AUSTIN – A Kendall County game warden is one of a trio from across the state recently recognized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for service and contributions to conservation law enforcement.
Josh Sako is the local lawman honored by the TPWD commission and was named the 2025 National Wild Turkey Federation’s Texas Wildlife Officer of the Year.
“Dusty Jansky, Josh Sako and Randy Watts represent the professionalism, leadership and commitment to public service that define Texas game wardens,” Col. Ronald VanderRoest, TPWD law enforcement director, said in a prepared release.
Sako, a 2020 graduate of the 63rd Texas Game Warden Academy, began his career on the upper Texas coast in Jefferson County working saltwater- enforcement cases while also contributing “significantly to water safety operations,” the release noted.
Presenting Josh Sako with his National Wild Turkey Federation Texas State Officer of the Year award are Paul Foster, left, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission chairman; Sako; David Yoskowitz, TPW Department executive director; and Col. Ron Vander-Roest, TPWD Law Enforcement Division director. Courtesy photo
He later transferred to the Hill Country, first to Gillespie County and then to his current duty station, expanding his enforcement focus to deer and turkey regulations, TPWD officials said.
His duties also include natural-resource enforcement, public safety and search-and-rescue operations.
“He is recognized for his strong investigative skills, including a recent case involving (an) illegal turkey harvest that resulted in state and federal violations,” the release stated. “Sako works closely with partner agencies to hold violators accountable and protect Texas’ wildlife resources.”
According to the state agency, Sako’s “involvement in search and rescue efforts, along with his role as an instructor for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, further demonstrates his dedication to serving the public.”
Officials said he played an important role during the Kerr County July Fourth flood response in 2025, providing communication support, mapping assistance and recovery coordination, both as a warden familiar with the area and as a drone pilot.
In addition:
• Guadalupe County Game Warden Jansky was named the 2026 Shikar-Safari Club International Texas Officer of the Year.
• Trinity County Game Warden Watts was named the 2025 Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Texas Officer of the Year.
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