Sitting in an office surrounded by taxidermy, maps of Texas and legal documents, Captain Aryn Corley gives a flawless impersonation of Superman amidst countless jokes and belly laughter that can be heard down the hall.
Originally from San Angelo, Texas, Corley moved to Levelland, Texas, five years ago. Here, he works full-time as the Texas Game Warden Captain for Region 6, District 2 of Texas and teaches Wildlife Law in conjunction with CASNR. Corley has a part-time gig as well. He is a stand-up comedian, and his humor never turns off. Corley said he has always had a sense of humor and the inability to stop making jokes ever since he was a boy.
“I was almost voted the funniest person in my senior class of high school,” Corley said. “I lost by one vote!”
Corley loves making people laugh and regularly couples that with his love of law enforcement in order to maintain sanity despite the stress of the job.
“Getting to put my time and energy into making people better, it’s just totally worth it.”
Captain Aryn Corley
What many people do not realize is game wardens are state police officers and first responders. Game wardens are often in more extreme situations than other first responders when on the job. Game wardens are called for disaster relief, murder cases, drug cases and to act as border patrol agents in high-risk areas.
“Humor and levity certainly help in a high stress job,” Corley said. “In a way, you could say I’m a dopamine dealer.” His team agrees, including Drew Spencer. a Texas game warden stationed in Lubbock and Crosby counties.
“Corley, in general, makes us realize our job is fun,” Spencer said. “He isn’t always business, so it helps us stay calm, relaxed and not so serious.”
Corley said his favorite part of the job originally was ‘catching bad guys doing bad things’. Now it is seeing personal growth in the people he interacts with. Whether it is watching his own team hit their milestones or taking kids on youth hunts, it does not matter to Corley.
“I never get tired of sharing that experience with that person,” Corley said. “Getting to be involved in that is indescribable.”
Corley said he believes comedy offers a conduit of sorts for relationships and experiences. He said connecting with your audience, whether it is a crowd of people at a comedy club or a team member that had a hard day, with humor allows you to be entertaining while providing an experience they will not forget.
“Getting to put my time and energy into making people better,” Corley said, “it’s just totally worth it.”
The “Wall of Shame”, part of Operation Game Thief. is home to illegally claimed hunting trophoes. 
Corley has always loved law enforcement. Beginning as a military police officer in the ’90s, Corley learned more about being a game warden in college. 
Corley never lets a smile leave his face. Whether he’s teaching, being interviewed, on the job or being photographed, laughter is a constant part of his demeanor. 
Corley works to set up a taxidermy deer while explaining different educational events he takes it to. 
Captain Corley stalks his prey- a taxidermized, animatronic deer in the ditch outside of the Lubbock County Texas Parks and Wildlife Department headquarters. 
A “Wall of Shame” resident joins Corley for a picture. 
Aryn Corley brings laughter into hallways of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with silly antics. He often draws cartoons and always has a joke. 
Oh Deer! Corley came up with countless poses for me to take of him. Each idea led to more laughter.