MEET THE NEW boss.
Jim Unsworth, the deputy director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, has been tapped to lead the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The department announced the hire last week, and Unsworth, 57, will take over from departing director Phil Anderson on Monday, Feb. 2.
If he’s a Seahawks fan, it could be a rough opening day for Unsworth, coming mere hours after Super Bowl Sunday.
Unsworth’s entire career has been spent in wildlife management with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
He has served as deputy director for the agency since 2008.
He previously held several management positions for the department, including wildlife bureau chief and state big game manager.
Unsworth holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from the University of Idaho, a master’s degree in fish and wildlife management from Montana State University and a doctorate in forestry, wildlife and range sciences from the University of Idaho.
Much of his work came guiding Idaho through the state’s wolf recovery process and post-recovery management of the predator, including hunting and trapping.
Hunting and trapping wolves is years away in Washington, where a 2013 Fish and Wildlife survey counted 52 wolves in 13 packs, predominately in the northeastern corner of the state.
Unsworth is a little less experienced in fish management but has overseen Idaho’s fisheries bureau in his duties as deputy director.
“It’s amazingly complex,” he told the Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune regarding Washington’s task of managing salmon and steelhead and allocating harvest among commercial and recreational anglers, while also balancing harvest shares with the state’s 27 American Indian tribes, Canada, Alaska and neighbors Oregon and Idaho.
He will earn $146,500 a year while overseeing a department with 1,600 employees and a biennial operating budget of $376 million.
“For a wildlife professional, it’s got it all, I guess, in terms of interesting issues, not to mention 7 million people also,” Unsworth said.
“That complicates things a whole bunch.”
I wish Unsworth the best of luck as managing all the disparate fish and wildlife interests in this state must be no picnic and create endless headaches.
Sportsmen’s show
Head inside to explore the outside at the ongoing Washington Sportsmen’s Show at the Washington State Fair Events Center.
The biggest outdoors expo in the state runs through Sunday with speakers, exhibits and a chance to try out the latest fishing and hunting gear.
Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for juniors ages 6-16 and free to ages 5 and younger
Hours are noon to 8 p.m. today and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
There’s a free trout pond for ages 12 and younger with all gear provided, including poles, bait and take-home bags.
Those angling to plan their next outdoor vacation can meet with top guides and outfitters, and representatives from leading hunting and fishing lodges and resorts.
There’s so many activities, attendees will want to plan out their trip to the show.
The Washington State Fair Events Center is located at 110 9th Avenue Southwest in Puyallup.
For more information, including a floor plan, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-OutdoorExpo.
The boat show
Whatever you need to float your boat will be there for you to see at the The Seattle Boat Show, Indoors + Afloat, running from Friday through Sunday, Feb. 1.
The show takes place at two locations: indoors at the CenturyLink Field Exhibition Center and outdoors at Chandler’s Cove at South Lake Union.
Exhibitors will be there, seminars are planned, and there will be plenty of boats to admire and pine for, or even purchase.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for youth ages 11 to 17 and free for kids 10 and younger.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
