About the Wyoming Game Wardens Association

The Wyoming Game Wardens Association was formed in 1973 for the purpose of furnishing a medium for good fellowship and loyalty to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and fellow officers, effectively maintaining the wildlife resources of the State, promoting a more efficient and able force of wardens and to meet our responsibilities and problems collectively. The Association is classified as a nonprofit charitable organization for tax purposes.

Since 1985, the Wyoming Game Wardens Association has had the ability to provide financial assistance to various charitable organizations, programs designed to enhance outdoor awareness to school age children, research designed to improve wildlife law enforcement, handicapped hunter assistance, scholarship programs and memorial funds. Total contributions have exceeded $400,000 since 1985.

Membership to the Wyoming Game Wardens Association is comprised of all commissioned Wyoming Game and Fish Department law enforcement officers (88), retired officers and associate members. Current membership is now at 185.

MISSION OF THE WGWA

To promote and perpetuate the traditions, duty, responsibilities and role of the Wyoming Game Warden. To advocate the continued status of the Game Warden position as a multi-purpose wildlife professional serving as a law enforcement officer, wildlife manager and liaison between wildlife constituents and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. To honor those who have served before by upholding applicable traditions and developing new methods to address evolving environments and constituents. To advocate for conservation and youth education. To advocate through its membership, the concept of sustaining the honor, respect and reputation of the Wyoming Game Warden and all Wyoming Game & Fish Law Enforcement Officers through service to wildlife and the people of the State of Wyoming.

President's Report

September 5, 2022

Greetings, my name is Kim Olson and I was elected as President of the Wyoming Game Warden’s Association in April. I am honored to hold this position and humbled to follow in the footsteps of the many great leaders who have previously led the WGWA. I have 27 years of warden experience with 18 of those years working for Wyoming’s wildlife. For the last 11 years I have been stationed in Baggs, Wyoming on the Colorado border.

Our annual meeting for 2022 was held in Laramie with wonderful spring weather. A few changes were made to the format of the meeting to allow for more relaxation and enjoyment of our members with their families. We received some positive feedback and comments about the new format, so it is likely the annual meetings will continue in this manner. We were excited to have Governor Mark Gordon attend one of the sessions where members were able to visit and mingle with our States’ leader. It was an honor to have him attend and we are grateful he took the time to do so. During the banquet, we awarded the WGWA officer of the year and support person of the year to some very deserving individuals. Recently retired game wardens were also recognized for their many, many years of dedicated service protecting Wyoming’s wildlife resource. We are currently planning for the 2023 banquet which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the WGWA! Several special anniversary items are being designed to commemorate this important milestone and we hope everyone can attend the banquet in Casper.

This summer, the North American Wildlife Officers Association annual meeting was held in Nashville, Tennessee and Wyoming had seven wardens attend this fun event. The warden skills games competition is a highlight of the NAWEOA meetings, where teams compete at a variety of skills that game wardens should possess. The Wyoming team of game wardens represented very well in the skills games and came home with 3rd place! NAWEOA will be held in nearby Utah in 2023 and hopefully we will have another great representation of Wyoming wardens in attendance.

The WGWA was very grateful to have received one Commissioner license in 2022 to help us in our mission of advocating for conservation and youth education. We awarded 14 graduating high school seniors across the state with $1000 scholarships. We donated to the Paintrock Hunter Mentor Program which essentially gets kids out in the field through a variety of outdoor activities. This is a phenomenal program for the recruitment of youth to hunting, and we are proud to be a part of it. Another fantastic program that the WGWA was proud to assist financially is the First Hunt Foundation. This program is designed to recruit new hunters and anglers that otherwise may not have the opportunity to learn the sport. And the Association also donated to the Wyoming State 4-H Foundation, which is close to my heart. For many years, my family and I have had a strong affiliation with 4-H.  All of these great programs aim at continuing the tradition of investing in the young people of our state, and WGWA is glad to assist.

In keeping with the theme of Wyoming’s youth, we also attended the EXPO in Casper and the Wyoming Outdoor Weekend (WOW) in Lander this spring. At these events, children of all ages were able to have their photo taken from the WGWA Poach Coach. As always, it was one of the more popular booths and kept the volunteers very busy.

Membership in the WGWA is strong and healthy, and I will work hard to keep that alive. I will continue to promote the Game Warden position through educational events in hopes of finding men and women who will maintain the honor, respect and reputation of the Wyoming Game Warden. We are very proud of the last graduating class of new wardens; all 3 of whom were awarded high honors upon graduation from the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy. I will also work to advocate for Wyoming game wardens’ needs in their daily duties as we continue to work in many different aspects for Wyoming wildlife.

Our jobs are not easy, and we could not do it without the support of true sportsmen.  Your support can simply be in the form of a being a good witness, taking a good photo, and having the courage to stand up and do the right thing. I look forward to seeing you out in the field!

Kim Olson


Kim Olson – WGWA President

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT – Kim Olson – Baggs Game Warden
VICE PRESIDENT – Dustin Shorma – Dayton Game Warden
SECRETARY – Kristen Strom – North Laramie Game Warden
TREASURER – D.K. – Green River Investigator
EXECUTIVE OFFICER – Teal Cufaude – Retired West Rawlins Game Warden
REGIONS 1 & 8 DIRECTOR – Kyle Lash – South Jackson Game Warden
REGION 2 DIRECTOR – Colten Galambas – Cody Game Warden
REGION 3 DIRECTOR – Andy Enscore – South Gillette Game Warden
REGION 4 DIRECTOR – Justin Dodd – Green River Game Warden
REGION 5 DIRECTOR – Levi Wood – Saratoga Game Warden
REGION 6 DIRECTOR – Mitch Renteria – South Riverton Game Warden
REGION 7 DIRECTOR – A.P. – Casper Investigator

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

50th Anniversary 2023 Committee – D.B., J.S., James Hobbs, David Ellsworth
EXPO/WOW - Aaron Kerr, Brady Frude, Becca Lutz, Linnea Sailor, Kim Olson
Casper Officer Memorial – D.B., J.S., Janet Milek, Aaron Kerr, Kelly Todd, David Ellsworth, Teal Cufaude
Compensation/Retirement – Bill Robertson, Aaron Kerr
Facebook/Instagram – Kristen DaVanon
Health Insurance – Aaron Kerr
High School Scholarship – Kim Olson, Kelli Pauling
Historian – Bill Robertson
Honor Guard – Justin Dodd
Legislative – D.B., D.K., J.S., I.L., Bill Brinegar, Becca Lutz, Teal Cufaude, Jordan Winter, James Hobbs, Mitch Renteria
Meetings – Justin Dodd, Brian Debolt, Kristen DaVanon, J.S.
Merchandise – Mitch Renteria, Brady Frude, Jason Hunter
NAWEOA – Aaron Kerr
NAWEOA Conference Scholarship – J.S., Aaron Kerr, Todd Graham
Officer Memorials – Aaron Kerr, Kelly Todd
Parade(s) – Mitch Renteria, Brian Baker
Poach Coach – Rod Lebert, Jake Kettley
Poaching Exhibit Trailer – James Hobbs, A.P.
Retirement – Bill Robertson
Tom Easterly Memorial – Bill Robertson
Website – D.K.
WPOA – Brady Frude

Mailing Address: WGWA, P.O. Box 1241, Laramie, WY 82073

Email Address: WyGameWardensAssoc@gmail.com



New Green River Game Wardens Rob Shipe (left) and Justin Dodd (right) qualify
with their shotguns.


Game Warden Dave Hays (right in camo) instructs Green River Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco and Cokeville Game Warden Neil Hymas.


The Southwest Chapter of Muley Fanatics Foundation donated ten Mossberg inert firearms to be used to teach students proper firearms handling. The guns cannot fire ammunition, but dummy ammo rounds may be loaded. The cost of the two gun sets was $3,000.00! Thank you Muley Fanatics! Photo left, left to right: David Munoz, Aaron Logan, Dan Stanton, Chris Steffen, Don Cuthbertson, Kevin Spence, and Green River Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco. (photo left)


Lovell Game Warden James Hobbs attended the Lovell Health and Safety fair to teach residents about boating safety and the importance of wearing a personal flotation device while on the water.


Green River Game Wardens Rob Shipe (left) and Justin Dodd (right) check anglers on Flaming Gorge Reservoir.


Green River Wildlife Management Coordinator Mark Zornes, Evanston Game Warden Nick Roberts, and Kemmerer Game Warden Chris Baird conducted a horse care and familiarization training, including riding and packing, for our game warden trainees in June on the Fontenelle Face. Pictured at left are Chris, Nick, Robb Shipe and Justin Dodd.


North Gillette Game Warden Brooke Weaver (photo below) helps a couple young ladies identify furs at
Gillette's 125th Year Celebration.


Dubois Game Warden Brian Baker in the field.


Moorcroft Game John Davis investigates the area north of Gillette where a 5X6 buck mule deer was shot with a firearm during the archery season.


Tough Duty – South Jackson Game Warden Kyle Lash strikes out across Jackson Lake with his trusty dog Jax to check ice fishermen.


Game wardens Todd Graham and Kyle Lash Lash (Left) and Jackson feed ground manager Dave Hyde stand at the gate the elk were supposed to go through as they discuss how the elk eluded them.


Medicine Bow Game Warden Jake Kettley served as a judge for the Carbon County School District Science Fair in January. Kettley judged the 7th grade division and said he could not believe the complexity of some of the projects and was very impressed with them. Photo courtesy of Liz Wood/Saratoga Sun.


Rock Springs Game Warden Dave Hays and Regional Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco at a recent public meeting.


South Pinedale Game Warden Jordan Kraft (front) and Pinedale Wildlife Biologist Dean Clause count elk from a horse-drawn haysled as it passes by the herd at the Muddy Creek feed ground south of Boulder.


