"Maine's Game Wardens are among the State's most highly trained and trusted law officers," said Roland D. Martin, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "The extensive recruitment process ensures that we get the best candidates."

The Maine Warden service was created in 1880 to protect Maine's fish and wildlife, and it is the second largest state law enforcement agency. To be a successful Maine Game Warden, an individual must possess considerable knowledge of wildlife, hunting, fishing, trapping, and other related outdoor sports, a strong desire to work in law enforcement and a willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

A game warden's key responsibilities are: enforcing fish and wildlife laws, search and rescue, enforcing recreational vehicle laws, safety education for hunters, trappers, boaters, snowmobilers and ATV operators, and fostering good relations between outdoor enthusiasts and private landowners.

The Maine Warden Service is a modern, professional, highly effective conservation law enforcement agency. Members are certified law enforcement officers with full police powers and statewide jurisdiction. Issued equipment includes four-wheel drive trucks, boats, snowmobiles, ATV's, two-way radio repeater networks, portable radios, GPS units, personal computers, fixed-wing aircraft and night vision equipment for carrying out their responsibilities. In addition, the service maintains its own forensic laboratory, a critical incident management team for search and rescue activities, a dive team and a K-9 unit.

To qualify to become a Maine Game Warden, you must: be willing to locate anywhere in the state of Maine, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have no extensive motor vehicle or criminal record, be at least 21 years old or be at least 20 years old and have completed an associate's degree or 60 credit hours of post-secondary education prior to the start of formal training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, and have or be able to obtain a valid Maine Class C motor vehicle operator's license.

The selection process for a Maine Game Warden is extensive and thorough. Applicants must submit proof of having already taken and passed the ALERT and the pre-employment physical fitness test, the latter within one year of date of application. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements are scheduled for a written examination. Those scoring above a certain level will then take an oral board examination. Successful applicants placed on an employment register will need to pass a swim test and then will go through an extensive background check. A final interview is conducted, and a job offer is made contingent upon the outcomes of a physical examination, polygraph examination, and a psychological examination.