Oregon Hunters Association Mule Deer Foundation National Wild Turkey Federation

Oregon Foundation for North American Wild Sheep Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Governor John A. Kitzhaber
State Capitol Building
900 Court Street NE, 160
Salem, OR 97301
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
Salem, OR 97302
December 23, 2014
Dear Governor Kitzhaber and Members of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission:
We are writing on behalf of 25,000-plus members of Oregons hunting and wildlife conservation organizations.
We are responsible for funding 90 wildlife and habitat projects where we put $640,491 and 43,687 volunteer
hours on the ground in wildlife and habitat conservation in Oregon in 2014. We are writing to ask for your help
in ensuring that the next director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife embraces a sportsmans vision
of conservation.
The successful candidate for this position should possess the skills to manage the state agency and have the
ability to lead the agency into the future. This individuals management skills should include a strong knowledge
base of Oregon wildlife and habitat issues, the Oregon Legislative budget process, how to build, maintain and
manage a budget, and how to create agency policy and implement it. The ideal person for this post also should
have a good strong knowledge base of the different user groups the department serves, such as hunters, farmers,
ranchers and anglers, as well as their issues.
The new director should be able to refocus the agencys direction and establish a funding mechanism that is
sound and relevant to the new direction of the department. The agencys current funding dilemma is stated in
the Governors Opportunity & Investment Budget 2015-2017 narrative on page 18 under the heading Restoring
Funding for Fish and Wildlife. In that narrative the Governor states: The Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife is facing a significant budget shortfall, largely as a result of declining participation in hunting and
angling. The Governors Budget includes a $4.5 million investment in the department pending longer-term
consideration of how this area of state government should be funded. The new ODFW director should have an
understanding of this funding trend and be able to comprehend the problem, develop a solution and manage it
to a successful conclusion. How well the new director is able to achieve a stable revenue base will be the key to
this agencys ability to manage Oregons wildlife populations for future generations to enjoy.
Over the past 20 years, cervid populations have been on the decline in many areas of Oregon. We have voiced

our concerns about the decrease of elk and deer populations and the dramatic increase in Oregons predator
populations. Because of the lack of opportunity to hunt with herd populations in decline, hunter numbers have
declined, as well, creating less revenue for the agency. The new director should possess an understanding of this
dilemma and implement solutions that can address this downward trend in our cervid populations.
Oregon is a unique state with a unique set of natural resources. The mission statement of the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife is to: protect and enhance Oregons fish and wildlife and their habitats for
use and enjoyment by present and future generations. Oregonians deserve to have someone in the directors
chair who can manage, implement policy successfully and recognize that those who utilize the resource are also
those funding the majority of wildlife conservation. We strongly believe that the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife needs a strong manager who can protect and enhance Oregons fish and wildlife for future generations.
We ask for your help in finding the right person who can do just that.
Sincerely,

Fred Craig
President
Oregon Hunters Association

Ken Hand

Ken Hand
Regional Director
Mule Deer Foundation

Mikal Moore
Pacific Northwest Regional Biologist
National Wild Turkey Federation

George Houston
George Houston
President
Oregon Foundation for North American Wild Sheep

Bill Richardson
Sr. Lands Program Manager
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation