Brian Nesvik
Brian Nesvik holds the head of the poached deer in this 2008 file photo. At the time, he was Wyoming Game and Fish South Pinedale Game Warden. Photo courtesy WGFD.
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Brian Nesvik named Game and Fish Chief Game Warden
by Wyoming Game & Fish
April 27, 2011
CHEYENNE - For the first time in 22 years, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has a new chief game warden. Cody Region Wildlife Supervisor Brian Nesvik takes over for Jay Lawson, who retired April 8 after serving in the position since July, 1989.
"I grew up with the dream of being a Wyoming game warden," Nesvik said. "I’m honored that fate has taken me this far in this great profession and I hope to continue Jay Lawson’s legacy of doing great things for wildlife."
The chief game warden oversees all operations of the department’s Wildlife Division, including law enforcement, terrestrial game, nongame and habitat management and veterinary services.
"Brian has clearly demonstrated his technical ability to manage Wyoming’s wildlife resources and successfully enforce Wyoming Game and Fish statutes and regulations," said Game and Fish Director Scott Talbott. "His ability to interact with the public and establish strong working relationships with sportsmen, landowners, conservation groups and other constituents is commendable and will serve the department well."
Nesvik has served his entire 16-year department career as a game warden starting his training in Laramie. He was stationed in Glendo and Casper before being promoted to patrol the Elk Mountain District in September 1998. He transferred to the South Pinedale District in May 2005 and was promoted to be the Cody Region’s wildlife supervisor in August 2010.
Nesvik, 41, is a colonel in the Wyoming Army National Guard and commands the 115th Fires Brigade. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery Forward in Iraq from February 2004 to April 2005 and the 2nd 300th Field Artillery in Kuwait from April 2009 to March 2010. He is a 1988 graduate of Cheyenne East High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management in 1994 from the University of Wyoming. He and his wife Penny have three children: Brittany, Rudy and Aspen.
Nesvik served as president of the Wyoming Game Warden’s Association in 2010 and was honored as "Wildlife Officer of the Year" by Shikar-Safari Club International in 2007. While a field warden, Nesvik was involved in many significant cases including apprehending a fugitive felon while checking anglers at Glendo Reservoir, three Hanna residents illegally taking 11 deer and pronghorn, multiple cases of trophy mule deer killed on Pinedale area winter range and a pronghorn run down with an ATV near Seminoe Reservoir. Nesvik also has extensive experience dealing with grizzly bear and wolf issues, brucellosis, chronic wasting disease, habitat fragmentation and impacts from development, sage grouse management, big and trophy game damage, human/large carnivore conflicts and hunting and angling access.
"I’m humbled by this opportunity and the enormous responsibilities of the chief game warden for Wyoming’s world renowned wildlife resource, and the world renowned employees managing it," said Nesvik, who starts his new position in Cheyenne May 1. "I have tremendous faith and confidence in the employees of the Wildlife Division and look forward to this challenge."
Nesvik is the department’s third chief game warden in 39 years. Prior to Lawson’s tenure, Rex Corsi served as chief game warden from 1972 to 1989.
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