Liberty County’s team of game wardens has grown by one with the addition of Jake Guy, a 24-year-old from Lufkin who brings a deep love for the outdoors, a strong work ethic, and a background in military service.
Guy graduated in May from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s 67th game warden training academy and officially began his field training in Liberty County on July 1. He joins Game Warden Jason Avalos, who has been serving Liberty County since March 2024, forming a two-person team responsible for wildlife enforcement, outdoor safety, and public service.
Originally from Angelina County, Guy grew up attending Timberland Drive Church of Christ and later graduated from LeTourneau University in Longview. His bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies focused on criminal justice, theology, and kinesiology—a combination that reflects both his interest in public service and his values.
“I thought I wanted to be an engineer,” said Guy, “but I quickly realized that wasn’t for me. It requires a lot of sitting and a lot of desk work. I wanted something more exciting, active, and outdoors.”
Guy is also nearing the end of a six-year enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and plans to reenlist. His time in the military, he said, helped shape his decision to pursue a career in law enforcement.
“There are certain aspects of military life that make it more conducive to law enforcement,” he said.
Though he’s still new to the job, Guy has already discovered just how dynamic life as a game warden can be.
“There’s never a dull moment,” he said. “You’ve got everything from search and rescue to hunting and fishing enforcement. We also serve as state police and handle a lot of the same duties that deputies and troopers do. It’s a very unique, very diverse job.”
He said he’s been warmly welcomed by the Liberty County community.
“People here are really nice. I’ve found that if you treat people with respect, you generally get respect in return,” he said.
One of the more memorable moments in his first month on duty came courtesy of some local wildlife.
“The mosquitoes and the gators are bigger in Liberty County,” he said with a laugh.
In just a few weeks, Guy has already handled two nuisance alligator calls—one involving a 6-foot gator in a backyard, and another smaller gator, about 2 to 3 feet long, that got caught in a chain-link fence in the city of Liberty.
He relocated the larger gator to Champion Lake on the evening of Aug. 6, but while there, he encountered something even more impressive.
“I found an 11-foot gator that was stuck on an unattended fishing line used for crabbing,” he said. “I had to cut it loose. There are some really big gators in that lake. As soon as I came up on the pier, two gators started swimming toward me from the tree line.”
Guy said he’s already drawn to the natural diversity of the Liberty County landscape, especially in the Old River-Winfree area, which offers everything from wetlands to dense woods to open fields.
He and his wife, Shannon, are settling into the area and are currently looking for a new home church to attend. In the meantime, he’s focused on learning the terrain and building relationships in the community. He is looking forward to meeting more Liberty County residents in the months to come.
Just what the world needed, more fish police
Where do they patrol Dan? I haven’t saw a GW here since Tommy Johnson. I called one a few years ago about a deer never got a call back.
These guys do more than police fish. Jake was working below dam with Warden Castro on the Trinity behind my house in Flow Wells Subdivision. Jake and Castro were awesome and would respond in a matter of minutes. Believe you me, that is what your want. You can kick them back to our area, I will take them in a heart beat, but if you keep them you will not be sorry. Two truly dedicated and nice guys.
P.S. I am sorry, I do not know Jason but being a warden says it all, you guys are lucky to have Jason too