After turmoil, Ohio’s new wildlife chief talks future Dinner awaits
It’s not a stretch to characterize Mike Miller’s ascendancy to chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife as unconventional.
Miller took over as chief earlier this month when Ray Petering was fired and the division’s top staff members were reassigned by Ohio Department of Natural Resources director James Zehringer.
Petering referred to his removal as a “political purge,” but he was not the lone voice of discontent. Many groups and individuals with ties to hunting and fishing have alleged that the shakeup was motivated by retribution for wildlife division support of a $3 increase in the fees for state resident hunting and fishing licenses, which ODNR opposed.
Miller describes the personnel change as neither purge nor retribution.
“We will be trying to make things better, and I need my own team to do that,” he said.
The turmoil stems from projections that the wildlife division’s revenue shortfalls over the next 10 years will leave the agency tens of millions of dollars short of projected expenditures. Some 40 sportsmenaffiliated groups, led by the Columbus-based Sportsmen’s Alliance, spearheaded an effort ahead of the state’s two-year budget to raise resident and nonresident license and permit fees.
Although Petering said in April the wildlife division wouldn’t lobby the legislature for fee increases, he did point out the difficulty of having to do “2017 programs with 2004 money.” The 13-year gap between license fee increases is the longest such period in the agency’s history.
Former division chief Mike Budzik added to the controversy with criticisms in a letter of resignation from an advisory role on sportsmen’s concerns with the administration of Gov. John Kasich.
Despite pressure for resident fee increases that included unanimous support from the eight members of the Ohio Wildlife Council, the legislature in June approved only increases in nonresident licenses, enough to generate several million dollars annually but not enough to eliminate the projected revenue shortfalls.
That led to accusations that ODNR’s Zehringer would cut costs and pay for shortfalls by shrinking services long dedicated to the hunting and fishing community and paid for with what they see as their own money.
Miller, though, said the so-called wildlife fund, which underwrites the division’s annual expenditures of about $60 million, is not going to be raided by ODNR. “It can’t be by law,” he said.
He added that the division’s finances for the next two years, which covers the duration of the current state budget, don’t appear to be a problem.
In response to skeptics, Miller said there is no plan to merge the wildlife division with another division under the spacious ODNR umbrella, which includes forestry, natural areas and preserves, parks and watercraft, and soil and water resources.
“We’re not consolidating,” he said. “Any talk about that should be done, over with.”
Nor will the wildlife division’s enforcement arm, of which Miller is an alumnus, be merged with another enforcement unit in ODNR, he said.
What is in the offing is more cooperation between wildlife and the other divisions, with the goal of “maximizing” opportunities for hunters, fishermen, trappers and the public, Miller said. He also mentioned exploration of privatepublic operations.
Although Miller declined to articulate what that might entail, he hinted at an adjustment of institutional emphasis, suggesting that wildlife needs to be managed not just for hunters, fishermen and trappers but “for the benefit of all the people.”
He suggested that wildlife-loving citizens other than hunters, trappers and fishermen might add to their “legacy” by aiding wildlife division operations by procuring special vehicle plates, donating tax refunds, buying wetlands and legacy stamps, and even buying hunting and fishing licenses for friends or family members, if not for themselves.
Among ideas being discussed, Miller said:
■ It is too soon to determine whether the division would benefit from selling its District One headquarters on Dublin Road.
■ Procuring some of the available American Electric Power land covering 60,000 acres in Guernsey, Morgan and Muskingum counties is “a priority” for Zehringer and ODNR.
■ The division will examine the sales potential for license-bundling options.
■ Improvements in access to private land are being considered, possibly based on a model used in Michigan. He said it’s possible the division will be able to pay landowners to open land that meets requirements.
■ More emphasis can be placed on the needs of small-game hunters.
■ Shooting-sports venues can be developed in a way that attracts shooters other than hunters.
A survey designed to gauge public opinion on wildlife priorities can be accessed at wildohio. org. The division will take a hard look at the results, Miller said.
As for groups skeptical about the new regime, Miller said he would welcome a chance to talk with critics willing to discuss where the division is heading.