February 7, 2008
Duncan is new DGIF director
Yesterday the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries appointed Bob Duncan as its new director.
This was a big departure from recent hires.
Duncan's predecessor was Carlton Courter, a guy with an agriculture background who had been the head of the state's ag department for a number of years. The guy before that was Bill Woodfin, who had previously been the director of the state's Department of Waste Management .
Duncan, on the other hand, is a career wildlife professional. He's been with the DGIF since 1978, and the chief of the DGIF's Wildlife Division for 18 years.
We all know what happened with Woodfin. Courter, the guy they hoped could lead the agency out from under the scandal shadow, lasted just 13 months.
The question is, is Duncan the right guy to get things rolling at the agency? I think it's a pretty good move.
Anyone care to agree? Or disagree?
And what do you see as his top priorities?
Comments
[February 8, 2008 10:40 AM]
Tony RutherfordBob Duncan has probably been the most qualified candidate for this position for years. I'm not sure if he was ever considered in the past. In my opinion, if he were in this position years ago, Virginia would be far ahead of where it currently is with regard to issues influenced and regulated by the DGIF. There exists within the outdoor activity seekers a variety of interest. Resources are limited and they have to be shared by all. I feel confident that Mr. Duncan will be more effective at making Virginia's resource users understand that we all have to compromise, for both our own benefit, as well as the general benefit for all. Mr. Duncan has some very tough issues on his agenda. The two main issues drawing focus appears to be Hound Hunting and Sunday Hunting. I have no doubt that Mr. Duncan will be an effect mediator for all hunting type/style groups and individuals. His abilities will enable all outdoor activity seekers to continue to have access to their personal choice of recreation. I look for great things from the DGIF under the leadership of Mr. Duncan. He has always maintained that Virginia's ban on Sunday hunting has no biological basis. He's also maintained that the ban is social in nature. I look forward to one day soon, going afield and hunting legally on Sunday in Virginia. I know that he will find a way to keep hound hunting legal as well. He has my full support.
Respectfully, Tony Rutherford VaSundayHunting@aol.com
[February 9, 2008 3:40 PM]
Mark TaylorThanks for the comments, Tony. You're right: Bob Duncan has proven himself a pretty solid mediator in other hot issues. He's got some potentially big ones looming.
The DGIF has typically kept its distance from the Sunday hunting issue, always using the justification that "it's an issue for the General Assembly." A while back the board even passed a resolution stating as much. But those days may be coming to an end.
Senate Bill 708, the one that would allow localities to offer urban archery hunting on Sunday has passed the Senate. Let's say it gets through the House. (And I wouldn't bet on it.) It seems certain Gov. Kaine will sign it for reasons I've previously discussed. Then the pressure is on the DGIF because the law says the agency MAY allow it. They have a choice of their approach, and can't pass the blame (or credit) on to anyone else.
Now, the board could simply ignore the law. Or it could could propose and vote on an appropriate regulation. Either way, they would be taking a position and we will finally have an idea where all the board members stand on the issue. (Chairman Jimmy Hazel has said he personally favors lifting the ban.)
From what I can tell, this hound hunting thing has potential to be a real doozy. I haven't seen this much paranoia and distrust regarding the DGIF's intentions since the Jackson River debacle.
Thanks again for the comments.
mt
[February 11, 2008 11:49 AM]
Tony RutherfordMark, I feel like you have hit the nail squarely on the head. I'm not so sure that there is as much opposition of Sunday hunting as there is fear of how certain interest groups will react to lifting Virginia's Sunday hunting ban. Let's face it, hunting is not illegal in Virginia on Sunday. VA code 29.1-521 provides for lawful racoon and shooting preserve hunting on Sunday. The language of 29.1-521, whether intentional or accidental, provides lawful Sunday hunting/chasing of certain other game/fur bearing animals. I would assume since this type of activty requires a hunting license it would be considered "hunting". I'm in support of any Sunday hunting opportunity, because I believe these opportunities are the constitutional right of all Virginians. I believe the simplest solution to Virginia's Sunday hunting issue is for the Government of Virginia to recognize that current laws are socially discriminatory. I hope that no person would oppose a change in law that would remove social discrimination, regardless of the effect. If Virginia determined that the current, partial Sunday hunting ban were socially discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional, amending the law would obviously be the right thing to do. This method would eliminate any finger pointing by certain interest groups. It would also keep DGIF from looking like the bad guys.
[February 11, 2008 4:58 PM]
Al MiltonMark,
Bob Duncan is an excellent choice for Director of DGIF. Bob has helped bring our deer herd to its current size in the Commonwealth.
All Virginia Sportsmen and women should realize that Bob Duncan is on our side. His problem in the past has been politics within DGIF. We all know what that has brought us over the past several years.
I look to Bob's leadership and hope we can work closer that ever in the past. I am behind Bob Duncan 100%.
Maybe our DGIF commissioners are finally coming around to the right side of our issues.
Hooray for Bob Duncan!!
Al Milton