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Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation

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Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation

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General information
Office Type:  Nonpartisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $162,266
2024 FY Budget:  $78,288,155
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   Serves at the pleasure of the Wildlife Conservation Commission
Authority:  Oklahoma Constitution, Article 26, Section 1
Selection Method:  Appointed by Wildlife Conservation Commission
Current Officeholder(s)

Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation Wade Free
Nonpartisan
Assumed office: December 7, 2023

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TheOklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation is an appointed position in theOklahoma state government. Thedirector is selected by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission to serve as head of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.[1]

Current officeholder

The acting Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation isWade Free (nonpartisan). Free assumed office in 2023.

Authority

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is established inArticle 26, Section 1 of theOklahoma Constitution.[2]

Article XXVI, Section 1:

There is hereby created a Department of Wildlife Conservation of the State of Oklahoma and an Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Department of Wildlife Conservation shall be governed by the Wildlife Conservation Director, hereinafter created, under such rules, regulations and policies as may be prescribed from time to time by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Such rules and regulations and amendments thereof shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State, and shall become effective on the tenth (10th) day following such filing.

Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications for this office.

Appointments

The director is appointed by a majority vote of the entire Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.[2]

Vacancies

UnderArticle 6, Section 13 of theOklahoma Constitution in the event of a vacancy in the office thegovernor appoints a person to serve until a successor is either elected or appointed and qualified by law.[2]

Duties

The specific duties of the office are outlined in Title 29 of the Oklahoma Statutes:[3]

“
  1. To manage and control, under the supervision of the Commission, all wildlife refuges and real or personal properties which are held, operated or maintained by the Department.
  2. To appoint and employ such assistants, department heads, rangers, clerical help and other employees as the Commission may deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Commission. The Director shall fix and determine the salaries and wages to be paid under and subject to the rules and regulations as promulgated by the Commission; and the Director shall supervise and direct all employees of either the Commission or the Department and may suspend, discharge, station or transfer them at any time that, in his judgment, the Commission or the state will be best served thereby.
  3. To approve or disapprove and pay all legal claims for services rendered or expenses incurred by rangers and other employees of the Department in accordance with the schedules therefore and the rules and regulations previously adopted by the Commission.
  4. To establish and maintain a proper system of bookkeeping and accounting under the supervision of the State Auditor and Inspector.
  5. To promote and manage wildlife propagation by raising and distributing the same over the state at the direction of the Commission; to capture, propagate, transport, buy, sell or exchange any species of fish, game, furbearing animals and protected birds needed for stocking the lands or waters of the state; and to feed, provide and care for such fish, animals and birds.
  6. To make a complaint and cause proceedings to be commenced against any person for violation of any of the laws for the conservation of wildlife with the sanction of the district attorney of the county in which such proceedings are brought, and shall not be required to give security for costs. The Director may also appear in behalf of the people in any court of competent jurisdiction in any prosecution for a violation of any of the laws for the protection of wildlife, and may prosecute the same in the same manner and with the same authority as the district attorney of the county where such proceedings are pending in cases where such attorney is unable to be present or refuses to prosecute such case.
  7. To make emergency purchases of equipment, materials and supplies under rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission.[4]
”
—§29-3-105 of the Oklahoma Statutes (2011)[3]

Divisions

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is organized into six main divisions:[1]

  • Administrative
  • Federal Aid
  • Fisheries
  • Information and Education
  • Law Enforcement
  • Wildlife

State budget

See also:Oklahoma state budget and finances

The budget for the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission in Fiscal Year 2024 was $78,288,155.[5]

Compensation

See also:Compensation of state executive officers

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $162,266, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[6]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $152,757, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[7]

2021

In 2021, the director received a salary of $149,762, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[8]

2020

In 2020, the director received a salary of $145,400, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]

2019

In 2019, the director received a salary of $140,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]

2018

In 2018, the director received a salary of $135,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]

2017

In 2017, the director received a salary of $135,644, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]

2016

In 2016, the director received a salary of $135,644, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]

2015

In 2015, the director received a salary of $123,032, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]

2014

In 2014, the director received a salary of $123,033, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]

2013

In 2013, the director was paid an estimated$121,986. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.[16]

2010

In 2010, the director was paid an estimated $123,033, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]

Historical officeholders

Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Oklahoma Director of Wildlife Conservation has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsOklahoma Director Wildlife Conservation. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Physical address:
1801 N. Lincoln
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73152

Phone: (405) 521-3851

Division contact information

See also

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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑1.01.1Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, "About the ODWC," accessed January 27, 2021
  2. ↑2.02.12.2Oklahoma State Legislature, "Oklahoma Constitution," accessed January 27, 2021
  3. ↑3.03.1Oklahoma State Legislature, "Oklahoma Statutes," accessed January 27, 2021
  4. ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑Oklahoma.gov, "FY 2025 Executive Budget," accessed January 22, 2025
  6. ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
  7. ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  8. ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
  9. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 27, 2021
  10. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 27, 2021
  11. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 27, 2021
  12. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 27, 2021
  13. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 27, 2021
  14. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 27, 2021
  15. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 27, 2021
  16. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 27, 2021
  17. ↑The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed January 27, 2021
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