Wyoming Game Wardens Association

Untitled Document

HISTORY OF WYOMING WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT

For a more complete history of the Wyoming wildlife law enforcement and management please read Neil Blair’s “The History of Wildlife Management in Wyoming”, 1985, WGFD.

1869 – 1st Wyoming Territorial Legislature passed a bill offering some protection and regulated the sale of fish and game, but set no limits.
1885 – 1st state fish hatchery built.
1899 – Albert Nelson named the first state game warden and served three years. Salary was set at $1,200/year from which he had to pay $3/day to deputy state game wardens.
1901 – D.C. Nowlin named second state game warden.
1903 – Hunting licensing system enacted.
1911 – State Game Commission established.
1921 – State Game & Fish Commission established.
1929 – Game and Fish Fund established and controlled by Commission. Commission given the authority to open and close seasons.
1937 – Game Wardens required to pass oral and written exams as hiring requirement. Game Warden housing established. Commission given more authority and autonomy.
1941 – Enforcement uniform officially adopted by Commission, which was a western style hat, boots and shirt with the antelope insignia designed by Ten Sleep Game Warden Archie Pendergraft on the left sleeve.
1947 – Commission approved rust colored shirt, black fore-in-hand necktie, Eisenhower jacket and Guy Weadick western hat for the dress uniform.
1949 – Game Wardens allowed to retire at 65 with a state retirement.
1952 – There were 31 Game Wardens employed.
1959 – Biologists lost enforcement authority and all wildlife enforcement done by Game Wardens.
1964 – Commission required B.S. degrees in game, range or natural resource management for Game Warden hiring requirement.
1965 – There were 44 Game Wardens employed.
1973 – Wyoming Game Wardens Association formed. Recodification of Game & Fish laws.
1975 – Game Wardens issued .357 magnum revolvers. New Game Wardens required to complete basic law enforcement training at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas.
1980 – Wyoming Wildlife Protectors Association formed and a toll free phone number to report wildlife poaching was in operation.
2008 – There are 50 Game Wardens employed

WYOMING STATE GAME WARDENS

Since the beginning, the State Game Warden has been in charge of wildlife management and enforcement in the State of Wyoming. Over time the position name has changed, but duties have remained essentially the same. Currently, Jay Lawson, the Chief Game Warden is head of the Wildlife Division for the WGFD.

1899-1901 – Albert Nelson
1901-1910 – D.C. Nowlin
1911-1913 – D.F. Hudson
1914 – W.H. Seebohm
1915-1918 – Nate Wilson
1919-1920 – William Judkins
1921-1922 – Bruce Nowlin
1923-1924 – Frank Smith
1925-1926 – A.A. Sanders
1927-1930 – Bruce Nowlin
1931-1934 – Robert Hocker
1935-1936 – Andrew Martin

1937 – A.J. Martin
1938-1942 – Lester Bagley
1943-1944 – Jim Simpson
1945 – R.R. Rousseau
1946-1947 – Archie Pendergraft
1948-1952 – Charles Hanscum
1953-1958 – Norbert Faass
1959-1963 – James White
1964-1965 – Earl Thomas
1966-1972 – Howard Robinson
1972-1989 – Rex Corsi
1989-Present – Jay Lawson

WYOMING GAME WARDENS ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

The Association was formed in 1973 and in a tribute to the officers elected to lead the association and who kept the association an active participant in Wyoming wildlife law enforcement and worked for benefits for association members, we thank their efforts and dedication.

1973-1974 PRES Max Long VP Dave Bragonier S/T George Carson	1974-1975 PRES Dave Bragonier VP Ernie Wampler S/T Terry Cleveland
1975-1976 PRES Chuck Ward VP Duane Hyde S/T Dennis Smith	1976-1977 PRES Duane Hyde VP Bob Sexton S/T Tom Toman
1977-1978 PRES Terry Cleveland VP Kay Bowles S/T Gary Brown	1978-1979 PRES Jim Oudin VP Ray Arzy S/T Gary Shorma/Tim Britt
1979-1980 PRES Ray Arzy VP Chuck Thornton S/T Chuck Repsis	1980-1981 PRES Chuck Thornton VP Chuck Oakley S/T Dennis Almquist
1981-1982 PRES Chuck Oakley VP Ernie Wampler S/T Doug Crawford	1982-1983 PRES Chuck Repsis VP Tim Britt S/T Terry Cram
1983-1984 PRES Chuck Repsis VP Tim Britt S/T Terry Cram	1984-1985 PRES Dave Avey VP Jay Lawson S/T Tom Varcalli
1985-1986 PRES Dave Avey VP Jay Lawson S/T Tom Varcalli	1986-1987 PRES John Talbott/Bill Haley VP Bill Haley/John Demaree S/T Bob Trebelcock/John Demaree
1987-1988 PRES Bill Haley VP Rick Pallister S/T John Demaree	1988-1989 PRES Rick Pallister VP Lin Bashford S/T John Demaree
1989-1990 PRES Rick Pallister VP Lin Bashford S/T John Demaree	1990-1991 PRES Kent Schmidlin/Bernie Holz VP Bernie Holz/Jerry Longobardi S/T John Demaree
1991-1992 PRES Bernie Holz VP Jerry Longobardi S/T John Demaree	1992-1993 PRES Dave Hays VP Tim Fagan S/T John Demaree
1993-1994 PRES Dave Hays VP Tim Fagan S/T John Demaree	1994-1995 PRES Tim Fagan VP Joe Gilbert S/T John Demaree
1995-1996 PRES Tim Fagan VP Joe Gilbert SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	1996-1997 PRES Joe Gilbert VP Scott Norelius SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree
1997-1998 PRES Joe Gilbert VP Scott Norelius SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	1998-1999 PRES Scott Norelius VP Ron Iversen SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree
1999-2000 PRES Scott Norelius VP Ron Iversen SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	2000-2001 PRES Ron Iversen VP Alan Osterland SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree
2001-2002 PRES Ron Iversen VP Alan Osterland SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	2002-2003 PRES Roger Bredehoft VP Todd Graham SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree
2003-2004 PRES Roger Bredehoft VP Todd Graham SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	2004-2005 PRES Todd Graham VP Mark Nelson SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree
2005-2006 PRES Todd Graham VP Mark Nelson SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	2006-2007 PRES Mark Nelson VP Brian Nesvik SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree
2007-2008 PRES Mark Nelson VP Brian Nesvik SEC Tim Fuchs TREAS John Demaree	2008-2009 PRES Brian Nesvik VP Craig Smith SEC Jason Sherwood TREAS John Demaree