Game Warden's Job

The subject of a job description is usually left to union contracts and bargaining, especially when it comes to state employees. In some cases the legislator or Augusta directs what state employees can or can not do within the scope of their work. An example is the fifty or so Forest Rangers covering Maine, with some of the best working radio communications and field, wood wise, common sense employees. Yet even tho the statutes are clear on their law enforcement authority they are restricted by Augusta on enforcement. Even tho allowed, they don't have firearms, do arrests, do stops, check boats on waters or fish and game violations. Why? Sharing of resources between agencies such as Forest Rangers and Warden Service like helicopters and stations is tough, turf issues I suppose, even General Libby who worked so hard to break down the sharing of equipment couldn't help.

So here we have some of the best trained field state employees, covering all the woods and waters of Maine, yet restricted in enforcement. What a great asset to assist with milfoil and such.

Now lets look at a Game Warden, with the same powers and triple the manpower of the rangers and with more toys, gagets and goodies than you can shake a stick at. The statutes are very clear on why fish and game wardens were created and what their purpose is - fish and wildlife protector, they ARE NOT state troopers, DEA, border patrol officers or local police. Yet time and time again they are spending time enforcing or doing agency assists (so called) and more and more getting involved with the stand off shooting and the taking of life. Fish and Game has lost total sight of the mission of a Maine Game Warden. The blame for this rest clearly with the head of the warden service and has for years. One only need read the internal review or material offered by Sportsman Allinance of Maine. We need our fish and game wardens doing the mission they are regulated to do - the commissioner of fish and game should do the same as commissioner of conservation and write the policy on what warden can and can not do - what is the mission objectives. If you have ever had a dealing with a warden and a forest ranger - did you notice the difference in the approach and demeanor, is this because they don't carry a firearm? Forest Rangers developed and trained most all state employees in ICS - Incident Command System, GPS and tatics when dealing with people, so why are we restricting. I may not agree with our governor on various issues, but on this one, both should be mergered to create a Department of Natural Resource and Protection Officers. License's and such should be moved to the Bureau of Professional Licensing and hatcheries should go private (avoid the DEP fines). I listened to a warden recently comment that he couldn't do the job in the time alotted. I remember when a warden without a new 4 wheel drive, without GPS, snowmobile, ATV and aircraft, snowshoed into a pond to check camps and leave a business card. Or the days when a warden knew the best fishing hole or helped stock fish in ponds. These days need to return and the direct of a warden should be that of wildlife protector and educator.