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By CATHY DYSON
Democrat Staff Writer
Virginia’s game wardens want public support.
While it’s their job to watch over people and animals, the game wardens believe wildlife protection is everybody’s business.
They hope the hunting, fishing, boating and bird-watching public will support their efforts to make what they consider necessary changes in the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries.
For the first time, members of the Virginia Game Wardens Association Inc. are opening their organization to the public. They are soliciting input from Virginians on wildlife preservation, the rights of the landowner, effective game laws and other pertinent issues.
Citizens who want to join the wardens association must pay membership dues and will receive a bi-monthly newsletter. But the wardens say they want more than money; they want the public’s voice and support on legislative matters.
“We’re limited in what we can do,” said Jim Bankston, a game warden in Rappahannock County. “By having an informed public take an active role in reviewing and sponsoring legislation, we can become a serious lobbying effort.”
On their day off, wardens from Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Rapphannock and Warren counties told a reporter about their complaints — too much work for too little money, reduced manpower, outdated radios and lack of weather gear.
During the peak deer hunting season from November to January, wardens work 70 or 80 hours per week, said Fauquier Warden Rick Loving. Many wardens, who are responsible for an entire county, are on call 24 hours daily.
Wardens’ salaries start at $15,118 and peak at $20,646 after seven years.
“There is no lax time anymore,” Mr. Loving said. “People used to kid us about all the free time we had when hunting season ended. But now there are more laws to enforce year round. ”
Richard H. Cross Jr., executive director of the Virginia Game Commission, said long hours are “a condition of employment.”
“When a .person signs on, he understands he’s on call 24 hours a day,” Mr. Cross said. “If he works overtime, he’s entitled to compensatory leave within a year, but. . . there’s no overtime pay.”
Game wardens are charged with enforcing hunting, fishing and boating iaws. In the past decade, hunting and fishing licenses jumped 19 percent and
93.2%