Game and Fish report highlights recruitment, retention challenges

POWELL — Wyoming game wardens patrolled more than 600,000 miles in 2022, according to the annual Wyoming Game and Fish Department Law Enforcement Report, but the report also reveals the department had fewer wardens making rounds due to problems recruiting and retaining employees, resulting in fewer violations being discovered.
“Our report reveals a steep drop in the number of documented wildlife, fishing and watercraft violations from previous years,” said Chief Game Warden Rick King. “This should not be interpreted as an increase in compliance with state laws and regulations. Rather, it should serve as a stark reminder of our ongoing recruitment and retention challenges facing most agencies.”
The department had a law enforcement position vacancy rate of nearly 20% and during the fall hunting season, several senior game warden districts were vacant.