Not one sportsmen's organization in the state endorsed Terry Crawforth to replace Willie Molini as administrator of the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW). Even the Wildlife commissioners rated him third in a three horse race. How did he get chosen? It was good old politics at its worst.

HUNTER'S ALERT for years has stated that it doesn't matter what the sportsmen who fund 95% of NDOW want. This was another classic case of politics taking priority over sportsmen's concerns. At the outset, even former administrator Willie Molini didn't want Terry Crawforth appointed. Here's how Terry became the new administrator of NDOW.

Originally, there were seven people who applied for the administrator's position. One of them was NDOW employee, Rich Heap. This is who Willie Molini wanted as his replacement. The Wildlife Commission narrowed the applicants down to three and Rich Heap was not one of them Pete Morros, director of Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is the person who actually chooses the new

administrator. Pete Morros called then chairman of the Wildlife Commission, Don Cavin and asked him if Rich Heap was one of the final three. Don Cavin advised him that Rich Heap did not make the final cut. Pete Morros wanted to know what he could do to put Rich Heap's name back in the running. Don Cavin explained that the meeting had already been conducted and that the minutes reflected the final three candidates' identities.

Once again, Willie Molini decided to get involved and went to one of his old political friends. I would imagine that the conversation went like this. Gee, if they bring in the guy that was most impressive during the interviews, he will clean house on the management in NDOW. (Translated, he would get rid of the dead weight.) It was then that the call was put in to Pete Morros that he will hire Terry Crawforth. Terry Crawforth's background is in law enforcement. Sportsmen do not need any more law enforcement. They need a manager. If politics had not gotten in the way, sportsmen would have had a good manager. What we have now is another person who will put in two years,

do nothing and then retire. This was pretty much confirmed during the interview process. Terry Crawforth was asked what changes he would make and he stated that he would move the Fallen office to Reno. Now that is really going to bring back our game!