Young becomes new game warden

SEELEY LAKE - Sydney Young recently began her new position as Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) game warden for Seeley Lake and its surrounding areas. Young's main goal is to make sure hunters are aware of boundaries, respect private land, and are hunting safely and ethically. She hopes to maintain "a happy balance" between humans and wildlife.

Young began her position on Oct. 24, taking over for Jake Barzen. FWP Region 2 Game Warden Captain Joe Jaquith said Young and Barzen both applied for the game warden position after Bill Koppen retired. When a position opened in Augusta, Barzen decided to transfer there and was subsequently replaced by Young.

"It was getting everyone settled into the place they wanted to be," Jaquith said.

Young was previously a game warden in the Billings District for the past two years. Before that she worked as a park warden for Cooney State Park.  She acted as a game warden trainee out of Missoula's Region 2 Office.

To become a game warden, she not only had to go through the Law Enforcement Academy's 12 week training program out of Helena, but she also had to participate in a 12 week field training program through FWP.

Young lived in a couple different areas growing up but she graduated high school from the Snoqualmie region in Washington. She has a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology from the University of Montana where she minored in ecological restoration.

Her passion for this line of work came from her father who helped her get into the outdoors at an early age by frequently taking her on camping, hiking and fishing trips.

"[Those experiences] instilled in me a passion for protecting the wildlife resources that we have," she said. "And I wanted to find a job that had me outside instead of at a desk. So, this was a perfect fit."

Young covers north to the Region 1 boundary by Holland Lake, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, all of the lakes in the Seeley Lake District over to Ovando as well as the Potomac area.

Her duties include helping with urban wildlife issues, responding to grizzly bear and mountain lion interactions, contacting hunters and anglers, doing patrols during hunting season, and responding to calls on the wildlife violations hotline. On average she has to respond to around five calls a day. People who witness wildlife violations are recommended to call (800) 847-6668 or (800) TIP-MONT.

Young wants hunters to be aware that as of Nov. 10, the Blackfoot Clearwater game range is closed. Recreationists should also be mindful of the fact that the Forest Service and other federal and state agencies have different land use rules for their lands.

In addition to her work in the field, Young looks forward to immersing herself in the community and meeting its members.

"It's a beautiful area and I can't wait to explore it and meet new people and develop relationships with community members," she said.

In her free time Young enjoys hiking, fishing and spending time with her two dogs. She is also an avid hunter. She has filled three deer tags so far. She also hopes to fill her elk tag too before the season ends.

"Just spending as much time outdoors as we can is what we love to do," she said.

Young will be based out of Seeley Lake the majority of her time as game warden. If hunters, anglers or anyone else in the general public has questions, they should reach out to her by calling (406) 210-1299 or emailing sydney.young@mt.gov.