Wildlife Officer
Wildlife Officer Supervisor
Wildlife Law Supervisor
RETURN TO PURSUING A WILDLIFE CAREER
WILDLIFE OFFICER
 MINIMUM CLASS QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT:
Applicants must be 21 years old and possess a valid driver’s license. Applicants for this position must possess at least an associates degree or completion of an undergraduate core program in fish and/or wildlife management, criminal justice, environmental law enforcement or related fields. Applicants must be able to swim 100 yards in 5 minutes or less and tread water for a minimum of 5 minutes.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES & SKILLS:
College training is necessary for the wildlife officer position. Refer to the “In College” portion of this site for recommended fields of study. Farming experience and a knowledge of agronomy and forestry are also beneficial. Knowledge of the life histories and habitat requirements of fish and wildlife species common to Ohio is highly desirable. It is also helpful to have a thorough understanding of legal methods used to harvest fish and game and to be capable of operating the equipment and tools commonly used. The ability to develop and maintain working relationships with local law enforcement agencies, and to work with and speak to the public effectively is essential. An applicant must be able to write and prepare records and reports clearly. Experience in firearms, boat safety, and first aid training is helpful. He/she must also be able to work additional hours during peak hunting and fishing seasons.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
Individuals hired as wildlife officers will enter the service as a wildlife officer cadet. Cadets will complete 500 hours of peace officer training in addition to approximately 12 weeks of wildlife officer pre-service training school. During this training period cadets receive the base salary plus lodging and meals.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
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Civil Service Title
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Approximate Annual Salary
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Wildlife Officer Cadet
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$34,000
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Wildlife Officer/Investigator
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$39,000 - $53,000
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Fringe benefits include an in-house office allowance, health insurance, vacation, sick leave and personal leave allowances, uniforms, longevity and hazardous duty pay, and all other benefits relating to state employees.
Applications for this position are accepted only when it has been offered through a public posting. Information on job postings can be obtained at any local Department of Natural Resources’ office or by calling the ODNR Office of Human Resources at 614-265-6990, and on the Internet at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us. If you need more information, or would like to talk to a fish or wildlife professional, feel free to call one of our district offices or the central office in Columbus for an appointment.
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WILDLIFE OFFICER SUPERVISOR
 Supervises & directs wildlife officers (i.e., makes work assignments, completes performance evaluations, monitors & directs work activities, recommends approval/disapproval of leave, counsels employees & recommends discipline when necessary) in field operations, enforces departmental & state hunting, fishing, trapping laws, conducts surveillance & investigations of violations, makes arrests, serves summons & warrants, ensures enforcement of departmental policies & procedures & recommends changes in field policy to higher-level staff.
Prepares & maintains records & reports (e.g., monthly, investigation, vehicle); maintain vehicles & equipment; speaks to public & private organizations pertaining to wildlife; maintains contact with informants, courts, prosecutors, local, state & federal law enforcement agencies; instructs hunter & trapper safety programs; conducts game & fish management activities.
MINIMUM CLASS QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT:
Commissioned as wildlife officer by Division of Wildlife of Department of Natural
Resources; completion of ohio peace officer training commission course; 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in supervision. The final applicant accepted for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis prior to appointment to test for illegal drug use. An applicant with a positive test result will not be offered employment, per section 3719.01 & 3719.41 of ohio revised code.
-Or 2 yrs. exp. as wildlife officer investigator, 22293. The final applicant accepted for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis prior to appointment to test for illegal
drug use. An applicant with a positive test result will not be offered employment, per
section 3719.01 & 3719.41 of ohio revised code.
-Or equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above.
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WILDLIFE LAW SUPERVISOR
Supervises & directs district wildlife investigators in law enforcement programs & activities (e.g., hunter incident investigations; weapons offenses; pollution fish kill investigations; stream & private land litter investigations; state property protection; special investigations to include wildlife, pollution &/or ginseng violations; lake erie commercial fishing operations; lake erie sport fishing; illegal incursions of Canadian commercial fishing vessels); oversees & executes law enforcement program for all counties in assigned district, participates in development of division policies, procedures & regulations, oversees in-service law enforcement training for wildlife officers, in conjunction with wildlife officer supervisor, 22295, oversees district law enforcement activities & prepares & recommends amendments to district law enforcement program to include long range goals, special projects & participates in development of district budget. Monitors, reviews & compiles water craft reports & monthly / annual law enforcement reports and arrest reports; prepares monthly activity report & program progress report & annual district enforcement report; purchases law enforcement operational supplies; researches & purchases specialized equipment (e.g., boats; cameras; all-terrain vehicles; computers; global positioning systems; digital photography equipment); maintains & reviews equipment inventory reports.
Responds verbally, in writing, in-person &/or e-mail to information requests from general public, federal, state, county & municipal employees; explains &/or provides explanation of wildlife related sections of ohio revised code & ohio administrative code for general public, judges, prosecutors, attorneys &/or related legal staff; corresponds with adjoining state fish & wildlife agencies concerning legal interpretations, memorandums of understanding & joint agency law enforcement projects, game violations & multi-state training ventures; coordinates district law enforcement activities with other natural resource divisions, highway patrol, EPA &/or local police departments.
Monitors & initiates annual permit review process for bait dealers, game propagation operations, dog training grounds; fish food propagation, fur dealers, shooting preserves, hunting preserves (e.g., white oak hunting preserve; double “d” ranch), nuisance trappers &/or ohio river fishnets.
MINIMUM CLASS QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT:
Commissioned as Wildlife Officer by Division of Wildlife of Department of Natural Resources; Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Commission course or equivalent; completion of undergraduate core wildlife related program (e.g., zoology, biology, ecology, botany, natural resources, conservation law enforcement); 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in supervisory principles & techniques.
-Or 60 mos. exp. as wildlife officer 2, 22292.
-Or 36 mos. exp. as wildlife officer investigator, 22293.
-Or 24 mos. exp. as wildlife officer supervisor, 22295.
-Or total of 60 mos. exp. in any of the above combined classifications.
-Or equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above.
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