Jason Avalos has recently taken on the role of Texas game warden for Liberty County. This is the second post for Avalos, whose first assignment as a Texas game warden was in Starr County, located on the Texas-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas.
A native of Terrell, Texas, Avalos said he and his wife, Brooke, are looking forward to being a little closer to their families in the Dallas area. Avalos, 28, began his game warden career in June 2023, and says it is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“I met my first game warden when I was around 8 years old. We hunted on a property right next to where our game warden lived in Ellis County. That’s how we met him. He came over to say hi. He made an impression on me as a kid,” Avalos said.
After graduating from high school in Terrell, Texas, Avalos earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Even with his earnest desire and a degree, Avalos found it challenging at first to become a game warden. He said he was turned down the first two times he applied to the game warden academy, finally getting in on his third attempt.
“The third time was the charm. It’s a very competitive thing. Lots of people want to get involved in this career. Like our colonel says, he tries to only hire the best and brightest in the state of Texas. I am happy to be part of this organization,” Avalos said. “I thoroughly love my job. The majority of my contacts with the public have been great, and I just hope I can make a difference out there and hopefully, you know, inspire the next generation after me to try and become a game warden.”
One of the biggest challenges to any game warden moving to a different county is developing connections and trust to the community. Avalos knows he has big shoes to fill as he follows Jake Noxon, the former game warden for Liberty County.
“When I prepared to move here, I read the article in Bluebonnet News about Jake’s departure and observed the myriad comments on Facebook. I thought to myself, ‘Okay, here comes the pressure to follow in this guy’s footsteps,'” Avalos chuckled.
Apart from these challenges, Avalos is also grappling with learning the geography and wildlife in this new area. In Starr County, the wildlife mainly comprised deer and wild hogs; in Liberty County, he is adjusting to the diverse aquatic animals, including alligators. Just last week, Avalos was dispatched to Liberty Walmart to relocate a troublesome alligator that had ventured to Murphy’s Gas Station, adjacent to Walmart.
He also assisted in an attempt to save a wounded eagle that was struck by a vehicle on the SH 90 bridge in Liberty. While the bird did not survive, its feathers were preserved and will be donated to a Native American tribe for headdresses and other ceremonial regalia.
Anyone with questions for Game Warden Avalos is welcome to contact him by text or phone call at 254-784-5556 or send email to jason.avalos@tpwd.texas.gov.