Game and Fish Department

GREEN RIVER - Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal selected Brent Manning, the head of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to be the new director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on Thursday.

The decision broke a long tradition of naming the department director from within department ranks, a tradition that stretched back to at least the 1950s.

Manning still must be confirmed by the state Senate next week, said Freudenthal's press secretary, Lara Azar.

The governor selected Manning over two other finalists for the job - Dr. Tom Thorne, the acting director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Jim Schwartz, deputy director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

"It was a very difficult choice, but Brent Manning is clearly the most qualified manager and has the drive and vision to get the job done," Freudenthal said.

Manning said in an interview Thursday afternoon he is excited about the job and ready to get to work.

"I've been a hunter and fisherman all of my life," he said. Wyoming, he added, "is the premier outdoor state."

He also reached out to department employees, saying his "first and highest priority" is to make sure that the department understands who he is.

"II want them to know that I have great respect for them and that I am certainly not going to come in and trash the wonderful reputation they've built up over the years," Manning said. "I don't want anyone to have the fear that I'm going to come in and lop heads and (engage in) that type of silliness."

Thorne could not be reached for comment late Thursday evening.

The new director will have his hands full.

He will have to deal with a variety of prominent wildlife policy issues, including a financial shortfall, the development of state management plans for the gray wolf and grizzly bear, and wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease (CWD), whirling disease and brucellosis.

The funding shortfall may force the agency to cut some programs and personnel if the Legislature does not approve increases in some hunting license fees this session.

Freudenthal said Manning, who is president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, came highly recommended by several Wyoming managers and sportsmen.

"I have every confidence he will fit in quite well here in Wyoming and will lead our Game and Fish Department to a new level," he said.

Manning has served as director of the Illinois DOR for seven years and before that was the head of the Illinois Department of Conservation.

Azar said Manning, 49, currently manages 2,200 employees and an annual budget of $750 million as head of the Illinois DOR. She noted the Game and Fish Department includes 352 employees and has a $47 million annual budget.

Manning said he believes in a "team approach" and coalition building among all the various wildlife-related interests, with an emphasis on long-term results. He said he believes the approach will "work in Wyoming as well."

Wyoming Wildlife Federation Executive Director Larry Baesler said the new director-designate will fit in nicely with state conservation efforts.

"From our standpoint, he seems to have a strong interest in outdoor programs for youth, women and disabled folks … and the WWF has been moving in that direction with our conservation program, youth conservation program and watchable wildlife programs," he said.

"Our focus is to get our kids and youth to maintain and not break the links between our hunting heritage and society," he said. "We want to preserve and protect that and we think Brent Manning will fit the bill."

Baesler said Manning will also bring some expertise to the department's efforts to create a Wildlife Legacy Trust fund. The interest from the trust could be used annually to prevent threatened and endangered species listings and improve wildlife habitat.

"They've had their foundation going since 1995 and they've raised a huge bunch of money already," he said.

Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission submitted the three applicants' names to the governor on Jan. 6.

The new director will replace John Baughman, who resigned in May 2002 to pursue other opportunities, and Thorne, who has served as acting director since Baughman's departure..