Ask The Conservation Officer (CO)

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer

Question: "I saw a segment on the news about volunteers helping trap deer and do other fish and wildlife projects for the Fish and Game department. It looked like a lot of fun. How do I get involved in that program?"

Answer: You probably saw one of the deer trapping segments from our southern Idaho fawn monitoring project.

The reservist program is a volunteer group the Department has established that can quickly assemble and assist with fish and wildlife management projects.

In the Magic Valley region there are 32 reservists on the roster. During 2005 they donated 2,415 hours and over 8,000 miles in their personal vehicles. In the 14 years since the program began in the Magic Valley region, reservists have donated 33,891 volunteer hours and over 120,000 miles on personal vehicles.

Since they represent the Department, applicants must also pass a background check and review of Department policies and procedures. Reservist applicants must also pass a written examination on basic wildlife knowledge.   

Reservists are also required to be in a Department uniform when doing volunteer activities, and they are responsible for purchasing their own uniform items.

They assist the Department with the full spectrum of activities and are generally associated with fish and wildlife management activities. Some of their recent activities included: fawn capture, planting shrubs on mule deer winter range, helping at fall check stations, capturing sage grouse as part of a research project, fish population estimates, installing watering devices on wildlife tracts for upland birds and fencing on wildlife tracts.

Earl Wise from Jerome was selected as the "Reservist of the Year" for 2005. Earl donated over 550 volunteer hours to earn the award for 2005. The 2006 recipient of the "Reservist of the Year" has yet to be announced.

If you have any further questions you may call the Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208)324-4350 or e-mail us at the Fish and Game web site at http://fishandgame.Idaho.gov.

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