Masco brings wide-ranging experience to Lovell game warden post

New Lovell warden for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Ty Masco is already settling into a role that blends wildlife biology, law enforcement and community connection across a large slice of the Big Horn Basin.

If you picture a traditional Wyoming Game and Fish warden, Ty Masco fits the image. Young, fit and outdoors minded, he lives and works outside and says that when it comes to anything with “fins, fur or feathers,” he’s your guy.

Masco officially began his duties in the Lovell district in November. The district includes Lovell and surrounding communities, Big Horn Lake and the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area, along with a wide sweep of public and private lands stretching from the Montana line south toward Powell and Greybull.

“I’m excited to have been selected to fill this position and serve as the game warden in this community,” Masco said. “I like the wide variety of activities I get to participate in. I get to spend time doing biology work, enforcing Game and Fish regulations and making contacts with sportspersons and other members of the public.”

Masco grew up in Central Nebraska, spending part of his childhood on a ranch near Burwell before finishing high school in Milford, near Lincoln. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in wildlife management from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

While Wyoming may be new territory geographically, Masco is no stranger to the state or its wildlife. He began his career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2022 as a statewide habitat and access technician based out of Casper. That position allowed him to work on projects across Wyoming, including work at the Tillett Springs Fish Rearing Station and the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area, giving him early familiarity with the Big Horn Basin.

“That job was great because I got to see a lot of different parts of the state and work on a lot of different projects,” Masco said. “But I wanted to do more wildlife-focused work, which is what my degree was in.”

The job of a Wyoming game warden, Masco explained, is intentionally broad.

“One of the nice things about being a game warden in Wyoming is that you’re not focused on just one thing,” he said. “We do wildlife law enforcement, but we also help with biology work, classifications, population counts, season setting and public outreach.”

That mix, he said, keeps the job fresh and engaging.

“I don’t get tired of doing one thing all the time,” Masco said. “It’s a good blend.”

Mule deer challenges

Among the larger wildlife challenges facing Wyoming, Masco pointed to mule deer populations, which have struggled across much of the West in recent years.

“There are a lot of factors involved,” he said. “Disease is part of it, but habitat, weather and other pressures all play a role. There’s a lot of research going on, and it’s something we’re paying close attention to.”

Elk, by contrast, remain abundant in many areas, which creates its own set of management challenges.

“In some places there are more elk than we’d ideally like,” Masco said. “That means working with biologists, landowners and the public to manage numbers responsibly.”

Masco’s district covers a large geographic area, and he works largely on his own, operating out of the Lovell office while spending much of his time in the field. His busiest season is fall, during hunting seasons, with summer also active due to boating, fishing and tourism on Big Horn Lake. Winter is typically a time for paperwork, planning and population monitoring before spring seasons begin.

He emphasized that, while enforcement is a core part of the job, education and discretion matter.

“I really try to work with people,” Masco said. “If someone makes an honest mistake, I try to be reasonable while still upholding the law. But if someone is knowingly doing something illegal, that’s different. We have to address that.”

Masco also said he enjoys the educational side of the job and is happy to visit local schools to talk with students about wildlife, safety and careers in conservation.

“That’s one of the parts of the job I really like,” he said, “getting to talk to kids and help them understand wildlife and what we do.”

Outside of work, Masco is enthusiastic about exploring the Big Horn Basin and spending time outdoors. He is often accompanied by his dog, Moose, whom he describes as a dependable ride-along partner.

An interesting aspect of Masco’s background is his experience as a former cross-country and track runner. He posted a highly competitive 15:30 time in the 5K during his college career, a detail that hints at both discipline and endurance, qualities well suited to a job that routinely covers miles of backcountry and open range.

Masco said he plans to stay in Wyoming long term and looks forward to becoming part of the Lovell community.

For residents of Lovell and the surrounding area, Ty Masco’s arrival brings a familiar but welcome presence: a game warden with statewide experience, a strong biology background and a clear interest in working with the people and wildlife of the Big Horn Basin.