87-1-502. Qualifications, powers, and duties. (1) Wardens must be qualified by their experience, training, and skill in protection, conservation, and propagation of wildlife, game, fur-bearing animals, fish, and game birds and interested in this work. They shall devote all of their time for which they are appointed to their official duties.

(2) They shall enforce the laws of this state and the rules of the department with reference to the protection, preservation, and propagation of game and fur-bearing animals, fish, and game birds.

(3) They shall see that persons who hunt, fish, or take game or fur-bearing animals, game birds, or fish and that those persons who make recreational use of state lands, as defined in 77-1-101, for hunting and fishing, have the necessary licenses.

(4) They shall assist in the protection, conservation, and propagation of fish, game, fur-bearing animals, and game and nongame birds and assist in the planting, distributing, feeding, and care of fish, game, fur-bearing animals, and game and nongame birds. They shall, when ordered by the department, assist in the destruction of predatory animals, birds, and rodents. They shall perform all other duties prescribed by the department and make a monthly report to the department correctly informing the department of their activities on each day of the preceding month with regard to the enforcement of the fish and game laws, showing where their duties called them and what they did. The reports must contain any pertinent recommendations the wardens may see fit to make.

(5) A warden may not compromise or settle violations of fish and game laws out of court.

(6) A warden has the authority to inspect any and all fish, game and nongame birds, waterfowl, game animals, and fur-bearing animals at reasonable times and at any location other than a residence or dwelling. Upon request therefor, all persons having in their possession any fish, game and nongame birds, waterfowl, game animals, and fur-bearing animals shall exhibit the same and all thereof to the warden for such inspection.

(7) The department is a criminal justice agency for the purpose of obtaining the technical assistance and support services provided by the board of crime control under the provisions of 44-7-101. Authorized officers of the department are granted peace officer status with the power:

(a) of search, seizure, and arrest;

(b) to investigate activities in this state regulated by this title and rules of the department and the commission; and

(c) to report violations to the county attorney of the county in which they occur.

History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 193, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3659, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 192, L. 1925; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 511, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 417, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 26-110; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 609, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 662, L. 1991.