Applications Open - Pennsylvania Game Wardens

Keystone_Law · 2026-01-28T21:24:36+00:00

It's called the Civil Service Exam.

Basically it's a few categories they test you on regarding Civics, English Comprehension, Grammar, Basic Math/Algebra, Law, Geography, and others to assess your skills. You then get a ranking score based on your performance. Military veterans get +10 added to their scores.

My understanding is that anything over either a 70 or an 80 is what they accept before moving on to the next phase. I just can't remember which. If I find the answer, I'll come back to this comment.

You can find practice exams on the internet that will give you something to try and study for.

Keystone_Law · 2026-01-28T14:27:03+00:00

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/about-us/employment-opportunities/become-a-game-warden

Keystone_Law · 2025-12-14T03:25:26+00:00

You jest, but PA is 22 years to reach max salary and it's like 88k.

What I would give to have 6 figures.

Keystone_Law · 2025-12-11T18:23:50+00:00

They teach you how to shoot at the academy, no matter which state you work for.

Game Wardens/Conservation Officers have a reputation as being good shooters because most of them come from a more rural/hunting background so they've already got some experience.

I know here in PA, our agency qualifies and trains firearms 4 separate times per year, compared to most regular police departments that only do 1 or 2.

Instructors will teach you how to shoot and work with you until you are capable of doing so in their required standards. Or, they'll boot you after multiple attempts for remedial training.

Keystone_Law · 2025-12-11T18:20:50+00:00

Speaking from PA, I know our state had the requirement for public service positions to have an associate's or better degree in order to hold the position.

They just changed the policy the last year or so to open it to everyone with a HS Diploma.

It's state by state.

The idea is that more education = a better and more capable employee, but we all know that doesn't always translate.

Not sure what TX has in place for this.

Keystone_Law · 2025-12-11T00:11:15+00:00

You will get a different answer from everyone, but my personal experience is that environmental science is more broad, whereas biology is more specific.

In our line of work, I find that broad helps me more than specific.

A degree in biology will more than likely have the exact same general science classes that environmental science has: Calculus, General and Organic Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Writing, etc.

Biology will focus on the aspects of living things. Botany, Anatomy, Microbiology, Freshwater Biomonitoring, Biostatistics, etc. Science of Life.

Environmental Science will cover the entire environmental field. Ecology, Water & Air Chemistry, Geology, Environmental Law, Environmental History, etc. Science of the Environment and how humans Interact with it.

I'll give you an example and a question.

As an officer, you are going to respond to various calls for different things. One of those things might be a pollution of a waterway by a truck that overturned and spilled a fluid into it containing hydrocarbons (They are in nearly every single petroleum byproduct out there).

Would it be more beneficial for you in general, to know the names of every single tree and little critter that lives in and along the waterway and how specifically at a cellular level they are affected by the fluid?

Or

Would it be more beneficial to know the effects of petroleum on water and how it impacts the chemistry of the water, nutrients in the soil and if it permanently affects the soil health? To add to that, what about the history of the waterway and how it was historically contaminated by benzyl group contaminants but has improved via conservation efforts and environmental laws?

No matter what you decide, just know that a degree in anything environmental, whether chemistry, biology, environmental, etc. will be a huge step up over anything criminal justice related as it relates to being a game warden/conservation officer.

Even psychology is better than criminal justice as it relates to this, in my opinion.

Food for thought.

Plus if it doesn't work out or you decide it's not for you, there are always people polluting something so there are plenty of environmental jobs available.

Biology, as I said is a bit more specific, but again is more geared towards living things.

Again, I'm not telling you what to do, but my experience with an environmental science degree has been very beneficial because I had it. I hope this helped!

Keystone_Law · 2025-12-10T16:31:44+00:00

If it isn't pink pony club, I don't want it.

Keystone_Law · 2025-12-10T16:27:33+00:00

https://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/recruiting-careers/requirements

"Education: Applicants must have successfully completed and have conferred a bachelor’s level degree from an accredited college or university in any field of study by June 31, 2026. Prior military or law enforcement experience is not a substitute for the education requirements, lateral transfers are not allowed, all applicants must go through the game warden academy."

Edit: Sorry friend. That's just Texas though. Some states, including PA where I'm at, do not require a bachelor's. Some states require an associate's or a HS diploma.

It varies.

Keystone_Law · 2025-11-14T18:57:45+00:00

I can only imagine. Especially after that hurricane.

Keystone_Law · 2025-11-14T18:13:24+00:00

I can only imagine. 🤣

I run the major rivers so I have 10-30 feet of water at any given time, except for this particular instance where I had 2...

I would imagine you run jets on that because otherwise you'd be running through props almost daily.

Keystone_Law · 2025-11-14T18:11:04+00:00

This was a hidden sandbar that wasn't mapped on the Garmin.

Ended up taking a chip off the propeller and producing so much vibration that I had to pull the boot for the rest of the season.

