The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) recently selected Wes Abler as the new Regional Supervisor for the Region VI Game Management Office, headquartered in Fitzgerald. He fills the position that was left vacant by Tip Hon, who recently retired. Region VI encompasses 32 counties in the southeastern part of the state, excluding the Coastal area.

“Wes Abler brings more than 26 years of experience to his new position,” says WRD Game Management Chief Bill Fletcher. “I think he will be very comfortable and very successful in assuming this position and will continue to serve the people of the Region and of the State in an exceptional manner.”

A WRD Game Management Regional Supervisor must be able to perform several duties. These include: supervising regional personnel; administering the budget; directing the management, planning and use of wildlife management areas (WMA) in their jurisdiction; working with the Assistant Chief on regional research and surveys; providing regional information and educational programs and contributing to the development of laws and hunting regulations applicable to their area.

Wes Abler has worked for WRD since 1976. He began his career as a Regional Coordinator for the Outdoor Education Program, where he helped coordinate programs over a 25 county area. In 1978, he was promoted to Wildlife Biologist where he helped develop management programs for wildlife management areas and other public lands, provided technical assistance to the public, made recommendations on regulation and law changes, identified needs, designed plans and participated in wildlife, habitat and plan research and surveys. In 1990, he was promoted to Senior Wildlife Biologist, where he served as the Assistant Regional Supervisor and continued to perform duties as a wildlife biologist.

For more information, contact the Region VI WRD Game Management Office at (229) 426-5267. For more information on WRD, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

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