How to Become a Missouri Game Warden
Becoming a Missouri conservation agent is not for the faint of heart. In addition to a college degree, the Missouri Department of Conservation puts game-warden trainees through an in-depth six-month training session that thoroughly exposes them to all aspects of the job. A Missouri game warden doesn't just deal with animals. She is also responsible for resource management as well as law enforcement. Good communications skills are a must for the job. A Missouri game warden must also have the physical strength to perform rigorous tasks.
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Instructions
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Improve personal skills you need to become a Missouri game warden as you begin your post-high school educational experience. Keep yourself physically fit. Participate in outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting. Get involved in conservation efforts as a volunteer.
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Choose one of several four-year college or university options to complete your bachelor's degree. Pick a traditional four-year university and major in science, with an emphasis on ecology, wildlife, forestry, fishery management or biology. As an alternative, pursue a degree in criminal justice or journalism, with additional courses in the biological sciences. If you are in the military, receive your formal education through options provided by your branch of the armed forces.
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Gain work experience in the field of conservation. Potential employees of the Missouri Department of Conservation often have an advantage if they can show work-related experiences beyond college experiences.
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Apply for conservation agent training. In addition to the bachelor's degree, you must demonstrate, in the application process, that you have the physical abilities to perform the duties of a conservation agent. For example, as part of the job you may need the physical strength to remove a dead deer from the highway. You must also be at least 21 years old and pass a criminal background check. The class size for agent training is very small.
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Attend the six-month agent training session in Jefferson City. During this time, you must take and pass 1,000 hours of training in Peace Officers Standard Training (POST). Other coursework takes you to the field in each part of the state. You get experience in fish and wildlife training on location in Columbia, water safety training in the Lake of the Ozarks and forestry training in Licking. You work with trainers from the Missouri Highway Patrol, Missouri Water Patrol and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the coursework. Finish your training classes by working in the field under the supervision of a field training agent.
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Accept an available position. Expect a starting salary slightly in excess of $35,000.
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References
- Photo Credit deer image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
