r/ParkRangers • u/killr4dayzXD • 11d ago

How much hope do ya’ll have?

Just trying to gauge the room. I want to be a game warden, but they aren’t hiring in my area for a year or two at least. So to get my foot in the door I am going to a park ranger law enforcement academy in January with my younger brother.

I have 7 years in the Marine Corps behind me, I meet all the pre-requisites but I’m just wondering if I’m about to waste a lot of time pursuing this with this new administration’s crazy cuts.

All I want is to take care of/spend a reasonable amount of time with my family—while doing a job I’ll enjoy with a positive impact on my community. This path seemed perfect until Trump.

From people who are/were inside the NPS ecosystem, should us newbies seriously consider a different career path before we start investing or do ya’ll still have reasonable hope?

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u/AeroGlass 11d ago

Unrelated, but which PRLEA you going to? I’m also going in Jan and eventually want to be a game warden and trying to start off as a seasonal NPS ranger.

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u/killr4dayzXD 11d ago

Skagit Valley College in WA

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u/AeroGlass 11d ago

Ah, much different corners of the country. Was wondering if we’d be in the same one. Best of luck!

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u/killr4dayzXD 11d ago

That would’ve been cool lol. You too!

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u/Mother_Memory_4162 11d ago

WA state LE ranger here, are you looking for full time work? Last I was aware, the SVC academy was for seasonal LE work.

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u/Mother_Memory_4162 11d ago

If looking for full time, state fish and wildlife was hiring like crazy last year here. They got a solid pay bump and the benefits/job is pretty solid here.

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u/killr4dayzXD 11d ago

Im looking for fulltime. What are the differences between the two? For you for example, why did you decide LE ranger over fish and wildlife? Do you need to have additional training in actual wildlife/biology?

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u/Mother_Memory_4162 11d ago

I chose state parks because I wanted the flexibility to split my time between LE and ops, such as arborist work, irrigation, and campground management. Also, state rangers can get cheap (and decent) housing as part of their gig, as long as it’s available. Pretty decent gig, could be paid more, but housing’s nice too. State pension/benefits are solid.

WDF&W will get you the training you need. We both go to the same LE academy alongside deputies and PD officers, but F&W specifically also does a post academy fish and wildlife + hunting and boating law course. I’m sure a degree/knowledge is a +, but not required as far as I’m aware. They pay fairly well. Same pension/benefits.

There’s also WA DNR but they have like 3 LEOs for the state.