[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A FRIEND TO IDAHO FISH AND GAME

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, on January 1, Idaho sportsmen and 
women and wildlife will lose a great agency friend in the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game. Steve Huffaker, 22-year veteran of Fish 
and Game, and director since 2002, will be retiring after a full and 
successful career with this important agency.
  Steve has been my great friend and supporter on many issues including 
wolves, elk, slick spot peppergrass, sage grouse, and cooperative 
conservation agreements with landowners. His enthusiasm for the 
Collaboration for the Recovery of the Endangered Species Act and the 
Owyhee Initiative has been instrumental as I seek the support of others 
on these important land management policy initiatives. Steve also 
provided expert advice and recommendations with regard to Federal 
implementation of these initiatives. He served as an invaluable 
resource for considerations of wildlife habitat in designations in 
several State and Federal conservation programs. Steve has been a 
staunch supporter of my Elk Collaborative; he has worked closely with 
my staff on these and many other issues over the years. He led the 
charge to delist grizzly bears, restored confidence and trust with 
agricultural interests, and remained determined to keep me informed of 
his activities, ideas, and beliefs. Steve's strengths include a 
positive demeanor and clear and tough but fair and reasonable stance 
when he was called upon to defend his position and decisions.
  During his years at Fish and Game, Steve served as both Fisheries 
Bureau chief and Wildlife Bureau chief. He oversaw the agency during a 
time of constant and frequent change. State management of wolves, fee 
increases, access issues, conservation, and troubled agency 
relationships with sportspeople, farmers, and ranchers were some of the 
challenges that Steve met head-on, and today Idaho is better off with 
his years of leadership. Now, he will have the time to privately enjoy 
the fields, streams, and mountains of Idaho that he took such good care 
of over the years. The man who will be ``taking his grandkids fishing'' 
will be sorely missed, and his boots, hard to fill. I wish Steve 
health, success, and successful hunting and fishing, in his well-
deserved retirement.

                          ____________________