Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is an agency
of the state of Oklahoma
responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
. All members serve eight year terms. The Commission, in turn, appoints a Director to serve as the chief administrative officer
of the Department.
The current Director of the Department of Wildlife Conservation is Richard Hatcher.
The Department was created in 1956 during the term of Governor Raymond D. Gary
by an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution
.
petition process.
. Under Governor Mary Fallin
, Gary Sherrer
is serving as the Secretary.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
. All members serve eight year terms. The Commission, in turn, appoints a Director to serve as the chief administrative officer
Chief administrative officer
A chief administrative officer is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive officer. In some companies,...
of the Department.
The current Director of the Department of Wildlife Conservation is Richard Hatcher.
The Department was created in 1956 during the term of Governor Raymond D. Gary
Raymond D. Gary
Raymond Daniel Gary was the first Governor to be born in Oklahoma since statehood. His birth date was January 21, 1908, and his birthplace, a farm midway between Madill, Oklahoma and Kingston, Oklahoma. He was educated in the local schools and Southeastern State College. After five years of...
by an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution
Oklahoma Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Oklahoma is the governing document of the U.S. State of Oklahoma. Adopted in 1907, Oklahoma ratified the United States Constitution on November 16, 1907, as the 46th US State. At its ratification, the Oklahoma Constitution was the longest governing document of any...
.
History
The Department was created in 1956 when the voters of Oklahoma approved State Question 374, which amended the Oklahoma Constitution by adding Article 26. The State Question was brought before the voters of the state through an initiativeInitiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
petition process.
Leadership
The Department is overseen by the Secretary of the EnvironmentOklahoma Secretary of the Environment
The Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
. Under Governor Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
, Gary Sherrer
Gary Sherrer
Gary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer serves as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governor Mary Fallin...
is serving as the Secretary.
Organization
- Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Director
- Assistant Director - Administration
- Administration Division
- Fiscal Services Section
- Employee Services Section
- Human Resources Section
- Administration Division
- Assistant Director - Operations
- Fisheries Division
- Wildlife Division
- Information and Education Division
- Law Enforcement Division
- Federal Aid and Response Management Division
- Assistant Director - Administration
- Director
Staffing
The Wildlife Conservation Department, with an annual budget of over $40 million, is one of the larger employers of the State. For fiscal year 2010, the Department was authorized 339 full time employees.| Division | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Administration Division | 30 |
| Wildlife Services Division | 89 |
| Fisheries Services Division | 82 |
| Law Enforcement Division | 118 |
| Information and Education Office | 20 |
| Total | 339 |
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 2 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Game Warden Charles W. Estes | |
Gunfire |
| Ranger Melvin Lewis Garrison Jr. | |
Drowned |