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Conservation Officer

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (State) | https://idfg.idaho.gov/

Details
Posting:
https:/​/​idfg.idaho.gov/​
Application Deadline:
06/30/2025
Published:
06/03/2025
Starting Date:
after 9/14/2025
Hours per Week:
at least 40
Salary:
starting at $27.86 per hour
Education Required:
Some Undergraduate
Experience Required:
none
Location:
Idaho
Description
Please Note: Applications will be accepted through 4:59 PM MDT on the posting end date.

Make a difference, become a Conservation Officer for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG):

Are you passionate about the outdoors and ready to turn that passion into purpose? As a Conservation Officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, you’ll have a career unlike any other — you’ll turn that passion into a meaningful career—safeguarding Idaho’s diverse wildlife, upholding natural resource laws, and serving communities across some of the most scenic landscapes in the country.

This Isn’t Just a Job — It’s a Calling:

IDFG Conservation Officers are law enforcement professionals, biologists, and public educators all in one. You’ll patrol mountains, rivers, deserts, and forests using a variety of tools — from horses to jet boats — to enforce laws, prevent poaching, support wildlife research, and build community relationships.

No two days are ever the same. One day you might be investigating wildlife crime, and the next you could be gathering data to assist with a wildlife study, or speaking to a classroom about conservation.

What You’ll Do:

  • Protect Idaho’s Natural Resources: Enforce fish and game laws, patrol public lands, investigate wildlife violations, and promote ethical outdoor behavior.
  • Support Science-Based Wildlife Management: Collaborate with biologists to gather data, conduct studies, and assist in wildlife population monitoring.
  • Serve the Public: Educate hunters, anglers, landowners, and youth on wildlife laws and conservation efforts. Build relationships rooted in respect and stewardship.
  • Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Work with landowners and communities to address property damage and other wildlife-related issues.

What Makes a Great Conservation Officer?

The individuals we are looking for to fill these positions are ideally those who are:

  • Passionate about wildlife, conservation, and outdoor life.
  • Strong communicators who can listen, educate, and de-escalate.
  • Self-starters who thrive in independent, often remote work environments.
  • Adaptable and ready for the unexpected.
  • Have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher in fish and/or wildlife management from an accredited college or university.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Enforcement: conduct field patrols to detect and investigate fish and game law violations; check licenses and bag limits of sportsmen in the field; issue citations and make arrests; operate short-term check stations; monitor license-vending activities; assist other law enforcement agencies when requested; testify in court regarding offenses; act as a relief officer for other patrol districts. Conservation Officers are required to be proficient with department issued firearms, meeting POST qualifications annually with a rifle and biannually with a handgun. Officers are required to pass the POST physical fitness requirement biannually. Work a varied schedule which may include patrolling on weekends, nights, and holidays.

  • Fish and game management: collect biological data for wildlife studies; trap, tag, and transplant animals, birds, and fish; conduct wildlife feeding programs; evaluate habitat for wildlife; investigate, resolve, and make reports on wildlife depredation complaints; dispose of deceased, dead, or injured animals.

  • Information and education: participate in wildlife education and youth mentoring projects; conduct hunter safety programs; assist in search and rescue operations; write news articles; participate in news programs; attend meetings and conferences regarding fish and game practices and problems.

Minimum Qualifications: (These qualifications are all required. In order to be considered for the position, one must have the minimum level of experience or education described in the typical guides to qualify for this position.)

  • Good knowledge of fish and wildlife management practices including habitat and forage requirements, behavior and identification of various wildlife species, and wildlife population dynamics. (Typically gained by successful completion of at least 12 upper division (300-400 level) credits in fish, wildlife, biology, or a closely related natural resources field from an accredited college or university by the targeted hire date that is listed on the job announcement.)
  • Experience: interpreting and applying biological data; writing technical reports on fish and wildlife issues; making oral presentations. (Typically gained by at least one year of work experience or experience through education that required one to interpret and apply biological data; write technical reports on fish and wildlife issues; and make oral presentations on fish and wildlife related topics.)
  • Willingness to participate and to instruct in hunting and fishing activities.
  • Must be able to meet the entrance requirements for the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council (“POST”). For more information about the Idaho POST entrance requirements, please see the information in the following link - https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/11/111101.pdf.
  • Idaho Law requires that peace officers be certified by Idaho's Peace Officer Standards and Training Council ("POST"). The statutes and regulations of POST require that every peace officer be a citizen of the United States, and that citizenship must be established through one of the following: A birth certificate issued by the city, county or state and filed within one year of birth; Naturalization Certificate; U.S. Passport; Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth; or Certificate of Citizenship
  • POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
    oNOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02, an applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
    o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
    o The term “Conviction” shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant’s appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.
  • POST Requirement one of the following:
    o High school graduate from a school accredited as a high school at the time of graduation by the recognized regional accreditation body;
    o Have passed GED or IBM Assessment Test in subject areas required by POST;
    o Have successfully completed a high school equivalency program and obtained a state-issued certificate;
    o Have successfully completed a minimum of fifteen (15) academic credits at a U.S. regionally accredited college (please see IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.053.01.d for a list of the POST-accepted regional accreditation agencies.);
    o Completed a course of study, either in a formal school setting or through homeschooling if the program is recognized by a state or by a local school district within a state as having met that state’s high school graduation requirements.
  • Be at least 21 years of age by the date of hire.
  • Valid driver’s license from your state of residence and that you qualify for an Idaho driver’s license.
  • Physical Fitness Standards must be met twice a year by all Conservation Officers. Listed below are the exercises that will be assessed and the required minimum passing score for each exercise:
    o Vertical Jump - Minimum Passing Score = 14 Inches
    o Sit-Ups (in one minute) - Minimum Passing Score = 15 Repetitions
    o Push-Ups (no time limit) - Minimum Passing Score = 21 Repetitions
    o 1.5 Mile Run/Walk - Minimum Passing Score = 17:17 Minutes/Seconds
    o 300 Meters Run - Minimum Passing Score = 77 Seconds

