Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : March 20, 2007

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov
Contact: Capt. Stephan Stewart, Law Enforcement Section (304) 759-0703 law@wvdnr.gov

Conservation Officer Warren Goodson Receives NWTF Sharp Spur Award

Conservation Officer Warren Goodson was honored with the National Wild Turkey Federation “Sharp Spur Award” during the National Wild Turkey Federation’s State Awards Banquet held in January at the Days Inn in Flatwoods. This annual award is presented by the West Virginia State Chapter of the NWTF in recognition and appreciation of an officer’s dedication and efforts in monitoring and enforcing West Virginia wildlife game laws that safeguard and protect wildlife resources.

Goodson is a five year veteran conservation officer currently stationed in Boone County. After graduation from the West Virginia State Police Academy in May 2002, he was assigned to Kanawha County, working there until October 2005, when he transferred to Boone County. Officer Goodson is a 1997 graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management. He began his conservation career working for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, but left when he had the opportunity to return to his native state to become a conservation officer.

In addition to all the varied duties a conservation officer routinely performs, Officer Goodson spends many hours of patrol checking for turkey baiting, preseason turkey hunting, and other turkey game law violations. During 2006, Goodson apprehended two individuals for illegally killing eight turkeys.

**DNR**