Iowa Fish and Game Conservation Officers Association

01/08/2026

Today we remember and honor Conservation Officer Steven Reighard of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. EOW: January 8th, 2021. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.

ODMP Write Up:

Conservation Officer Steve Reighard died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.

Officer Reighard had served with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for 16 years and was assigned to Dickinson County. He is survived by his wife and son.

Beginning in early 2020, due to the requirements of their job, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the United States contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of law enforcement officers died from medical complications as a result of contracting the virus while remaining on duty and interacting with the community.

01/16/2025

DNR conservation officers, environmental services staff and fisheries staff received recognition during the Governor's Condition of the State address for assisting hundreds of Iowans during last year's tornadoes and historic flooding.

01/09/2025

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2025.

On this day Iowa Conservation Officers honor our brothers and sisters in law enforcement. We also remember our fallen officer Steve Reighard on his birthday, you will never be forgotten. 💚

11/20/2024

Behind the Badge - Off Duty by District Game Warden Jonathan Peterson

Just because the game warden is "off duty" doesn't mean that he still isn't watching.

I had a couple days off during the first week of pheasant season in the middle of the week, and decided it was a nice day for a walk with the shotgun and the dog.

Since it was the middle of the week and nonresidents couldn't hunt on PLOTS I thought I would go walk a piece of PLOTS ground that I had hunted before and figured that there shouldn't be anyone hunting it.

When I started walking I could hear some shooting around me just figuring it was waterfowl hunters in the area.

I took note of the general direction of a specific volley of shots as it sounded like it was coming from the PLOTS property that I was on.

I went about my walk but made a point to start heading in the direction where I was hearing a considerable amount of shooting.

I decided that I couldn't help myself anymore, I had to get closer and see where they were at and what they were shooting.

When I got to about 400 yards away I could tell that it was duck hunters on the shoreline of the PLOTS tract.

I could also tell that they were starting to pick up their decoys so I decided to just go have a quick chat.

When I contacted them the first thing that I noticed was the Minnesota registration on the boat.

I mentioned it sounded like they were having a good shoot that morning and they asked how pheasant hunting was.

I told them it was going ok but I wasn't hunting anymore.

I told them that I was now working.

They looked at me confused and I told them who I was and provided them with a wallet badge that I carry.

I asked the group if they were all from Minnesota to which they stated they were.

I told them that the PLOTS tract that we were all currently standing on is closed to nonresidents during the first seven days of pheasant season.

They claimed to have not known this regulation and I told them that it wasn't the crime of the century by any means but it was something that was going to need to be addressed.

I told the group that since I was there I might as well check everything else.

I asked them how many birds they had shot and what they had shot.

One individual said that they had mostly ring-necked ducks, a bufflehead, and a couple mallards.

I told them to throw all the ducks into one pile so I could take a look at them.

What the group thought was a bunch of ring-necked ducks was not at all.

They did not have one single ring-necked duck but instead had 18 bluebills (scaup) for the 4 hunters.

I asked the group if they knew what the limit for bluebills was and the group assumed the daily limit was six per person.

I told them that it was 1 bluebill per hunter.

The math was starting to compute to everyone that now they were in much bigger trouble than just hunting in a restricted area.

The group had harvested 14 bluebills over the daily limit, and had hunted on PLOTS during the restricted week.

Both violations were addressed and the group of hunters, even though had made a couple mistakes, were very polite and easy to work with.

They understood that I had a job to do (even on a day off) and we left the location with handshakes.

Moral of the story is that even when the game warden isn't working, we like to hunt and fish too and we are always watching.

11/11/2024

Happy Veterans Day To All. We’ve had some amazing Wounded Warrior hunts the past 15 years. Here’s to many more.

A shout out to all our sponsors as well
Tipton Meat Locker
Pzazz Resort Hotel
The Rick Rochau Memorial

11/02/2024

With heavy hearts, we share the sad news of the passing of Game Warden Recruit William Bailey.

William passed away earlier today after experiencing an apparent medical emergency during training activities in Barren County. Born in Alabama, he later made his home in Richmond, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and also played for the Colonels football team.

We ask that you please keep William, his family, friends, fellow recruits and all members of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Law Enforcement Division in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Though William was with our agency for only a short time, he will be deeply missed and will always remain a part of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife family.

10/08/2024

06/25/2024

In the last few days, Iowa DNR conservation officers assisted in rescuing more than 250 people by boat from rising flood waters in several northwest Iowa communities, including Spencer and Rock Valley.

Rescue efforts by law enforcement are ongoing. If you are in need of emergency assistance, call 911.

05/19/2024

Our Officers volunteered their time this last week to help the Cataways - Veterans Casting Away Disabilities fishing event at Rathbun Lake in South- Central Iowa.

The event is a week long fishing event for disabled veterans. This is there 27th consecutive year and the 8th year held at Rathbun Lake.

Members of the Iowa Fish and Game Conservation Officers Association have participated every year that the event has been held at Rathbun Lake. Our off duty Conservation Officer members volunteered their time this year cleaning all the fish every day of the event. The Association also contributed a monetary donation to the group to help cover a portion of the costs associated with the week long event.

This year, 45 disabled veteran fishermen from 4 states participated. It is our absolute pleasure to help and we thank the Castaways Organization for inviting us to participate again this year. We will see you next year.

For more information on donations and how to get involved, visit https://www.veteranscastingawaydisabilities.com/homepage

01/09/2024

On this day we remember and reflect on our friend and fellow officer Steve Reighard. EOW 1/8/21

09/02/2023

Harry Martin Blomquist

Iowa Conservation Officer #108

Killed in the Line of Duty September 1st 1953
Monday August 31st 1953 4:00 PM, Conservation Officer Harry Blomquist, assigned to Fayette County, was enroute to Des Moines to work the conservation commission’s booth at the Iowa State Fair. Blomquist was accompanied by his wife, Elsa 30, his daughter, Catherine 3, and his son Mike age 1. Blomquist was traveling south on Highway 63 in his 1953 state issued Chevrolet. Near the Highway 93 intersection west of Tripoli, another automobile attempted to cross the highway ahead of them. To avoid a collision Blomquist drove out on the shoulder of the road and lost control of his car and it rolled over twice throwing him from the car. Blomquist was rushed to Schoitz Hospital in Waterloo where he died the following morning from his injuries. His wife and daughter were treated and released the next day; his son suffered a broken leg and was confined to the hospital. Blomquist had joined the Iowa Conservation Commission on September 1st 1949, four years to the day of his death, and was assigned Fayette and Winneshiek Counties. Recently, because of the large territory he had to cover, Blomquist was placed in charge of Fayette County only. Blomquist was 34 years of age.

05/06/2023

Our Honor Guard has been busy the last week. They presented the colors at the I-Cubs Outdoor Day game last Saturday and attended the Peace Officer Memorial Day at the Capital today.