Game wardens Chris Baird (left), Neil Hymas (middle), and Andy Countryman hold elk antlers confiscated after they were collected illegally during the closed shed antler gathering season in 2014.


Greybull Game Warden Bill Robertson steadies one of 25 bighorn sheep captured from Hunt Area 12 as Access Coordinator Dan Smith prepares an ear tag.


Dubois Game Warden Brian Baker and volunteers help capture, sample, collar and release bighorn sheep on Sacajawea Ridge on the Wind River Indian Reservation.


Greybull Wildlife Biologist Leslie Schreiber, Lovell Game Warden James Hobbs, and Rawlins Game Warden Brady Frude release the sheep into the Seminoe Mountains.


Warden Lash and Jackson Wildlife Coordinator Doug Brimeyer prepare to reverse the tranquilizer drug and release the moose.


PLPW Coordinator Troy Tobiasson teaching a Hunter Education class in Kaycee.




Green River Region biologists, game wardens and local volunteers shovel snow off the patrol cabin roof near La Barge, Wyoming. The shovelers also enjoyed a snowmobile trip. Someone has to do it! :)
(Both photos above)


Jackson Game warden, Kyle Lash, visits with a group of ice fishermen on Jackson Lake.


Lander Game Warden Brady Frude with students


Picture provided by Silver Fox Imaging: Brady Frude carrying a bighorn ewe with Greg Hiatt and Hank Edwards in tow.


Thermopolis game warden Benge Brown, examines the leaders on a sagebrush to determine the percent utilization.


PLPW Coordinator Troy Tobiasson (photo at left) shows black bear claws to event participants.


Green River Regional Supervisor Steve DeCecco assisting a hunter education class.


Elk Mountain Game Warden Ryan Kenneda conducting Telemetry work.


North Jackson Game Warden Jon Stephens steadies a recently collared elk before her release.


Green River Game Warden Andy Roosa teaching hunter education.


Buffalo Access Warden Troy Tobiasson conducting a necropsy.


Warden Coordinator Scott Werbelow overlooking the Medicine Lodge Wildlife Habitat Unit.


North Riverton Warden Julien visits with Wyoming Cowboy Tough Adventure race team on Boysen Reservoir.


Lander Warden Brad Hovinga scouting the landscape.


Green River Game Wardens Dillon Herman and Andy Roosa assist Green River Wildlife Biologist Patrick Burke in checking in a Bighorn Sheep.


Law Enforcement Coordinator Aaron Kerr classifying antelope near Casper.


Green River Game Warden Dillon Herman conducting watercraft inspections on Flaming Gorge Reservoir.


Kyle Lash (left) and Jon Stephens (right) brave the weather at Hurricane Pass while doing bighorn sheep surveys on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.


Big Piney Game Warden Adam Hymas being filmed for a pilot show on Animal Planet.


North Riverton Game Warden Jessica Beecham checking a hunting license.


East Casper Game Warden Cody Bish removing a Great Horned Owl which had a trap on its left foot and became tangled in a tree.


Kemmerer Access Warden Andy Countryman teaching Hunter Education.


Saratoga Game Warden Biff Burton checks deer hunters.


Torrington Game Warden Rob Hipp preparing pheasants for release.


South Pinedale Game Warden Jordan Kraft investigating a mule deer poaching.


Worland Game Warden Matt Lentch with a Loon rescued near Worland.


Jeff Smith, Laramie Supervisor


East Rawlins Game Warden Brady Frude with a young Bobcat kitten.


South Jackson Game Warden Kyle Lash, pauses in front of the North Fork of the Buffalo Falls.


North Jackson Game Warden Jon Stephens checks in a Mountain Goat from area 2.


Access Coordinator Dan Smith fixing signs in the Copper Mountain Hunter Management Area.


Elk Mountain Game Warden Ryan Kenneda with the head of 6x7 Mule Deer that poached near Elk Mountain.


Torrington Game Warden Rob Hipp with a tranquilized Bighorn Sheep.


Worland Game Warden Matt Lentch with 88 dead mallards retrieved from a warm water ditch south of Manderson.


Laramie Wildlife Biologist Lee Knox and Game Warden Jackie Otto prepare to take off.


Game wardens and biologists 2008 Horse Training graduate class, Douglas, Wyoming


1959 Game Wardens


Winter Condition Survey with Casper Game Warden Matt Withroder and Laramie Game Wardens Bill Haley and Kelly Todd


Kaycee Game Warden Kyle Lash Checking a Pronghorn Hunter


Wheatland Game Warden Craig Smith darting a nuisance black bear near Guernsey


Elk Mountain Game Warden Ryan Kenneda checking elk hunters in a snowstorm


Saratoga Game Warden Biff Burton and Biologist Will Schultz with a tranquilized cougar


Casper Game Warden Daniel Beach relocating a nuisance black bear


Thermopolis Game Warden Benge Brown horseback on the Wood River


Lovell Game Warden James Hobbs and Cody Access Game Warden Dan Smith collecting evidence


Meeteetsee Game Warden Jim Olson and his mule

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