Do you have what it takes to be a California wildlife officer? The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is currently accepting applications for Fish and Game warden cadet (wildlife officer), with a final filing deadline of Oct. 17, 2016. CDFW is particularly interested in recruiting applicants with a love of the outdoors, a passion for conservation and knowledge of fishing and hunting activities.

For information on minimum qualifications and other requirements to become a wildlife officer cadet, visit https://jobs.ca.gov/public/bulletin.aspx?examcd=6fg13.

The CDFW Law Enforcement Division typically receives more than 600 cadet applications per hiring cycle. All prospective candidates are encouraged to extensively review materials on the department’s website before contacting CDFW with questions.

CDFW wildlife officers are fully sworn California peace officers with a fundamental duty to serve and protect the public. They have the authority to enforce all California laws, including the Vehicle Code, Penal Code, Health and Safety drug laws and more. The primary mission of a wildlife officer is to enforce hunting and fishing laws; to protect California waterways and habitat from destruction, pollution, and litter; provide the public with hunting and fishing information; and to promote and coordinate hunter education and safe weapons handling. Wildlife officers investigate illegal sales of wildlife, fight against illegal drug trafficking and respond to natural disasters. They are also federally deputized to enforce federal fish and wildlife laws.

Wildlife officers patrol the mountains, valleys, deserts, creeks, streams, rivers and ocean. They frequently work alone and cover both rural and urban areas. California’s diverse ecosystem spans 159,000 square miles divided into 58 counties, with a human population in excess of 39 million. The state has 1,100 miles of coastline, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,800 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers. Wildlife officers patrol utilizing trucks, ATVs, personal watercraft, boats, snowmobiles and airplanes, making contact with Californians in the great outdoors. Wildlife officers work undercover, conduct surveillances and complete full-scale investigations, including writing and serving search warrants. CDFW has special operations teams focused on wildlife and drug trafficking, a dive team and a K-9 program.

Annually, wildlife officers make contact with more than 295,000 people and issue more than 15,000 citations for violations of the law.

Successful applicants will attend a Peace Officer Standards of Training (POST) certified law enforcement training academy, conducted by CDFW at Butte College, near Chico in northern California. Following the academy, cadets will work with a seasoned field training officer for several more weeks, learning to apply their training in practical circumstances.

The job posting and state application are both available online.