The department’s Warden Service Division is looking for highly motivated individuals to become game wardens and continue our mission of protecting our state’s natural resources.
Be Part of Our Unique Team
Wardens generally work independently in rural areas without direct supervision. As a warden you will work unusual hours to achieve law enforcement objectives because wildlife crimes often occur at odd hours of the day and the night.
The Benefits Are Many
- Excellent pay.
- Paid vacation and sick leave.
- Generous medical and dental insurance plans.
- Office allowance.
- Retirement plan.
- State-issued equipment including truck, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicles and a variety of boats.
- Career advancement possibilities.
- Flexible hours.
What Are the Job Duties?
- Conduct a variety of patrols by foot, vehicle, snowmobile, boat, and ATV in an assigned patrol district to detect and deter violations of state laws.
- Apprehend poachers, investigate illegal taking of wildlife, illegal wildlife trade, and work to prevent the misuse of Vermont’s natural resources through education, investigations, and/or issuing tickets, warnings, citations, and arresting offenders.
- Collect evidence, statements, compile affidavits and reports, and provide testimony in civil and criminal court.
- Conduct complex criminal investigations, not limited to fish and wildlife violations.
- Participate in search and rescue operations.
- Prevent and resolve human-wildlife conflicts involving big game animals, dangerous, diseased, or nuisance wildlife.
- Collect biological data from fish and wildlife species.
- Enforce recreational vehicle laws, including conducting boat, ATV and snowmobile patrols.
- Interact with the sporting public through compliance checks.
- Provide educational information at public speaking events.
- Participate in educational programs to encourage and educate new outdoor enthusiasts about hunting, fishing and trapping.
What Does It Take to Become a Warden?
Your knowledge, skills and abilities must include:
- Basic competency in mathematics, reading, English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Physically fit.
- Ability to swim.
- Knowledge of defensive and safe vehicle operation techniques.
- Ability to take and follow orders and work under stress.
- Ability to gather information by interviewing people.
- Ability to use reasoning and judgment to make quick decisions on routine matters without immediate supervision.
- Ability to deal rationally with emotionally upset or hostile people in a variety of challenging situations.
- Ability to keep accurate records.
Your education and experience must include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any field of study*
OR
- An associate’s degree* with a major field of study in conservation or natural resources (e.g., environmental science or studies, wildlife management), biological or life sciences (e.g., biology, zoology), or criminal justice; AND three (3) years’ work experience
OR
- High school diploma or equivalent AND either:
- Four (4) years’ of experience as a certified law enforcement officer
OR
- Four (4) years’ in the military on full-time duty, with discharge under honorable or other acceptable conditions
- Four (4) years’ of experience as a certified law enforcement officer
OR
- High school diploma or equivalent and five (5) full-time years’ work experience.
*The Vermont Game Wardens Association offers a scholarship to a high school senior who will be attending a college to major in conservation or law enforcement.
Learn more about the scholarship...
Other special requirements include:
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must pass the Vermont Police Academy entrance exam.
- Vision: At least 20/60 Snellen Test each eye, corrected to 20/20 with normal color perception.
- Hearing: Normal.
- Physical Fitness: Applicants must meet the physical fitness standards of the Vermont Police Academy.
- Driver’s License: Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of application. Right to operate a motor vehicle may not have been suspended or revoked within 12 months of application. Candidates must obtain a Vermont Operator’s License upon employment.
- Vermont residency is required upon employment.
- Ability to successfully pass psychological, medical and polygraph examinations as well as a comprehensive background investigation.
How Do I Apply?
Use the online job application or contact the Agency of Natural Resources Human Resources Division at (802) 249-4470.
For more information about becoming a game warden, email the department’s law enforcement division or call (802) 828-1529.
The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer.