Gov. Butch Otter has issued this statement on today's appointment of Virgil Moore as Idaho's new Fish & Game director, replacing the retiring Cal Groen:

“I want to thank Cal Groen for the outstanding job he did as director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game over the past four years. He set a high standard within the department for collaborating with a broad base of stakeholders on fish and wildlife resource issues and their impacts on Idaho’s economy. Virgil has some big shoes to fill. But given his long experience at the department, I believe he can ably handle these new responsibilities. I look forward to working with him.”