Former Wildlife Director for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks Doug Hansen has joined Delta Waterfowl as its U.S. senior policy advisor.
Hansen, 60, who spent 36 years in the department, 18 as wildlife director, will represent Delta Waterfowl on agriculture, energy, climate change and other national policy issues that directly impact waterfowl, waterfowl habitat and waterfowl hunters.
“Doug’s management and conservation experience and expertise will be invaluable in helping to grow Delta’s U.S. conservation policy team in the years to come,” said Delta President Rob Olson. “Doug is an experienced hand and highly respected among his peers in the North American wildlife community. We’re very pleased he’s on board.”
An avid hunter and angler, Hansen, 60 of Pierre, South Dakota, said he’s witnessed firsthand how national policy affects wildlife habitat and, by extension, hunters at the local level. “My experience as wildlife director has made me keenly aware of how land water resource management can impact wildlife, particularly waterfowl in the prairie breeding grounds,” said Hansen. “I’m very pleased to be working for Delta because I strongly believe in its mission: securing the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.”
In 2007, Hansen was awarded the Seth Gordon Award, the highest professional honor bestowed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA).
Hansen’s duties will include representing Delta Waterfowl on the policy council of the Washington D.C.-based Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an umbrella group of leading hunting, fishing and conservation organizations.
