Committee Hears Two Fish and Game Commission Nominees; Formal Votes Deferred

The Senate Resources and Environment Committee heard from two nominees for the Idaho Fish and Game Commission but did not take final action at the hearing. The committee typically allows several days before taking an advice-and-consent vote.

Mike Roach, a lifelong Idaho resident from Fairfield with a degree in wildlife fisheries from the University of Idaho, introduced himself as a gubernatorial nominee to the commission. He described more than four decades of engagement with Idaho fish and wildlife work and said his priorities are focused on managing resources. "The word is manage, being able to manage the resources," Roach said when asked what he saw as the commission's biggest challenge. He described the commission as comprised of members from different regions and backgrounds and said he had attended two commission meetings since his appointment.

The committee also heard from Ron Davies, of Clayton, who is serving a reappointment to the commission and has spent roughly four years on the commission and the most recent six to seven months as chairman. Davies, a retired firefighter-paramedic from Pocatello with 26½ years of service, said his "avid passion" for hunting and fishing and advocacy for the resources were his primary qualifications for another term.

Senators questioned both nominees on topics including geographic representation on the commission, wildlife overpasses and underpasses to reduce collisions and maintain migration routes, management of grizzly bears and interagency interactions with tribal authorities, and the department's coordination on wintering elk and depredation tags. Roach acknowledged limits to the commission's authority in some areas and noted court proceedings affect federal wildlife management. Davies said he did not have detailed knowledge of some tribal-management interactions but acknowledged those issues exist and would require coordination with the department.

The committee did not record a formal recommendation at the hearing. Vice Chair Hart said the committee would take the appointments up again in a few days and then forward recommendations to the full Senate.