Shroufe annouces retirement

[coues7]

Game and Fish Director Duane Shroufe announces retirement

 

Dec. 11, 2007

 

 

 

After almost 20 years of leading the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Director Duane Shroufe has announced his retirement for the end of March 2008.

 

Shroufe, who is the second-longest-tenured state wildlife director in the United States, asked the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Dec. 8 to approve the end of his contract for the closing days of March rather than the previous closing date in January of 2009. The commission reluctantly but unanimously agreed.

 

The Game and Fish Commission immediately began a nationwide search for Shroufe’s replacement. “We hope we will attract the very best candidate of the wildlife leadership community to lead our state. We intend to set the bar high to meet today’s wildlife and habitat challenges,” said Commission Chairman Mike Golightly of Flagstaff.

 

The commission is seeking a professional to provide direction and leadership for the Game and Fish Department. This position is appointed by and reports to the Game and Fish Commission. The director is the chief administrative officer of the department and, as such, is responsible for the general supervision and control of all activities, functions and employees of the department. All interested applicants can apply by logging onto www.azstatejobs.gov and looking for Arizona Game and Fish Department job openings. Enter “AGF” into the keyword field.

 

During Shroufe’s remarkable tenure at the helm of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the agency has been routinely recognized as one of the top and most innovative wildlife agencies in the nation. It’s an accomplishment that makes Shroufe and others in the agency proud.

 

It’s been a challenging era of burgeoning growth for the state’s population and quality growth for the department. During Shroufe’s amazing tenure, the agency has grown from 230 personnel to 650 and the budget has increased from $20 million to $80 million.

 

Shroufe has also been a leader on the national and international wildlife scene. He served two terms as the president of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He recently served as chairman of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council. Shroufe has also chaired many committees for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and has played an instrumental role for many programs, such as Partners in Flight.

 

Throughout the years, Shroufe has received a host of national and even international wildlife awards. This past spring, he was presented the 2006 Distinguished Service Award from the Wildlife Management Institute. Last year, Shroufe also received the International Canvasback Award from the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Committee.

 

In addition, Shroufe has received awards from the Western Wildlife Law Enforcement Association, the Boone and Crockett Club, the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The list goes on and on.

 

Shroufe’s 23 years with the department caps a 40-year career in wildlife management. The Michigan-born Shroufe began his career with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources before coming to the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 1984 as an assistant director. He was appointed as the department’s director in 1989.

 

Highlights of Shroufe’s accomplishments include:

 

Establishment of the state-based Heritage Fund in 1990 to support projects to enhance and protect wildlife and habitats.

 

 

Chairmanship of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council.

 

 

Critical leadership in the development and evolution of the Teaming with Wildlife Initiative on the national scene.

 

 

Advancement of state-based collaborative initiatives to aid in the recovery of endangered species.

 

 

Creation of partnerships with wildlife concerns in Mexico, including development of the first international and all-bird joint venture.

 

 

Consistent leadership to improve customer service and wildlife conservation policies, programs and practices at the agency level.

 

 

Leading a successful effort to create a new department headquarters complex on the commission-owned grounds of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on the northern outskirts of Phoenix.

 

 

Implementation of an agency-wide management approach that follows the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program model to enhance productivity, increase efficiency and improve customer service.

[GameHauler]

I nominate Amanda

[elpepe25]

i 2nd

[CouesWhitetail]

Yea...very funny guys. Just what I want, to be an administrator and attend meetings for the rest of my life!

 

I think it's interesting to note how the dept has grown so much during his tenure and yet it sure doesn't seem that we have many more wildlife managers in the field. I wonder how much of that growth is administrative personnel vs field personnel. And did you notice that almost all the accomplishments listed were for nongame or endangered species? Wonder why they don't tout any big game successes.

 

 

Amanda

[wetmule]

I'd vote for Amanda too or maybe resurrect Bud Bristow. The Dept. personnel has tripled in size as has their nongame, endangered species and hybrid introduction programs all funded by "HUNTERS" with a few handouts from the lottery & P.R. funds - that are generated by hunters. I'm glad his sales tax boondoggle went down in flames. The Dept. appears to be more about managing people - their own employees, maximizing their dollars, and less about managing wildlife.

[Packer]

Well since the position is now open nationwide, any takers? I will take the liberty and put in a link to the place where you can apply. I am sure someone thinks they can do a great job and the money seems pretty good to me.

 

https://secure.azstatejobs.gov/pljb/global_...sp&id=25794

 

packer

[DesertBull]

I'll bet you a cup of coffee the next one will be a bunny hugger.

[Traveler]

Not trying to flame him but I found it very interesting that there with was no mention in the press release that wildlife, hunters, wildlife lovers are any better off? Bigger Bureaucracy & budget seem like a poor meausure of success. I am sure there has to be a better storyline.

 

Instead of this: "During Shroufe’s amazing tenure, the agency has grown from 230 personnel to 650 and the budget has increased from $20 million to $80 million".

 

Try this for our next director:

 

During Director X's amazing tenure Elk herds have grown 23% and have stabilized at 99.5% of carrying capacity. Deer Herds have rebounded 42% and are approaching carrying capacity due to aggressive predator control, coordination with state and federal agencies to better manage habitat and effective grazing rotations. 19 threatened and endangered species have been delisted due to the resulting habitat restoration.

Director X also left his mark for generations of future recreationalist by using surplus funds from increased license sales to secure permanent recreation and hunting access to landlocked public lands triggering similar trends accross the west.

 

Arizona's leading hunter safety program was extended to wildlife education in schools which has been credited for increasing youth recruitment to outdoor sports

 

He also was behind legislation that preserved over 1 million acres of state trust lands as permanent wildlife habitat.

Additionally led the charge and implemented the strictest off road enforcement in the nation. These have been a model for the rest of the west protecting public lands from ATV/UTV abuse.

[.270]

shroufe has left a legacy from which i doubt this state will ever recover. and i would suspect that with the current commission and this guy we have for gov., the next one will be worse. not that there aren't any good female candidates, but i'll make a prediction that the next director will be female. and very liberal. shroufe was bad, real bad, and so are all his toadys. hang on fellers, this might get rough. i sure hope they don't even look at that dope ferrell (sp?). Lark.