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Virgil Moore Selected to Lead Idaho Fish and Game

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Fish and Game Commission has named Virgil Moore, a seasoned administrator and fisheries biologist, to lead the state agency in charge of Idaho's fish, wolf and wildlife populations.

The commission announced Moore's appointment Thursday as the new director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Moore, sporting a red tie adorned with images of trout and steelhead flies, said he is thrilled to bring his experience and expertise to the agency and its mission of protecting Idaho's bounty of wildlife.

"We're going to be able to hit the ground running fast and hard," Moore told reporters at a press conference in agency headquarters.

Moore, 59, was selected in a nationwide search as the replacement for Cal Groen, who stepped down as director last month after serving four years.

Moore lauded Groen's leadership and management style, but the Boise native added that he has some of his own ideas for leading the department. For example, Moore said he intends to spend the next few months gathering insight from all groups with an interest in Idaho wildlife management. He also suggested the time may be right to organize a state wildlife congress made up of sportsmen and conservation groups.

"Working with the commission we can continue priority programs and develop new ideas and visions for wildlife management in Idaho," he said.

Before the promotion, Moore served as deputy director for field operations, a position he held since 2007. Before that, Moore served as director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife but returned to Idaho less than a year later for family reasons.

In Idaho, Moore has served as the agency's bureau chief for fisheries and head of the agency's education and information division.

Moore earned a bachelor's degree in biology and education from Northwest Missouri State University and a master's degree in zoology from Idaho State University.

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