Memories and memorabilia

Important dates and events in the history of Wisconsin's warden service.

A typical year
Wisconsin Warden's Museum
Table of Contents

1787-1848 Territorial laws regulate game, fish and trapping activities, water navigation, wildfires and timber trespass

1851 First statewide hunting regulations

Amount of training required to become a warden: 1957 -- 80 hours 1972 -- 240 hours 1998 -- 810 hours

1853 First statewide fishing regulations

1862 First commercial fishing regulations

1879 Rolla Baker of Bayfield appointed as first fish warden in northern counties

1887 First four game warden positions created

1897 First deer hunting licenses $1 for residents and $30 for non-residents provide first funding for state conservation purposes

1905 Civil Service established in Wisconsin, ending political appointments to the warden force

1915 Major year for conservation developments:
-- Wisconsin Conservation Commission created (it later became the Wisconsin Conservation Department) natural resource laws restructured for 1917 publication became basis of current natural resource laws.
-- $1 non-resident rod & reel fishing license required.
-- Fish and game wardens' titles changed to "conservation warden."

1935 Warden Pension Fund established, becoming first retirement plan for state employees. It provided $50 per month during retirement

A typical year Here’s a sampling of the warden service’s activities in 1997: Issued or processed 20,881 natural resource citations and criminal complaints, which resulted in $4,411,388 in penalties. Answered 165,000 telephone calls and investigated 14,331 complaints and notices of violations of hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, habitat and other laws. Rescued people or property in 112 incidents. Handled 462 incidents of non-DNR related crimes committed in the warden’s presence. Investigated 1,629 violations of environmental regulations -- everything from burning tires to asbestos violations to hazardous waste dumping. Responded to 603 toxic and hazardous materials spills. Investigated 1,042 violations of water and shoreline regulations. Investigated 564 hunting, snowmobile, boating, and all-terrain vehicle accidents. Gave 2,003 talks to 5th-grade classes, and made 3,732 other presentations to schools and youth groups, civic organizations and sports clubs -- in total, to more than 100,000 people. Prepared 2,002 newspaper articles, spoke on 709 radio shows, and appeared on 210 television programs. -- Lisa Gaumnitz

1946-1958 Two-way FM radios issued, starting in northern counties, to aid communication during emergencies

1947 Special Investigation Section created

1948 State Crime Lab established, which is available to wardens investigating violations

1955 Warden force increased from 105 to 130 members

1957 Training officer position created, which started organized training for the warden service

1959 Boating safety and aerial surveillance programs started

1960s Social unrest resulted in wardens working riot control at the State Capitol, the University of Wisconsin and at military installations

1962 Wardens issued state cars, and legislation required wardens to receive emergency preparedness training

1966-69 The office of Justice of the Peace is phased out, transferring fish and game violation cases to the state circuit court system

1967 A pivotal year for Wisconsin’s natural resources:
-- Functions from the Conservation Department, Board of Health and Department of Resource Development combine to form the Department of Natural Resources.
-- Wardens’ duties expand to include environmental investigations and enforcement.
-- DNR begins hunter education classes
-- A federal court ruling reduces wardens' workweek to 40 hours

1970s Wardens started coordinating a 500-volunteer effort to protect sturgeon spawning runs on the Winnebago Watershed

Mid-1970s Wardens were given additional duties of enforcing Native American treaty rights and the Endangered Species Act

1976 Most natural resource law violations were decriminalized, reducing charges from criminal to civil citations.

1979 A fish and game violation hotline was established, 1-800-TIP-WDNR

1981 The state legislature expanded warden authority to include general law enforcement in some circumstances

Mid-1980s New laws dramatically increased fines for fish and game violations

1985 Environmental warden positions created

1998 The number of credentialed wardens increased from 191 to 209

Timeline prepared by JUDY BORKE, historian for the Wisconsin Warden’s Museum.

Wisconsin Warden’s Museum In 1979, when wardens met in Wausau to celebrate their centennial, the old-timers brought artifacts from the past and shared their old stories. That moving experience prompted the group to build a permanent museum where people could discover the past efforts of Wisconsin's warden service and consider future issues in managing natural resources. Warden Moeller, Green Bay, 1941. © DNR Photo The Wisconsin Conservation Wardens Association (WCWA) took the lead in exploring possible locations and developing exhibit ideas. The new museum will be housed at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center in Poynette, about 25 miles north of Madison. The center already attracts 40,000 visitors annually, who come to walk the nature trails, visit a display of Wisconsin native animals, see exhibits on environmental issues, and spend a few days learning about the outdoors. The museum will be housed in a renovated building nestled near a pine plantation, the state game farm and a picnic area. Visitors can learn about warden history and conservation enforcement techniques, see the tools of the trade, and hear narratives from 120 years of warden life. The museum will also serve as an archive for artifacts, manuscripts, photos and files from the conservation wardens’ colorful past. Anyone willing to donate relevant artifacts or documents is encouraged to contact the Law Enforcement Bureau at (608) 266-2141. Renovations are slated to begin in July 2000 and the museum anticipates opening by spring of 2001. -- Ralph Christensen, former chief warden from 1982 to 1997.

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Contact: Maureen Mecozzi