Where Are The Wardens?

[Greasy B]

I notice no shortage. I get creel checked just as often now as I did 10, 20, and 25 years ago.

I usually get checked a couple of times each year. They never seem to be around when the morons are acting up though.

[Al Agnew]

Seems to me that any reasonable person would agree that there aren't enough agents. Funny how every county sheriff's department has a dozen or more deputies and even a small town has three or four police officers, but one or at most two agents are supposed to cover a whole county. In my opinion, there should be a minimum of three agents per county, and what I'd like to see is that many with each having specific responsibilities...one agent that concentrates mainly on hunting and public hunting lands, one that concentrates on fishing and public fishing waters, and the third one floats between the two areas and covers all the other stuff agents do that are more public relations than anything else.

And then have a group of "agents at large" who do the sting operations and investigations of major multi-county or multi-state violations, and help out the local agents with saturation enforcement periodically.

But, of course, how ya gonna pay for all those extra agents? I don't know what an agent's salary is, but hiring a couple hundred more agents would be pretty expensive. Don't think the money spent on the elk would cover it.

[awhuber]

Seems to me that any reasonable person would agree that there aren't enough agents. Funny how every county sheriff's department has a dozen or more deputies and even a small town has three or four police officers, but one or at most two agents are supposed to cover a whole county. In my opinion, there should be a minimum of three agents per county, and what I'd like to see is that many with each having specific responsibilities...one agent that concentrates mainly on hunting and public hunting lands, one that concentrates on fishing and public fishing waters, and the third one floats between the two areas and covers all the other stuff agents do that are more public relations than anything else.

And then have a group of "agents at large" who do the sting operations and investigations of major multi-county or multi-state violations, and help out the local agents with saturation enforcement periodically.

But, of course, how ya gonna pay for all those extra agents? I don't know what an agent's salary is, but hiring a couple hundred more agents would be pretty expensive. Don't think the money spent on the elk would cover it.

We could use more here for sure.

The agents here , in Dent Co. make $41,748 and $39372 plus benes. Some in other counties make $60,000. $40 G's X 114 counties would be a big chunk of change.

[Jack Jones]

As awful as it may sound, I would advocate a $5 per day parking (maybe $7 on weekends) for all or most of the State Parks. I mean, if 50 cars park there a day during a 6 month season that would be ($5 x 50) x 180 days = $45,000. Multiply by the four trout parks for starters and you're at $180,000. Add in the other parks like Table Rock, Pomme, etc... and you could probably cover those salaries.

It would be unpopular, no doubt, but if you want the enforcement, you should have to pay. I would even consider a $3 - $5 day parking pass at some of the more popular boat launches if you want to put in.

So it's completely doable, and not horribly expensive, and even at those prices the recreation would be the best deal in town.

[fishinwrench]

But, of course, how ya gonna pay for all those extra agents? I don't know what an agent's salary is, but hiring a couple hundred more agents would be pretty expensive. Don't think the money spent on the elk would cover it.

They can't fund it the same way they fund the "war on drugs" ? (Asset seizure).

If they went after poachers and wildlife code violators with 1/2 the enthusiasm that they go after drug possession, and buzz drivers.....

[Chief Grey Bear]

Fund it with the fine monies. Why give that away??? And the judges need to stick it a little more to the offenders!

Also the agents need to do agent duties. They have more of what I would call non-agent duties that they have to do that eats up a huge part of their time. They need to be spending all of their time in the field.

[Greasy B]

We could use more here for sure.

$40 G's X 114 counties would be a big chunk of change.

The actual cost is probibly 1 1/2 or 2 x the wage.

[Feathers and Fins]

Fund it with a 10$ increase in the cost of hunting and fishing lisences! Because you will need the fee's from launch ramps and parks and fines to cover the other related cost to additional game wardens.

[Outside Bend]

The actual cost is probibly 1 1/2 or 2 x the wage.

And that's probably just salary/benefits- doesn't include things like new trucks and equipment, training, etc.

[Mitch f]

As awful as it may sound, I would advocate a $5 per day parking (maybe $7 on weekends) for all or most of the State Parks. I mean, if 50 cars park there a day during a 6 month season that would be ($5 x 50) x 180 days = $45,000. Multiply by the four trout parks for starters and you're at $180,000. Add in the other parks like Table Rock, Pomme, etc... and you could probably cover those salaries.

It would be unpopular, no doubt, but if you want the enforcement, you should have to pay. I would even consider a $3 - $5 day parking pass at some of the more popular boat launches if you want to put in.

So it's completely doable, and not horribly expensive, and even at those prices the recreation would be the best deal in town.

I wouldn't mind paying $5 to park, keeps the riff raff out and only affects the people who use the resource.