Afton Senior Game Warden James Hobbs was named the 2024 Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year for Wyoming. The award, given annually in every state and Canadian province by Shikar-Safari Club International, honors a wildlife officer whose efforts during the year display outstanding performance and achievement.
“James represents and exemplifies a Wyoming game warden and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department,” said Brad Hovinga, Game and Fish wildlife supervisor in the Jackson Region. “As a passionate wildlife manager, a relentless law enforcement officer and a true spokesman for his community and the department, James is a pillar of the community and everything a Wyoming game warden should be.”
Hobbs has been with Game and Fish for 17 years and was named the game warden in Afton in 2016. Hobbs began his Game and Fish career as a game warden trainee in the Sheridan Region in 2007. He spent one year as a warden in Alpine and then was the game warden in Lovell for five years. Hobbs also worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Idaho Falls prior to coming to Wyoming.
“Receiving this award is a humbling experience. So many excellent officers before me have received this award, and I am honored to be included in their ranks,” Hobbs said. “Receiving it makes me want to strive to be even better and work harder for the protection of wildlife, which is what matters most. This accomplishment would not have been possible without other team members, prior and current mentors and the hunting public who I work so closely with. Thank you for the recognition.”
Hobbs has inspired other wardens with his work ethic and dedication to wildlife and his relationship with his community. He also has built a reputation as a strong law enforcement officer in the pursuit of apprehending wildlife violator
“He has the amazing ability to recognize when a situation warrants a heavy-handed approach to a chronic poacher, or a lighter educational experience where the benefit of the doubt is given and a valuable learning experience takes place,” Hovinga said.
In 2024, Hobbs put together a residency case that led to the illegal taking and seizure of several trophy big game animals. The fines, restitution and incarceration time were considerable penalties for this wanton wildlife violator.
Hobbs has worked closely with other department personnel for nearly a decade managing and educating the public about the Wyoming Range mule deer herd.
