2024 Enforcement Division Review

From left, Scott Winkelman, chief warden, Keenan Snyder, and Jeb Williams, Department director.

Snyder Named Wildlife Officer of the Year

Keenan Snyder, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden in Williston, is the state’s 4024 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Snyder was honored by Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state.

In a nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Scott Winkelman said Snyder’s district extends from the Missouri River bottoms to the Prairie Pothole Region along the Canadian border.

“Warden Snyder diligently patrols his district and effectively addresses violators at all times of the year,” Winkelman said. “He is also a skilled investigator and consistently makes strong criminal cases. He is always willing to help other wardens with complex investigations to ensure that violators are held accountable.”

Scott Winkelman (left), chief warden, with Sam Feldman.

Federation’s Top Warden

Sam Feldman, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district warden, Rugby, was named the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wildlife Officer of the Year for 2024.

“Sam has tremendous grasp of the area within his district, the landowners therein and the natural resources that he is sworn to protect,” Turkey Federation officials said. “Warden Feldman has been very successful in his efforts to find, cite and prosecute wildlife violators. He has consistently produced high levels of citations and convictions of many different types of violations.”

From left, Scott Winkelman, chief warden, Shawn Sperling, and Jeb Williams, Department director.

Boating Officer of the Year

Game and Fish Department warden Shawn Sperling, Minot, was named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year. His district includes lakes Sakakawea, Darling and Audubon, and several smaller waters.

Scott Winkelman, Department chief warden, said Sperling has a passion for boating and boating enforcement, and his patrols are effective at deterring violations and keeping those on the water safe.