Idaho Fish & Game Commissioner Mark Doerr of Twin Falls has joined commission Chairman Will Naillon in announcing he won’t reapply for his post – and criticizing state legislators for meddling in the management of fish and wildlife in Idaho, the Lewiston Tribune reports. “We serve at the pleasure of the governor,” Doerr told Tribune reporter Eric Barker, “and if he wanted to reappoint me, he would do that.”

Otter surprised many when he announced he was taking applications for the two commission posts, and that the commissioners could reapply if they wished; normally, commissioners are either reappointed by the governor or not. Both Naillon and Doerr said they’re accepting Otter’s offer to serve on a panel that will select their replacements.

Doerr, in a statement, said legislation that was introduced this year by Senate Resources Chairman Steve Bair, R-Blackfoot, and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, that would have forced the commission to offer big game hunting tags for auction, is at the heart of the dispute. The bill never got a hearing; Idaho sportsmen have strongly opposed moves to make it easier for wealthy individuals to get coveted big game tags and to allow large landowners to sell hunting tags.

“After several meetings with legislative leadership, it became abundantly clear that they wanted the commission to do their dirty work for them by changing commission policy,” Doerr said in his statement. “The commission did not change policy due to the overwhelming input of the sportsmen of Idaho to maintain the current policy. The legislators were not happy and it is unfortunate their influence impacted the governor’s decision on commission reappointments.”

He added, “The personal, political and financial gain offered by special interests must be intoxicating for those in leadership in the Idaho Legislature, because they continually ignore the will of the majority of their constituents, in this case, the sportsmen of Idaho.” Barker’s full story, which ran in Saturday’s Tribune, is online here.