Automatic Disqualifiers:

  • POST requires the disclosure of all charges, citations, arrests, or convictions of any crime, and if so to provide information describing the circumstances and disposition of each charge and to include all police and court documents.
    o NOTE: Per IDAPA Rule 11.11.01.056.02 An applicant shall be rejected who has been convicted of any felony crime. Any felony convictions whether withheld judgment, suspended or imposed, conviction of a DUI in the last two years and/or conviction of a sex crime, illegal drug crime, or crime of deceit in the last five years are also cause for rejection.
    o A misdemeanor conviction of any federal, state, or local crime may be grounds for rejection of the applicant.
    o The term "Conviction" shall include any conviction in a federal, tribal, state, county, or municipal court; a voluntary forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance; payment of a fine; plea of guilty, nolo contendere; a finding of guilt regardless of whether the sentence is imposed, suspended, deferred, or withheld, and regardless of whether the plea or conviction is set aside or withdrawn, or the case or charge is dismissed, or the record expunged under Section 19-2604, Idaho code, or any other comparable statute or procedure, where the setting aside of the plea or conviction, or dismissal of the case or charge, or expungement of the record is based upon lenity or the furtherance of rehabilitation rather than upon any defect in the legality of factual basis of the plea, finding of guilt, or conviction.
  • Federal law prohibits individuals convicted of domestic violence from carrying a firearm.
  • Any felony convictions
  • Marijuana usage, which is considered illegal in the state of Idaho, within the last year.
  • Drug usage, excluding marijuana, which is considered illegal in the state of Idaho within the last three years.
    o The term "used" is defined as any intentional or unintentional testing, smoking, injecting, absorbing, sniffing, or inhaling of any drug not prescribed, administered, or provided to the applicant by a licensed physician, their authorized agent, or practitioner allowed to do so by statute.
  • Drug conviction within the last three years.
  • Served in the military and been given any of the following military discharges: Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD), Dishonorable Discharge (DD), or Administrative Discharge of other than Honorable (OTH).

Compensation & Career Growth:

  • Starting Salary: $27.86/hour
  • After successful completion of your entrance probationary period (first 2,080 hours with POST Academy and Field Training completed) you may be promoted to Conservation Officer, Senior — $30.94/hour

What We Offer:


Where You’ll Work:

Assignments are made based on departmental needs and can be anywhere in the state. Most areas are remote, wild, and beautiful — the kind of places others only visit on vacation. Once placed, transfers are generally not considered for the first two years.

Why Work for IDFG?

At IDFG, we believe in balancing hard work with personal well-being. Our team is passionate about our mission:

“To preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage Idaho’s wildlife resources.”

We value creativity, integrity, and public service. Whether you’re on patrol, helping a young hunter learn the rules, or collecting data for a wildlife study, your work matters — today, and for generations to come.

Additional Information for successful candidates:

Successful candidates must pass the following:

  • Extensive background check (credit, employment, criminal, references)
  • Psychological evaluation
  • Medical and physical fitness tests

Tentative Time Frames for this recruitment:

  • Initial Video Interviews – July 2025
  • In-Person Interviews – August 4th through August 7th, 2025
  • Background Checks/Screening - this will begin immediately after the in-person interviews conclude
  • Conditional offers of hire and invitations to psychological, medical, and physical fitness exam will be sent out at the end of August 2025.
  • *Please note that the exams will be conducted in Boise on August 18th through August 20th, 2025.
  • Estimated hire date – September 14, 2025
  • New Hire Orientation – September 14th through September 22nd, 2025
  • POST patrol academy – January 2026 or April 2026

Want to Learn More about IDFG and becoming a Conservation Officer?

To learn more about becoming an IDFG Conservation Officer and the Department, please see the following:


Ready to Begin Your Journey?

If you’re ready for a career that combines purpose, adventure, and impact, apply to become an Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officer today.

How to Apply:

Please apply online at the following URL.

URL:
Conservation Officer in Statewide, Idaho, United States (https://statecareers.idaho.gov/jobs/16194408-conservation-officer) 

Additional Comments:

EEO/Veteran's Preference.

Thank you for applying with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game!

Contact
Rachel Byington
(208) 334-3773
idfgjob@idfg.idaho.gov (preferred contact method)