Conservation Officer Trainees

Group photo of New Mexico Game and Fish Conservation Law Enforcement Officers

 

Conservation Officers

Conservation Officers (Fish and Game Wardens) can be found patrolling the lands and waters of the state day and night. Most people will tell you that enforcing the game and fish laws is their primary responsibility, but the job doesn’t stop there. In addition to enforcement, the conservation officer educates the public about wildlife and wildlife management, conducts wildlife surveys, captures “problem animals,” investigates wildlife damage to crops and property, assists in wildlife relocations and helps to develop new regulations.

The following page provides information about the hiring process. Visit the State Personnel Office website to apply. 

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Game and Fish Warden Recruit (DGF #40869+) – Santa Fe – Pay Band PE

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any field with at least twelve (12) credit hours that pertain to the essential duties and responsibilities of this classification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Conservation Officer Recruits participate and assist in wildlife management.
  • Employees may assist in providing information on wildlife education, wildlife law enforcement, management, and research.
  • Employees may assist in enforcing wildlife regulations and laws, and wildlife management.
  • Employees may have contacts with the public to provide simple information on wildlife regulations and laws.

Hiring Timeline

Updated 8-30- 2024:
Job Announcement Information

  • September 3rd: Job Announcement Opens
  • October 18th: Job Announcement Closes

The Selection Process

  • December 7th: Physical Pre-Assessment Testing (see physical standards for below 6,000 feet) and Wildlife Written Exam (see sample test for study tips): Albuquerque
  • December 8th-9th: Pre-employment Background Investigation (if applicant passed physical pre-assessment testing): Albuquerque
  • December 10th-11th: Formal interviews: Albuquerque
  • December 12th: Psychological Examination (if selected to continue the process): Albuquerque
  • December 13th: Medical Examination (if selected to continue the process): Albuquerque
  • December 14th: Uniform & Body Armor fitting at Galls/Kaufman’s West (if given a conditional job offer): Albuquerque

Training You’ll Receive in 2025

  • January 6th: Start date. Report for duty at the NMDGF Southeast Area Office in Roswell at 6:30 AM (MST).
  • January 9th: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Physical Pre- Assessment (same physical standards as completed on December 7th, 2024): Hobbs
  • January 13th-22nd: Recruit Basic Firearms Training: Hagerman
  • January 26th: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Training (#A-25-53), Commencement- Hobbs
  • May 23rd: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Training (#A-25-53) Graduation- Hobbs
  • June 2nd-11th: Recruit School Block 1, Chapter 17 Law: Roswell
  • June 16th-20th: Recruit School Block 2: Roswell
  • June 23rd-July 3rd: On the Job Workshop: Roswell
  • July 7th: Hunter Education Instructor Workshop: Roswell
  • July 8th-9th: Law Enforcement ATV/OHV Training: Roswell
  • July 10th-11th: Wildlife Restraint, Immobilization and Euthanasia: Roswell

Field Training

  • July 19th *: Report for duty to your assigned Field Training Officer (FTO) for 14 weeks of in the field training
  • September 5th *: Recruits will get their district duty station assignments and can begin preparing to find housing etc. Prior to receiving district assignments, Recruits will select their top 3 preferred district choices from a list of all vacant districts at that time. The Department’s Field Operations Division Administration will consider recruit preference before assigning them to district, which could be anywhere in the state. However, the assigned district will be based on Department need.
  • October 25th *: Upon successful completion of training, Recruits will be promoted to District Wildlife Officer and will be stationed in their own district.

*These are approximate dates.  The exact date will be situation or recruit dependent and may vary from this schedule.

Please call or email Lt. Andrew Armendariz with any questions about becoming a Game Warden, the hiring process or to schedule a ride along with an officer in any area of the state.

Andrew Armendariz
Lieutenant- Field Operations Division
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
Cell Phone – (505) 690-9563
Email – Andrew.Armendariz@dgf.nm.gov

Contacts

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
1 Wildlife Way
Santa Fe, NM 87504

Law Enforcement – Field Operations Division
Email: DGF-FieldOps@dgf.nm.gov
Phone: 505-476-8085

HR Administrator
 Rebecca Archuleta
Rebecca.Archuleta@dgf.nm.gov

For assistance or questions relating to job postings and online applications, please contact:
New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO)
Career Services – Job Opportunities
(505) 476-7759 or email applicant.support@state.nm.us
NEOGOV Customer Support 1-855-524-5627