Apodaca named Shikar Safari Officer of the Year
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New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: 888-248-6866, ispa@dgf.nm.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JUNE 10, 2025:
Sgt. Stephen Apodaca named 2024 Shikar Safari Officer of the Year
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is proud to announce that Sgt. Stephen Apodaca has been selected as the 2024 Shikar Safari Officer of the Year.
This distinguished award is presented annually to only one conservation officer from each U.S. state and Canadian province, recognizing outstanding service in wildlife law enforcement, conservation and public outreach.
Sgt. Apodaca, who has served as a conservation officer since Feb. 14, 2015, becomes the 56th New Mexico recipient of the Shikar Safari award since its inception in 1968 and is one of only 10 current Department officers to have earned this prestigious honor.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Northeast Area Capt. Ty Jackson and Las Vegas Supervisory District Sgt. Stephen Apodaca, who was named the 2024 recipient of the Shikar Safari Officer of the Year Award.
"Sgt. Apodaca's outstanding work as an officer, leader and mentor makes him an excellent recipient of this prestigious award," Col. Tim Cimbal said.
Assigned to the Las Vegas Supervisory District for his entire career, Sgt. Apodaca has advanced through the ranks — serving as a District Officer, Corporal and now Sergeant for the past two and a half years. He currently supervises four officers covering the Pecos, Las Vegas and Mora areas, including Game Management Units 42, 43, 45, 46 and 47 across San Miguel and Mora counties and parts of Santa Fe and Torrance counties.
Known for his professionalism, leadership and unwavering dedication to wildlife protection, Sgt. Apodaca has built a district that leads the Northeast Area in productivity, officer collaboration and community engagement. In 2024, he issued many Game and Fish citations to wildlife law violators, responded to numerous depredation complaints and led investigations that resulted in felony wildlife charges against repeat offenders.
“Sgt. Apodaca embodies the work ethic, determination, knowledge and leadership all officers should strive for,” Capt. Ty Jackson said. “He’s built a model district where officers thrive — and his commitment to leading from the front is unmatched.”
In addition to his field achievements, Sgt. Apodaca serves as the Northeast Area’s only certified Defensive Tactics instructor and provides training across the region. He’s a Chapter 17 law instructor for recruit school, a graduate of the Wildlife Investigators Covert Academy, the NACLEC Leadership Course and the Fur Takers of America Trapper’s College. His trapping expertise has resolved countless wildlife conflicts and is passed on to officers under his mentorship.
“Sgt. Apodaca is someone officers can look up to in this career,” Cpl. Jonathan Garofalo said. “He’s reliable, driven and always willing to assist his team — whether it's responding to a major case or helping develop the next generation of officers.”
The Shikar Safari Club International has presented this award annually since 1968 to recognize the nation’s most dedicated wildlife officers.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish congratulates Sgt. Apodaca on this exceptional achievement and thanks him for his years of devoted service to the people and wildlife of New Mexico.
For more information about the Department and its conservation efforts, visit https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/ .
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Media contact, Darren Vaughan: 505-476-8027, darren.vaughan@dgf.nm.gov
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507
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