TPWD is recruiting game wardens
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is recruiting more people to become game wardens in Texas.
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Texas Parks and Wildlife considers hiring game wardensCurrently, there are only about 550 game wardens in Texas.New academy classes for game wardens begin October 1st
Austin, Texas – As hunting season begins in Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking to hire more game wardens.
TPWD parked a trailer in front of the Texas State Capitol on Friday. A traveling exhibit features animals illegally killed in Texas, including a turkey shot to death by three men in Lampasas County and a largemouth bass filled with lead bullets in a failed attempt to win a North Texas fishing tournament. It had been.
“I can stand here and talk to people all day long, but they spend an hour looking at the animals that are out there, learning and reading the stories about how they got here. It really helps us complete our support operations better,” said Deputy Commander Stormy King. Cooperation with TPWD Law Enforcement Division.
Friday’s exhibition and rally was an opportunity not only to follow the rules, but also to recruit talent. Game warden departments, like other law enforcement agencies, struggle to find qualified candidates.
“We need a four-year degree. Well, people with four-year degrees want to make more money than we’re currently offering, unfortunately.” Hunting said Scott Blackburn, president of the Warden Peace Officers Association.
Texas dove hunting season is back
Game wardens in Texas said responsible dove hunters check documentation before heading out the door.
Currently, there are only about 550 game wardens in Texas, a small force that can cover a large state with additional property. TPWD recently announced the purchase of 630 acres surrounding the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. As territory expanded, classes shrank. Recently, some game wardens have left to take DPS positions, filling the trooper shortage.
“Well, the biggest thing we have is, you know, following Schedule C in DPS is going to be what we call true parity with DPS, because right now, Because with the compensation that they’re receiving, we can’t compete with DPS,’ so it’s having a negative impact on recruitment and retention,” Blackburn said.
The new academy class of game wardens will begin Oct. 1, but will have fewer than 40 cadets and will take about nine months to complete their training.
Recruiting supporters is also one of the reasons Friday’s suspension took place here at the state Capitol. Last week, members of the Senate Boundary Committee heard testimony about how state law enforcement is responding to Operation Lone Star. According to testimony from Lt. Col. Ron Vanderlost, TPWD has ranged in number from 20 to 65 game wardens at a time.
“We have approximately 580,000 patrol hours for Operation Lone Star,” Vanderloest said.
South Texas isn’t the only area with extra jobs. A TPWD team is currently in Florida assisting with hurricane recovery efforts.
“Yeah, yeah, we’re stretched thin. We don’t have enough people to go around, and we know it, we have 40, 50, 60, 70 game wardens. That kind of law enforcement and conservation law work that we know is in short supply, so we’re always trying to recruit and retain talent and grow that number,” Vanderloost said. Ta.
Game Wardens Drone Program
In this episode of “Missing in Texas,” FOX 7 Austin’s Angela Shen speaks with Texas game wardens about the organization’s drone program and how they found missing people in Callahan County.
When state lawmakers return in January, the focus won’t just be on compensation and benefits. There is also a need for technology, as items like drones have proven successful in search and rescue operations.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation created a special fundraising program seven years ago to supplement the agency’s budget. Last month, the Gear up for Game Wardens program announced it had surpassed a $5 million fundraising milestone.
The foundation will host a three-day online auction starting October 1st. Items up for bid will raise funds to purchase more specialized equipment for game wardens.
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Information for this report came from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski and previous reporting on Operation Lone Star, the Texas State Legislature, and TPWD operations.
