I'd like to counter claims of widespread resentment reportedly discovered by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s transition team in regards to the Division of Wildlife Resources. The most apparent problem is there are severe misconceptions as to what a conservation officer actually does.

Wildlife conservation is the most educated law enforcement agency in the state of Utah. All of our officers have a bachelor's degree, with many having a master's. They attend police officer standards and training and are subject to an 18-month probationary period, which includes intensive wildlife field training.

Utah has only 40 district conservation officers. Many of them have districts roughly the size of Connecticut. Our officers work alone most of the time, often in the backcounty where safety is of the utmost concern. We are spread too thin in the field to afford pulling officers together on a regular basis. We are down approximately eight law enforcement positions statewide and face impending retirements as a result of HB213.

Wildlife law enforcement is only one of many tools within the scope of wildlife management. The primary duty of an officer is the enforcement of wildlife regulations, but our officers wear many hats.

Officers teach or attend hunter education classes, speak at schools and Scout groups, assist regional biologists with fish and game surveys and management recommendations, routinely deliver emergency notices to hunters, pull people out of mud holes, administer care to accident victims and lend advice to frustrated anglers and hunters, as well as their obligations as state certified police officers.

Our officers make drug- and alcohol-related arrests, respond to domestic disputes and assist other agencies as requested. Our officers utilize a variety of patrol tactics in an effort to achieve compliance and, more importantly, to educate the hunting, fishing and recreating public.

The industry of wildlife has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. The family deer hunt has evolved. The allure of a trophy has blurred the vision of many sportsmen to the point that illegal harvesting impacts wildlife management plans.

Illegal activity continues to grow. The conservation officer who already works nights, weekends and holidays rarely has a slow season.

Utah's conservation officers suffer many of the same problems as other law enforcement officers, such as an inflated divorce rate, lower pay and job-related physical and mental stress. We have officers with 15 years of service making about $16 an hour. They work part-time jobs just to keep their families off food stamps and state-funded school lunch. They are church leaders, foster parents and everything else that a contributing, positive member of society is.