Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

The department's mission is to conserve, protect and enhance Kentucky's fish and wildlife resources and provide outstanding opportunities for fishing, hunting, trapping, boating, shooting sports, wildlife viewing, and related activities. ==History of the Department: 1945 to 1995==

• 1912: Kentucky Division of Game and Fish formed as a small commission with limited staff. It focuses on regulations to protect and help recover the fish and wildlife populations of the state that had been depleted as a result of unregulated exploitation of various kinds, as well as rapid habitat loss. • 1944: Department reorganized under a civil service structure, with an emphasis on professional, science-based conservation. Earl Wallace appointed director. • 1945: Division purchases experimental Game Farm outside of Frankfort for $12,575—for propagation of game birds, animals; experiments with trees, shrubs for improvement of wildlife environment. Nation's first Junior Conservation Club program begins. Kentucky deer population is less than 1,000. Division of Publicity (Public Relations) and Conservation Education begins. Nine law enforcement districts align with congressional districts. Commissioner Earl Wallace announces a department magazine, Happy Hunting Ground, to inform and educate the public. The first issue is published in December 1945, with a press run of 15,000 and a subscription cost of 50 cents a year. • 1946: First legal deer hunt (January 2–14) in 30 years; $15 tag required if deer is taken. Big Game Restoration Program, cooperative quail raising project with sportsmen begin. Two wildlife biologists pioneer process of live-trapping wild turkeys for restocking. 181,153 hunting licenses sold. • 1948: Amendment to Kentucky Statutes legalizes hunting raccoons with dogs. Statewide development of Big Game Refuges begins, continues to 1951. Legislature approves bill allowing fishing during the month of May (previously banned to protect fish during spawning) and raises the cost of fishing license from $1 to $2. First official documented use of aircraft to apprehend poachers. Kentucky hosts 10th Annual Crow Shooting Championship (June 26–27). • 1952: General Assembly rewrites game and fish laws, changes name of agency from Division of Game and Fish to Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Kentucky Afield radio show premieres (15-minute weekly series). Experimental release of Great Plains jackrabbits in Mercer, Pendleton and Hancock counties. Commission orders closed season on all game November 6–16. All netting operations in Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam banned due to widespread violations. County licenses eliminated; only statewide licenses available. Junior hunting license for under age 16 and 10-day nonresident license begin. 119 conservation officers employed. • 1953: Kentucky Afield-TV • 1993: C. Tom Bennett becomes commissioner. Peregrine falcon restoration begins. • 1994: Becoming an Outdoors Woman begins. Division of Water Patrol joins Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Law Enforcement and Water Patrol begin cross-training officers. R. F. Tarter WMA land acquisition ($357,381). • 1995: Dr. James C. Salato Wildlife Education Center opens (Oct. 1) at the Game Farm. Restoring Our Wildlife Heritage program introduces collector art. Kentucky Wildlife Viewing Guide begins sales. Fiscal Control renamed Division of Administrative Services. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and Kentucky Educational Television produce hunter education classes for television. Waterfowl hunters required to use U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service-approved nontoxic shot. Tim Farmer becomes Kentucky Afield-TV host. • 2001: Division of Water Patrol Regions Abolished, and all officers wear green uniforms. Recruit Class #8 members were the first class to graduate as Wildlife & Boating Officers. Use of Water Patrol Officer & Conservation Officer titles discontinued. • 2006: Wildlife & Boating Officer title discontinued, Conservation Officer title returned to use for Law Enforcement Officers. ==District Commission system==

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is directed by a commissioner, and overseen by nine district commission members. The commissioner manages direction and operations of the agency. Commission members serve as an oversight board, recommending fish, wildlife and boating regulations and statutes (pending final action by applicable legislative committees for regulations, or the legislature as a whole for statutes) and approving large-scale contracts such as major research projects. When a commission member's term is due to expire, a nomination election is held in the applicable district; five candidates for district commission member are nominated through votes cast by local hunters and anglers in each district, who must be licensed to hunt or fish. The five nominees receiving the most votes are sent to the governor for appointment of one as district commission member. This system was created by Kentucky sportsmen to ensure that both managerial and financial control of the state's wildlife resources stayed out of political control. ==Organization==

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has gone through a great deal of organizational changes through the years. Today it consists of the Commissioner's office staff and seven divisions: Administrative Services; Wildlife; Fisheries; Law Enforcement; Information and Education; Engineering and Information Technology; and Marketing. Terms of commissioners • 1944–1958: Earl Wallace • 1958–1971: Minor Clark • 1971–1978 Arnold Mitchell • 1978–1985: Carl E. Kays • 1985–1993: Don McCormick • 1993–2005: Tom Bennett • 2005–2013: Jonathan Gassett • 2014–2018: Gregory K Johnson • 2019–present: Rich Storm ==Volunteer==

Volunteers - unpaid staff - are involved in several aspects of the work of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, including at the Salato Wildlife Education Center. Volunteers work in conservation education, help with special activities, help with plants, trails and special projects, and lead hunter education programs. ==Fallen officers==

Since the establishment of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, six officers have died in the line of duty. ==See also==