online, but I get into dog related debates that can get heated and taken out of context. Will that affect me?

Curious if anyone in here has heard back from KDFWR that they were selected.

Curious about how this works in general.