Oklahoma dealing with shortage of game wardens

Okla. (KXII) – Midway through several big hunting seasons, Oklahoma is struggling with a shortage of game wardens.

Oklahoma Senator David Bullard (R-Durant) said that game wardens have an important job to do.

“Those game wardens are there to protect us and protect the wildlife that are on our property from being poached,” he said. “The number one deer stand in Oklahoma for a lot of years was the right or left seat of a pickup truck.”

While there’s still some of that going on, he said it’s not anywhere near how it used to be.

“That’s due in large part to the wildlife department doing their job, being out and about,” Bullard said.

Now, that security could be in jeopardy.

Oklahoma currently has 12 open positions for game wardens – the most vacancies in a long time.

“When that law enforcement presence is not there, people are going to take advantage of it,” he said.

Bullard said one of the reasons the state is having a hard time filling those positions is because they’re simply not paying enough.

“If you’re paying competitive wages, and we’re not right now in the wildlife department, then you’re going to have a hard time recruiting,” he said.

Part of the problem is that the wildlife department is funded solely through ticketing, licenses and fees.

“They haven’t had an increase in licensing or fees in 23 years,” Bullard said.

Bullard said the ship has sailed on any more fee increases for the time being, but they could revisit the compacts they have with local tribes.

“The tribe has been great partners with us, especially on licensing and fees,” he said. “Bring that back up to help – that would be enough money there to give a substantial raise to all of our wildlife agencies and and to our game wardens.”

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