Natural Resource Officer I (Game Warden)

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is seeking applicants for entry-level Natural Resource Officer I positions (Game Wardens) within the Law Enforcement Division. Successful candidates will be added to a pool of eligible individuals who may be offered positions as Natural Resource Officers I.

Kansas Game Wardens enforce state and federal fish and wildlife laws, boating regulations, and public land regulations across Kansas. Officers operate on both private and public lands, providing vital enforcement and assistance to federal, state, and local agencies as needed. Additionally, Game Wardens regularly deliver educational programs on hunter education, boating safety, and other natural resource topics.

LOCATION:

* Positions are located Statewide.

BENEFITS:

• Starting pay: $25.68 per hour, with scheduled step increases
• Group health and life insurance
• Kansas Police & Fire (KP&F) retirement
• Paid holidays, sick leave & vacation time
• Parental leave, plus optional programs such as deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts (FSA), and health savings accounts (HSA).

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent is required.
• A bachelor’s degree in natural resources is preferred but not required. (Those graduating from College in May 2026 are encouraged to apply).
• Experience in law enforcement, fisheries, or wildlife management is required. Relevant coursework or personal experience should be detailed in the cover letter.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be 21 years of age at the time of application
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must pass a background check.
• Must pass a polygraph examination.
• Must pass a drug screening.
• Must be a credible witness in court.
• Must have no legal impediments. Disqualification information and the exemption from disqualification form can be found on the department’s website.

* https://ksoutdoors.gov/KDWP-Info/Jobs/Employment-Application-Additional-Info

TESTING:

Testing is tentatively scheduled for February 28, 2026, in Salina, Kansas.

Physical Fitness:

• Timed 1-mile run: Applicants must complete the mile run in 10 minutes or less.
• Those who pass the physical fitness test will proceed to the written testing on the same day.

Academic Tests:

• Identification of Kansas species
• Kansas Fish & Wildlife Regulations
• Boating regulations
• Memory and Essay test

INTERVIEWS:

Applicants passing the initial testing will be invited to follow-up interviews to be held at a later date.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit Law Enforcement Testing Reference Guide for Study material which is found at http://ksoutdoors.gov/KDWP-Info/Jobs.

A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THIS REFERENCE MATERIAL WILL BE NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS THIS TESTING.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: This class requires the employee to be certified as a law enforcement officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission. Certification must be obtained before the employee is given permanent status.  The employee must complete a basic law enforcement training program recognized by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission and annual training as required by K.S.A. 74-5607a.

This class requires the use of a firearm for law enforcement duties; therefore, to be eligible for appointment to a position in this class, candidates cannot have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crime as set forth in 18 U.S.C.§ 992 (g) (8) and (9). To be eligible for certification in the state of Kansas one must also be free from a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence crime, or a misdemeanor offense that the commission determines reflects on the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, or competence of the applicant as defined by rules and regulations of the commission as set forth by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act.

Candidates for positions in this class must have the following: be a U.S. citizen; be 21 years of age at the time of appointment; free of conviction of any crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or a state prison; and be required to pass a physical exam administered by the hiring agency.

This class requires that at the time of appointment the selected candidate must take and pass a drug screening test approved by the Office of Personnel Services, a pre-employment physical, and a standard battery of psychological tests required for admission into the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Basic Course.

Because Natural Resource Officer Positions require the employee to be certified as a Law Enforcement Officer by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission, certain past and present personal behaviors can impact employment eligibility.  Applicants may submit an exemption from disqualification form to request a review of a specific incident causing the applicant to fall under disqualification.  Select the jobs tab at the bottom of the page, then select the Employment Application & Additional Info link for more information.