ZELIENOPLE — Although he retired from his duties as a deputy wildlife conservation officer 12 years ago, Oran Deemer has not been forgotten.

Nor has he stopped working.

Deemer, 82, of Zelienople was one of six individuals honored recently by the Northwest Region of the Pennsylvania Game Commission for 40 years of volunteer service.

"I got started in 1958," Deemer said. "I grew up on a farm, so I guess that's where I got my love for the outdoors."

Deemer never lost it, and he's being honored July 8 in Harrisburg for 50 years of instructing a hunter education course.

In a previous evaluation of deputy WCO service, which is manned totally by volunteers, it was determined that the deputies contribute nearly 160,000 hours a year to the Game Commission. To replace such service with full-time officers and associated vehicles and equipment would cost nearly $6 million annually.

The deputy WCO program began in 1903, only eight years after the creation of the Game Commission.

"Deputies are often well-rooted and long-term members of the local communities in which they live and work, and frequently serve as the public's first point of contact with the Game Commission because of this relationship," said Keith Harbaugh, Game Commission Northwest Region director, in a written statement.

Deemer served the Zelienople area and points north during his years as a volunteer.

Deputy WCO's receive some compensation for their expenses, but still pay out more than they receive.

"We had to buy our own uniforms 20 years ago," Deemer said. "Now they get uniforms issued to them.

"Still, there's the cost of a two-way radio and your sidearm, and you're using your own vehicle and gas when you're out on patrol."

Deputy WCO's need to know Game Commission laws as well as full-time wildlife conservation officers do because they often are called upon to enforce them.

Becoming a deputy WCO is quite a process. Applicants must accrue 20 hours of ride-along time with a WCO before taking an entrance exam, attain a minimum score of 70 percent on that exam, then attain a minimum score of 80 percent on a certification exam.

Basic training is conducted in Harrisburg and requires 75 hours over the course of a week. Applicants must pass medical, hearing, physical, strength and agility tests as well.

First-year deputies spend a minimum of $850 for equipment.

"You don't get paid for it, so people always asked me why I did it," Deemer said. "Why do people become volunteer firemen? You do it because you believe in it."

Game Commission publicist Regis Senko said most applicants used to be in their early 20s years ago.

"Now, most of the applicants are in their 40s," Senko said. "People want to be settled down and established in their lives before taking on this type of commitment."

Deputy WCO duties include enforcing Game Commission laws, speaking before civic groups and handling nuisance wildlife complaints.

"The initial and follow-up training is extensive," Senko said. "Not everybody can make that commitment or have the flexibility to do so.

"Believe me, we appreciate those who do. Our organization couldn't run effectively without them."

There are 14 deputy WCO's in Butler County.