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51 New Game Wardens Will Enforce Texas Conservation Laws
Cadet Class To Graduate 9 a.m. June 9 at Capitol In Austin, TX.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas — -(AmmoLand.com)- The Texas Game Warden Academy’s largest class ever will graduate at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning in the House of Representatives chamber at the capitol, after which the 51 cadets will disperse to their first duty stations across the state.
Game wardens perform water rescue operations, respond to natural disasters, and conduct public outreach programs, in addition to enforcing traditional hunting, fishing, and water safety regulations.

“Basically, game wardens are the primary law enforcement off the pavement in Texas,” said Major Danny Shaw, director of training at the academy.

This 54th Game Warden graduating class was the first to be trained at the academy’s new site in Hamilton County, in a facility donated by the nonprofit Police Activities League. Previously, cadets trained at a converted warehouse in Austin and various borrowed facilities around the state, adding extra costs and travel time to the training schedule.

Construction began in April on a $20 million training complex at the new Hamilton site. Fundraising is needed to complete the ambitious projects, and Texans are encouraged to support future Texas game wardens. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Web site.

Current graduates received 1,400 hours of training over seven months in areas such as peace officer training, firearm use, public speaking, police driving, all terrain vehicles, and various Texas Parks and Wildlife statutes and other state codes.

The new game wardens will report for duty in different counties across Texas within the next week.

June 2009 Texas Game Warden Cadet Assignments by County

Name
County
John W Apgar, Jr.
Culberson
Bradley M Durst
Val Verde
Michael L Dushay
Pecos
Chris L Sanchez
Ward-Winkler-Loving
Andrew S Alexander
Coryell
David R Benoit
Denton
Jason B Jones
Montague
Joni L Kuykendall
Somervell
Glenn A Raborn
Denton
Matthew D Waggoner
Palo Pinto
Dustin M Balfanz
Henderson
Christopher R Fried
Jasper
Logan B Griffin
Leon
Morgan R Inman
Jasper
David E Johnson
Polk
James N Schmidt
Navarro
Samuel H Shanafelt
Trinity
Brian D Srba
Newton
Randall L Stovall
Nacogdoches
Jaime L Pendlebury
Galveston
Christopher L Swift
Jefferson
Royce G Ilse
Brooks
Benjamin E Baker
Starr
Cody R Buckaloo
Maverick
William E Hellums
Zapata
Carlos H Maldonado III
Jim Hogg
Samuel J Padgett
Zapata
Drew D Spencer
Starr
Cullen C Stakes
Duval
Daniel S Kessel
Dickens/Kent
Joshua R McCrary
Baylor
Ryan D Peacock
Haskell
Vance L Flowers
Mills
Lee E Morrison
Kimble
Lerrin A Williams
Burnet
Robert E Apple, Jr
Delta
David W Bosecker
Dallas
Clint M Brown
Dallas
Todd G Long
Collin
Darrin C Peeples
Harrison
David F Pellizzari
Upshur
Daniel G Roraback
Red River
Michael P Serbanic
Morris
Jonathan H Taylor
Camp
Nathan K Wilson
Rains
Joel A Campos
Williamson
Braxton J Harris
Travis
Theron S Oatman
Travis
Elizabeth A Balusek
Cameron
Derek L Reeder
Aransas
Luis A Sosa
Willacy

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WV DNR Sgt. G.M. Willenborg Wins Silver Trout Award for Work in Pendleton County Area

West Virginia DNR

West Virgina - -(AmmoLand.com)- Division of Natural Resources conservation officer Sgt. G.M. Willenborg recently was presented with the prestigious Silver Trout Award by Trout Unlimited’s Upper Ohio Valley Chapter #434 during an event in Flatwoods, West Virginia. He was recognized for the outstanding work he has done in the Mountain State protecting trout in and around the environs of Pendleton County. He has been a conservation officer for 30 years, including the past 12 years in Pendleton County. This award was presented by Jerry Andrews, head of the Forestry Committee for Trout Unlimited in West Virginia and Chapter Vice President.

Sgt. Willenborg has made numerous arrests in his career as a conservation officer, many of those centered on wild trout and native trout streams. One of his arrests involved the poaching of native trout with explosives. This arrest resulted in what is possibly the only conviction of its type on record. He also was instrumental in developing the catch-and-release area on the South Branch of the Potomac in the Smoke Hole region, the catch and release area of Thorn Creek, and he wrote numerous letters for the changes made in this year’s fishing regulations concerning the use of scented baits in catch-and-release areas.

“Our state’s natural resources are in constant need of protection to keep the balance needed, “said Andrews. “Quality people like Sgt. Willenborg are often overlooked and not recognized for their hard and dangerous work. This is our way of thanking him for the well-above-average work he considers his everyday duty.”

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