The shortage of Department of Fish and Game wardens in local waters is a huge concern among those sportsmen who appreciate their presence in preserving and enforcing state fish and game rules. The Department presently has 35 vacant warden positions in the state, and only 17 candidates in their 2001 warden academy at Napa Valley College in Napa.
Wardens are amongst the best-trained peace officers in the state.
Their training is intense and on a par with large city police departments such as Los Angeles or the California Highway Patrol. The problem in attracting wardens is simple. It is a matter of simple economics. These salaries were once within 5 percent of each other. Through the years, the wardens have continually lost ground.