The Wyoming Game Wardens Association was formed in 1973 for the purpose of furnishing a medium for good fellowship and loyalty to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and fellow officers, effectively maintaining the wildlife resources of the State, promoting a more efficient and able force of wardens and to meet our responsibilities and problems collectively. The Association is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization for tax purposes.

Since 1985, the Wyoming Game Wardens Association has had the ability to provide financial assistance to various charitable organizations, programs designed to enhance outdoor awareness to school age children, research designed to improve wildlife law enforcement, handicapped hunter assistance, scholarship programs and memorial funds. Total contributions have exceeded $200,000 since 1985.

Membership to the Wyoming Game Wardens Association is comprised of all commissioned Wyoming Game and Fish Department law enforcement officers (86), retired officers and associate members. Current membership is now at 156.

MISSION OF THE WGWA

To promote and perpetuate the traditions, duty, responsibilities and role of the Wyoming Game Warden. To advocate the continued status of the Game Warden position as a multi-purpose wildlife professional serving as a law enforcement officer, wildlife manager and liaison between wildlife constituents and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. To honor those who have served before by upholding applicable traditions and developing new methods to address evolving environments and constituents. To advocate for the continued development and advancement of the wildlife investigative unit and those officers who serve on the unit. To advocate through it’s membership, the concept of sustaining the honor, respect and reputation of the Wyoming Game Warden and all Wyoming Game & Fish Law Enforcement Officers through service to wildlife and the people of the State of Wyoming.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
November, 2010

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and visit with a recently retired Wyoming Game Warden, although his most recent stint was as Deputy Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  Gregg Arthur is adept at telling stories, and he has the type of memory that usually accompanies good story tellers.  As we were talking about various things, Gregg reminisced of his time assisting a fellow warden back in the day, of patrolling the backcountry and sneaking up on people in general.  You know, the stuff game wardens do.  We relish in those moments when we are successful at surprising someone in the middle of a violation, or even just the fact that we went the extra mile to make a public contact in an area that people generally don’t expect to be checked by a warden, even if it doesn’t result in a ticket.  This particular warden would always say the same words aloud every time he approached someone that he knew he had surprised; “Oh s**! It’s the Game Warden.”

As I sat there listening intently for the point of the story, my mind drifted and I began to ponder exactly what would be going through the minds of those contacted at the moment they realized they were had.  I remembered a story that Meeteetse Game Warden Jim Olson shared with me during his time as a trainee in the Lander area.  Jim had been perched on an overlook and was able to watch from a distance as a man he had checked earlier in the day (with his antelope already taken) harvested an antelope for his wife, and therefore was in violation.  Now Jim is not a small man, so there certainly had to be some tall sagebrush for him to hide behind, but he was able to approach within a few feet of the couple as they began field dressing the antelope.  Jim waited for an opportune time, and announced his presence.  The couple was startled to say the least, and after issuing the appropriate paperwork, the man explained to Jim that he felt like Jim just materialized right out of that antelope as he began field dressing it!  Oh, what a feeling that must have been!

It is now the middle of fall, and hunting seasons are in full swing.  Your wardens are out working their tails off, checking hunters, recording harvest information, assisting hunters and the public and spending lots of time behind the wheel of a pickup truck.  This is the time of year we live for, apprehending violators and seeing the proud faces of successful hunters.  The point of the story above, as I took it:  If you are one of those people that knows what goes through the mind of someone caught in the act of a violation, I hope you will think twice about crossing that line ever again.  If you are one of those people that has been stepping over the line, I have a feeling that old time game warden might know what will be going through your mind one of these days soon.  “Oh s**t! It’s the game warden.”

STOP POACHING # 1-877-WGFD TIP

Wheatland Game Warden Criag Smith with
a nice walleye somewhere in Platte County

2010 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT – Craig Smith – Wheatland Game Warden
VICE PRESIDENT – Rick King– Lovell Game Warden
SECRETARY – Jason Sherwood – Laramie Access Coordinator
TREASURER – John Demaree, Laramie Investigator
EXECUTIVE OFFICER – Brian Nesvik, Cody Regional Wildlife Supervisor
REGION 1 DIRECTOR – Adam Hymas, Big Piney Game Warden
REGION 2 DIRECTOR – Bill Robertson, Greybull Game Warden
REGION 3 DIRECTOR – Irah Leonetti, Gillette Game Warden
REGION 4 DIRECTOR – Daniel Beach, Mountian View Game Warden
REGION 5 DIRECTOR – Jon Stephens, Torrington Game Warden
REGION 6 DIRECTOR – Bill Brinegar, Rawlins Game Warden
REGION 7 DIRECTOR – Gary Boyd, Glenrock Game Warden

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

NAWEOA/WLEA MEMORIAL – Joe Gilbert
HISTORIAN – Roger Bredehoft
HOUSING – Bruce Scigliano
WORKLOAD ANALYSIS – Bruce Scigliano, Mark Nelson, Scott Browning, Alan Osterland
PARADES – Brian Nesvik
RETIREMENT – Ron Iversen
UNIFORM – Dave Hays
EXPO – Aaron Kerr, Rod Lebert
HEALTH INSURANCE – Carol Havlik
LEGISLATIVE – Roger Bredehoft, Bill Haley
COMPENSATION - Bob Trebelcock, Alan Osterland, Bruce Scigliano, Todd Graham
POACH COACH – Rod Lebert, Gary Boyd
WEB SITE – John Demaree, Shawn Blajszczak
FALLEN OFFICER LIAISON – Gary Boyd and Daniel Beach (Chair)
     Region 1 – Adam Hymas
     Region 2 – Craig Sax
     Region 3 – Irah Leonetti
     Region 4 – Daniel Beach
     Region 5 – Jon Stephens
     Region 6 – Chris Daubin
     Region 7 – Gary Boyd
     Statewide - Carol Havlik, Daniel Beach, Rod Lebert, Lin Bashford

Jeff Smith, Laramie Supervisor	Game wardens and biologists 2008 Horse Training graduate class, Douglas, Wyoming

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing Address: WGWA, P.O. Box 1241, Laramie, WY 82073

Email Address: info@wyominggamewardens.com