The new administrator of Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW) Terry Crawforth, is off to a dismal start in his new position The majority of his first month on the job he spent hunting. So much for making sacrifices for a new promotion. In addition, he has appointed Dave Rice as his assistant deputy director. (You remember Dave. He is the fellow who called trophy hunters red-necked animal killers who hunt for ego gratification".) Worse than that is Terry Crawforth's blatant disregard for sportsmen's organizations' concerns.

Here are the facts! On September 17, 1998 Terry Crawforth and Wildlife commissioners Bill Bradley and Jack Coons met with HUNTER'S ALERT president Cecil Fredi. It was a very good meeting or at least it appeared that it could be the start of something good However, it was not to be HUNTER'S ALERT gave Terry Crawforth a list often questions to be answered in writing In addition, the new administrator was given a time frame of 60 to 90 days to respond. These were not questions that required any lengthy research. They were questions to see in what direction the new administrator was going to take the agency What were Mr Crawforth's answers to these questions? He failed to respond!

On December 2, 1998 Administrator Crawforth and Wildlife commissioner Bill Bradley met in Reno with members of Nevada Hunters Association. They too wanted to know what the new administrator proposed to do. This was followed up on December 17 with the following letter.

Dear Mr. Crawforth:

Thank you and Commissioner Bradley for meeting with us on December 2, 1998 in my office. We feel we had a nice discussion on wildlife issues, specifically the fifteen items we outlined in writing. We are looking forward to your written responses to these specific issues. Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Gerald A. Lent

President (Nevada Hunters Association)

Once again, Terry Crawforth failed to respond to the request made by Nevada Hunters Association.

Below are the Questions posed by HUNTER'S ALERT and Nevada Hunters

Association.

HUNTER'S ALERT Questions.

Administrator Crawforth was asked to give a detailed explanation in writing rather than a yes or no answer. So that he could research and thoughtfully respond, Administrator Crawforth was given the time frame of 60 to 90 days to consider his answers.

1. What are you going to do to separate yourself from the Willie Molini style of management?

2 What are you going to do about straightening out the Region 3 headquarters? i.e., rudeness, incompetence, biologists not being allowed to go into the field and over 40 personnel actions without any investigation.

3. Will you restructure the agency to return to a fish and game rather than law enforcement and administration?

4. Are you pleased with the status of our game situation? If you answered that we do have problems with our game situation, what do you intend to do to correct them?

5. In the April, 1992 edition of HUNTER'S ALERT newsletter, we noted that for three years we had pointed out to NDOW the decimation of our sheep in the Sheep Mountain Range. Why did NDOW do nothing about this condition for nine years?

6. The Sheep Mountain Range was the premier sheep hunting range in Nevada. We used to allow 35 permits. It is now down to 4. Only one sheep was harvested last year. Why did this happen and what do you intend to do to bring those numbers back?

7. Are you going to approve funding for the three NDOW employees who lost a personal lawsuit against Barton Tanner?

If you do, please explain why the sportsmen should pay for their willful misconduct?

8. Are you going to pursue criminal charges against the warden who perjured himself in this case? Will there be any disciplinary action for any of them?

9. What bills are you proposing for the next legislative session that: a) will help or benefit the sportsmen?; b) that will restrict, regulate or cost them more money?-

10. What parts of Senate Bill 127 in the last legislative session did you object to and why?

Nevada Hunters Association Questions:

Please discuss these questions and we also request your response in writing to these questions: Nevada Hunters Association thanks you in advance.

1. As Administrator, what is your number one goal (period)?

2. The former director was criticized for his extensive travel. Do you plan to run the agency or run all over the country?

3. Two parts: Programs that actually hit the ground and produce a result are what sportsmen like to see accomplished with fees they pay to support wildlife. Do you have any SPECIFIC plans for new projects that will directly benefit Nevada's fish and game populations and thus the sportsmen as well?

Second part: When are we going to see results without any and I repeat any excuses for completion? (such as no money or this employee never worked out or I had to take time to prepare for the legislature, etc.)

4. You have been the director for several months now, What changes or accomplishments have you made at this time?

5. Since deer management is the single largest source of revenue to the agency and since the retirement of your deer biologist has been known for quite some time, did you have a qualified replacement ready to go into this position immediately? If not why?

6. Why has the agency suddenly begun counting the "yearling bucks" as part of the buck population?

7. Explain your reasons for establishing a CAP on the statewide elk populations.

8. The original functions of the Agency - fish and game management has become a smaller pan of the agency's budget. Will this trend continue? If not, what specific plans do you have to enhance the financial health of the major revenue generating portions of NDOW? (The game bureau seems to have the very last priority for everything.)

9. Predator control is a viable wildlife

management tool. Do you support predator control programs when they are needed? Also, who determines when they are needed? What would you do if your staff did not support predator controls?

10. The Division of Wildlife is truly a "divided" agency with one region against the other, the regions against the state office, and bureau against bureau. How do you plan to bring the agency back together?

Part two: Is it true that under the current structure of the division of wildlife that the field and regional personnel answer to the Director and not their respective bureau chiefs? For example: law enforcement in region three does not report directly to the chief of Law Enforcement? Why?

11. The Law Enforcement Bureau currently has no oversight and many complaints are heard regarding abuse of authority, rudeness and obnoxious attitudes of numerous wardens. Are you aware and if so what will you do about this ongoing problem? Also do you favor a review board or other oversight of this bureau?

12. Do you plan to take any personnel action to NDOW employees in the Bart Tanner case? If not please explain your reasons.

13. We see our role as having to take the time to educate the sportsmen about the damages the Molini administration has done for hunting and fishing in Nevada.

You were a part of Molini's organization.

At his vote of confidence hearing you

testified in his behalf that he was the most honest, capable, diligent person you have ever worked with. In fact you said you love that man like a brother. Since you were trained by Molini, why should we think you will be any different in your approaches? Since you were chief of law enforcement for many years, didn't you have the opportunity to make that a user friendly bureau and why didn't you?

14. We need a policy for NDOW

employees when they are charged with a crime or a civil action in which they are automatically suspended from their current duties like the University of Nevada has in their athletic department. Do you plan on implementing such a policy''

15. Will any of these questions be brought to your staff's attention? Yes or No

Gerald A Lent President