Sellers honored ast top conservation officer

Local Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officer Bob Sellers has won the Conservation Officer of the Year award.

Idaho Fish and Game has selected Mountain Home Senior Conservation Officer Bob Sellers as one of two officers to win its Conservation Officer of the Year Award for 2004.

District Conservation Officer Bill London said that: "Bob is the epitome of a field naturalist. He knows every bear, bird, bush, and bug in his patrol area."

London said Sellers has protected Idaho's wildlife through "active enforcement efforts, vigilant patrol, tenacious investigations, and through professional comment on Fish and Game season setting, public lands grazing management and wrong-class license investigations for 26 years.

"Bob Sellers is the 'eye' in the hills and forests of his patrol area. Bob teams up with state and federal enforcement officers and biologists, military personnel, landowners and private sportsman's groups to effectively preserve, protect and perpetuate Idaho's wildlife."

Sellers coordinates his enforcement efforts with the department's fish and wildlife management goals, London noted. The department manages for trophy deer and trout in parts of Seller's area.

"To let these animals grow to trophy size Bob utilizes both preventative and investigative techniques. His preventative efforts are evident in the heavy signing and uniformed patrols of the trophy fisheries along the South Fork of the Boise River," London said.

The infamous "Turkey Day Deer Case" in which a trophy mule deer buck was shot during a late archery season illustrates Sellers' investigative tenacity, London said.

Bob interviewed the witness, hiked to the kill scene, and collected evidence. Then he worked with Fish and Game communications personnel on press releases requesting public assistance to identify of the poachers. He coordinated with Citizens Against Poaching to increase the reward for information on this case.

The media attention and increased reward enticed someone to turn in a name. Months later, with the assistance of other COs, Sellers located the poacher's ATV and they found a small amount of dried blood under the vehicle cowling. The Fish and Game wildlife lab DNA analysis matched the blood to the poached deer's gut pile. Bob then worked with the Attorney General's office and the Elmore County prosecutor's office to convict the poacher.

In all, Sellers worked three years to investigate and prosecute the case.

"Sellers' knowledge of wildlife and their habitats is impressive," London said.

"He knows the land, the critters and who affects them, whether it is private, state or federal lands.

"Bob has always been concerned with habitat issues, primarily proper grazing regimes.

"Bob provides the 'field eyes' for IDFG, the BLM and state lands," London added.

"Bob has taken a particular interest in grazing allotments that not only provide critical big game wintering range, but also house mountain quail and redband trout. Bob is involved in the BLM process for grazing plans and he gives valuable comment on state lands grazing leases. Bob has worked extensively with the Forest Service to improve their road closure signage and compliance patrols. Sportsmen and wildlife have both been better off because of Bob's efforts."

Sellers is part of the Mountain Home community. He is present at fishing clinics and Hunter Education classes. He works alongside with ranchers on depredations and trespass problems.

By working with Mountain Home Air Force Base, Sellers has been able to integrate Fish and Game laws into the orientation class attended by all new airmen.

"He has consistently, year in and year out, worked for the wildlife and the citizens of Idaho," London said. "Whether it involves a trophy deer, a rainbow trout, an overgrazed streambed or ATV abuse Bob Sellers has been in the field working and wildlife has been better for that."

Caldwell area officer Brian Marek shared the award.