WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- If you're one of those critics who always has a better idea for running Washington's Fish and Wildlife Department, here's your chance.

The $139,000-a -year top position will be open at the end of the year as WDFW Director Phil Anderson retires.

Andy Walgamott of Northwest Sportsman puts the job into perspective:

Think you can handle managing all the fish and wildlife in Washington — not to mention the folks passionate about every single last critter, their legislators, plus deal with federal and tribal issues, manage 1,600 employees and a million acres, all without breaking down and running off to Paraguay with the $376 million annually budgeted to your agency?

The job is serious and complex, Walgamott points out, quoting Tony Floor of the Northwest Marine Trade Association:

“While the job carries a certain amount of prestige, it is thankless and controversial. Every decision the director makes brings a silent nod of approval from those who benefit from the decision, but more importantly, triggers a tsunami of manure from those who do not,” writes Floor, a former salmon program manager and agency spokesman.

"It’s hard to know if Washington will get a new director as flat-out dedicated to the job as Anderson," Walgamott says. "But should you feel you’re up to snuff, here’s a link to the job posting."