Larry Voyles named new director of Arizona Game and Fish Department

[DesertBull]

Isn't it the Commission that really wields the power? They're the ones pushing opportunity, the G&F Dept are just their soldiers.

[.270]

i know this much. the azgfd actively campaigned to outlaw trapping. they had their little special session deal to outlaw predator contests because of one big contest some guys were trying to have that got bad press from antis. they ended up with a watered down version after the state supreme court shot what they did down, but they tried real hard to stop it. they rolled over like a dead carp on the mt lion problem in the sabino canyon area. they stood by and watched the lion population on the strip boom and nearly destroy the mule deer herd, and then watched the lion population starve because they ate all the deer. there was no deer hunting on the strip for a long time because of this and it hasn't even begun to get back where it was. they've allowed the elk population to get so high in some areas as to destroy some real premium deer country. there are a lotta elk in those areas, but not many deer. but elk tags cost a lot more than deer. they were and are very active in this joke we call wolf reintroduction. this has such far reaching tenticles that it will haunt generations. they have been, and will continue to be, on the side of the "california" condors and against sportsmen and the proposed lead ban is just the beginning of what will happen. they allowed the uso fiasco to get to where it was. it ended up as actually a little better deal for Az. sportsmen but kinda think the wished for a different outcome. they've continually ignored the data and recomendations that they funded their own biologists to collect and develop. oh yeah, and they advertize that they want folks to catch crawdad's and eat em because of all the damage this non-native species does to our riparian areas, but if you don't have a fishing license or take em in specific ways, you get a ticket. makes sense to me. (just threw that in to portray what i feel is really stupid legislation) this is just some of the highlights of the azgfd's legacy in the last 20+ years. it'll be interesting to see how changing one guy in the process is gonna help any. but i'm gonna be realistically optimistic. hopefully they will get back to good groundwork by qualified folks and try to develop ways to really improve true wildlife management. Lark.

[dave]

.270,

 

You make some good points.

 

If the goal of a Director is to gain national fame and win awards, he must build what he does to accomplish that.

 

If the goal of a Director is to manage wildlife, he must build what he does to accomplish that.

 

Before we get too excited I think we need to think about the reality of the situation.

As I understand this transition, Larry was hired to complete Duane's term since Duane wanted to bail early. Larry is an employee hired to complete 11 months of service in Duane's absence without a contract. At the end of that time, he must enter into his own new contract with the Commission for whatever terms are negotiated. I expect there will be several positions people will be jockeying for in the near future (#2 & #3 guys possibly) and someone will have to replace Larry in region IV, not to mention the region V manager is retiring in May. That being said, I doubt many changes in recommendations that have to do with managing game etc. will occur in the next 11 months. I would expect Larry to somewhat continue with the status quo until he is able to take control on his own (under his own contract). The Commission has 11 months to observe how Larry conducts himself before they give him 5 or 10 years.

I believe we have a lot of good things to look forward to and that this is a positive thing. It will take time.

 

If someone with more knowledge of this can correct any misstatements I may have made, please do.

[curmudgen]

I say, let's give him a chance. The only thing I see against him is his degree from ASU. GO CATS! If Bill McLean likes him, that's a good start. Jack