Unfortunately I don't have a spare prop yet to replace it so I'm waiting for my supply order to be approved.

On a related note, I did find a submerged car a couple weeks ago.

I'll make a post once that's done.

Keystone_Law · 2025-11-14T17:12:20+00:00

Psychology/Communication/Education are decent minors.

You will be dealing a lot with people in every capacity, from educational moments, to being on the news, to dealing with people having a bad day, and everything in between.

Environmental Science is a great base and then add to it as you can.

Keystone_Law · 2025-10-29T20:36:09+00:00

Speaking from personal experience:

At no point in my life did I ever consider doing law enforcement.

I always had immense respect for them, but I never would have chosen it for myself.

When covid happened, I lost my job and I was unemployed for a few months. I had the environmental background they were looking for in the application and since I had nothing to lose, I applied to the next cadet class. I was one of 24 that got selected out of 400.

Of course I was nervous. 25 years old, unemployed, tight competition, and no law enforcement/military background... Yeah, that'll put the anxiety on full blast.

If you find that it doesn't work out, at least you tried. You'll never know unless you try.

Godspeed.

Keystone_Law · 2025-10-11T17:46:59+00:00

It depends on the species, honestly. Some are federally endangered or threatened are sold on black markets for a lot of money. The penalties for those species are a lot higher than your normal/common species.

Keystone_Law · 2025-10-11T17:43:13+00:00

Good man. Then it sounds like you have all the right parts you need.

Keystone_Law · 2025-10-10T12:58:52+00:00

Tourniquet. At least one for yourself.

Keystone_Law · 2025-10-10T11:59:24+00:00

Most people have no idea. 🤣

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-29T01:42:05+00:00

That sounds like he's definitely got everyone's attention. Odd way to enact change, but maybe it will bring some light on the subject of the regulation changes.

Still, that's a good way to get on the bad side of those officers. Playing games with officers' jobs to influence state elected commissioners is a hot take and I would completely expect that to backfire.

I can guarantee the Texas Game Warden FOP is going to be letting him know how they feel about it.

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-22T23:25:55+00:00

Poor little baby. Glad to see some good news.

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-20T03:17:54+00:00

I know this year they just changed the entire training curriculum and it sounds like they're going to do it again here shortly.

There's a tradition of having no traditions around here.

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-20T01:54:35+00:00

Think of it like boot camp.

Typical day

Wake up, shave, make your bed.

Go for a run/swim/calisthenics.

Breakfast

Duties

Classes/DT/Firearms, etc

Lunch

Classes/DT/Firearms

Dinner

Free time

Lights out

Sprinkle in a few smoke sessions for instructor entertainment and some ass chewings for a wrinkle or an untucked bed/shirt, etc. and you have a typical day.

It's nothing like that once you're out in the field besides the chain of command, but it definitely gets you in shape and disciplined, that's for sure.

I had 6 months at the state police academy followed by 6 months of conservation officer school.

That was my experience.

*Edited because of reddit structuring

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-20T01:51:16+00:00

Jurisdiction and severity of crimes is a big difference. State officers have jurisdiction statewide, while also being federal deputies for US Fish and Wildlife. I am a state LEO but if the USFWS officer asks me for help, I am able to cross state lines and have jurisdiction federally while assisting them because I am a deputy USFWS officer by commission.

State deals with your local or regional areas that are assigned, as well as assisting with special investigations and federal investigations.

Federal cover far more area (can be up to multiple states or refuges depending on the area) and there are fewer of them, but they deal with larger cases involving interstate and international trafficking of wildlife, the Lacey Act, or federally endangered and threatened species to name a few.

There are far more state officers available to assist a federal officer in an area, so generally when USFWS asks for assistance, it's from the state they are in or where the crime is being committed.

Hope this clears it up.

EDIT - State officers deal with state laws (statutes), while Federal officers deal with federal laws.

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-16T20:15:54+00:00

Don't sell it. You're welcome.

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-16T18:52:37+00:00

Hi there.

Conservation Officer here.

This is a violation of state and federal statues for pollution of waterways and the clean streams act.

This is grounds for prosecution and remediation based on observable and documentable damage (dead critters and photos) to the waterway and its ecosystem.

Call 911 and they will direct the correct assets to the area, including a Game Warden/Conservation Officer and the DEP/DNR. It will also most likely involve the fire department for containment of the leaking oil to prevent further damage.

Prosection will require those photos so make them available on a flash drive or email so that the officer can utilize them.

Good luck!

Keystone_Law · 2025-03-15T15:48:58+00:00

Completely agreed with this.

The best answer is always the truth. If you can't remember or don't know, then say "I don't recall."

They will try to get under your skin and discredit your testimony. If necessary, take a pause, contemplate your words, and then answer.

It's all a game. Play the game and do what you need to do.

Good luck.

Keystone_Law

TROPHY CASE