Kevin Kerr
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN —
Stephens County Game Warden Jerrod Davis may be new to the position, but is definitely not new to the area.
Davis, who previously worked in Murray County, became the new Game Warden in Stephens County effective Aug. 1, and said he couldn’t be happier with where he ended up.
“I’m from this area, I have family in this area and I always knew I wanted to come back here eventually to work,” Davis said. “I just didn’t think it’d be this soon.”
Davis grew up in Stephens County. He has family in Duncan and went to school in Marlow. He can remember going hunting, fishing and hanging out with his friends then and said it’s nice now to come back to that.
“It’s kind of weird driving the same roads I did when I was a kid, just in a different capacity now,” Davis said. “There’s some of these places I know like the back of my hand, and others, I’ll have to learn, but I’m willing to do it.”
The position in Stephens County has been vacant for a while, and when Davis heard this, he decided to put his name in for consideration. He said he had no idea if it was even possible since he was so young in his career, but then shortly thereafter, he received the call and was given the nod.
“It was an elated feeling,” Davis said. “My dad told me he always knew I was lucky, and in this case especially, that’s true.”
In his short time in the position, Davis said he has already spent a lot of time out in the county, doing his job obviously, but he said it’s a much more gratifying feeling when the people he comes to check on are people he’s grown up knowing.
“I enjoyed fishing and hunting with my friends when I was younger, and now I get to do it as my job,” Davis said. “It’s obviously a little different, but it’s still really nice.”
He said already he has come across several of his friends while on duty, many of which didn’t even realize it was him at first.
“They don’t expect to see me in that official capacity,” Davis said.
Normally, a Game Warden position is held by someone who has had several years experience with the job, but Davis said his youth and knowledge of the area will play into how well he can do his job here.
“I’m young, and very motivated and I know the area pretty well,” Davis said. “I know a lot of people here and a lot of them already know me too, so that is going to work well for me.
“I’m very ambitious and ready to really get into this job.”
Davis said he is looking forward to the teaching aspect of the job as well. He really enjoys working with children and teaching them the dos and don’ts when hunting and fishing. He said he also looks forward to teaching people in the field.
“I really think education is the number two thing, next to patrolling obviously,” Davis said. “As far as teaching goes though, there’s no better place to learn than in the field. You obviously want to catch them in the classroom for most things first though.”
All of these factors in mind, Davis said this really is the ideal place for him to work. With his family, friends and a job he loves all in one area, he said there’s not much more a place could offer a person.
“There’s a lot to do here in Stephens County, and that’s really something that I am going to enjoy about this job,” Davis said.
— Kevin Kerr is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354 Ext. 147 or by e-mail at kevin.kerr@duncanbanner.com.
