Careers in Enforcement

The following page provides information about the hiring process. Visit the State Personnel Office website to apply. 

Now Hiring!

Apply Here

Application Deadline: Sunday, March 31st, 2024
To become a Game Warden, the educational requirements include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any field with at least twelve (12) credit hours that pertain to the essential duties and responsibilities of this classification.
Essential duties and responsibilities of this position
• Conservation Officer Recruits participate and assist in wildlife management.
• Employees may assist in providing information on wildlife education, wildlife law enforcement, management, and research.
• Employees may assist in enforcing wildlife regulations and laws, and wildlife management.
• Employees may have contacts with the general public to provide simple information on wildlife regulations and laws.

Updated 2-07- 2024:

February 1st: Job Announcement Opens

March 31st: Job Announcement Closes

April 20th: Physical Pre-Assessment Testing (see physical standards for below 6,000 feet) and Wildlife Written Exam (see sample test for study tips): Albuquerque

April 21st: Pre-employment Background Investigation (if applicant passed physical pre-assessment testing): Albuquerque

April 22nd-24th: Formal interviews: Albuquerque

April 25th: Psychological Examination (if selected to continue the process): Albuquerque

April 26th: Medical Examination (if selected to continue the process): Albuquerque

April 27th: Uniform & Body Armor fitting at Galls/Kaufman’s West (if given a conditional job offer): Albuquerque

May 13th: Start date. Report for duty at the NMDGF Southeast Area Office in Roswell at 08:00 MST.

May 17th-26th: Recruit Basic Firearms Training: Farmington or Raton

May 30th- June 8th: Recruit School Block 1, Chapter 17 Law: Roswell

June 10th- July 12th: Recruit School Block 2: Roswell

July 8th *: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Physical Pre- Assessment (same physical standards as completed on April 20th, 2024): Hobbs

July 15th: Hunter Education Instructor Workshop: Roswell

July 16th- 17th: Law Enforcement ATV/OHV Training: Roswell

July 18th- 19th: Wildlife Restraint, Immobilization and Euthanasia: Roswell

July 23rd- 26th: Recruit Basic Boat Operations Training: Navajo Dam or Eagle Nest

August 3rd-9th: Wilderness Patrol Tactics & Horse Packing: Gila Hot Springs

August 11th *: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Physical Pre- Assessment (same physical standards as completed on April 20th, 2024): Hobbs

January 29th *: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Training #A-24-52, Commencement- Hobbs

December 13th *: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Training #A-24-52 Graduation- Hobbs

December 28th *: Report for duty to your assigned Field Training Officer (FTO) for 14 weeks of in the field training

February (2025) *: Recruits will get their district duty station assignments and can begin preparing to find housing etc.

April 5th, 2025 *: Upon successful completion of all training recruits will be promoted to District Wildlife Officer and will be stationed in their own district. Duty stations could be anywhere in the state and will be based on Department need.

*These are approximate dates.  The exact date will be situation/recruit dependent and may vary from this schedule.

Please call or email Lt. Andrew Armendariz with any questions about becoming a Game Warden, the hiring process or to schedule a ride along with an officer in any area of the state.

*These are approximate dates.  The exact date will be situation/recruit dependent and may vary from this schedule.

Please call or email Lt. Andrew Armendariz with any questions about becoming a Game Warden, the hiring process or to schedule a ride along with an officer in any area of the state.

Andrew Armendariz
Lieutenant- Field Operations Division
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
Cell Phone – (505) 690-9563
Email – Andrew.Armendariz@dgf.nm.gov

Conservation Officers (Fish and Game Wardens) can be found patrolling the lands and waters of the state day and night. Most people will tell you that enforcing the game and fish laws is their primary responsibility, but the job doesn’t stop there. In addition to enforcement, the conservation officer educates the public about wildlife and wildlife management, conducts wildlife surveys, captures “problem animals,” investigates wildlife damage to crops and property, assists in wildlife relocations and helps to develop new regulations.

Sample Written Test

Conservation Officer Physical Fitness Standards

Conservation Officer Brochure (09-07-2023)

See also: NMDGF Featured Officers