How to Become a Game Warden in Mississippi

Natural beauty

Game wardens handle many duties. They enforce fishing, trapping, wildlife and boating laws; ensure that hunters follow local regulations; teach classes on hunting safety; and may track animal population and migration habits. Becoming a game warden in Mississippi can be a very rewarding and challenging career. In May 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median salary for a game warden as $48,930.

Instructions

1. Learn about the position. Even though most employment opportunities for fish and game wardens are located in western or mountain states, there are job possibilities in Mississippi. Because the number of positions is limited, there are many competing applicants. If you are hired as a warden, you will be placed in an area of the state where there is an opening and where you will be needed most.

2. Prepare yourself. As a game warden, you may need to work independently in various types of physical and environmental conditions. Engage in outdoor activities or join nature clubs to familiarize yourself with the open land and nature. Take high school classes which may help you in this profession, including biology, conservation, environmental science or natural resources conservation.

3. Continue your education. College courses can help you become a more proficient and effective game warden. Degrees to consider include biology, environmental science, criminal justice or wildlife management. In Mississippi, a minimum of 64 hours of college work or five years of prior law enforcement experience is necessary to be considered for this position.

4. Apply for a job as a game warden. Submit your application to the state (see Resources), and allow approximately 15 days to hear back from the State Personnel Board. If you are not contacted within that time frame, your application will be kept on file for one year, after which you will need to reapply. Approximately 15 people are accepted into the program every year.

5. Take the necessary examinations after you hear back from the state. The written exam will cover principles of law enforcement, conservation, wildlife management, and agricultural and forestry resources. You will also be expected to take a physical exam, which will include vision, hearing and physical endurance tests. A swimming test and interview will also be part of the examination process.

6. Get on-the-job training. Once hired as a cadet, you will need to attend a police academy for ten weeks, then attend a ten-week game and fish school. You will learn about numerous laws and regulations, and how to ensure that local residents, businesses, visitors and hunters are following them. After a year as a cadet, you can advance and become a Mississippi game warden.

References

• MSWFP: Equal Employment Opportunities
• Education Portal.com: Be a Fish and Game Warden
• Degree Directory: 5 Steps to Becoming a Fish and Game Warden