Chapter V - Block Management Efficiency 



one on one contact with landowners. Many also commented that the 

 contract work decreases the ability to complete their field work, such 

 as survey and inventory of game populations which is used to 

 determine harvest quotas. Regional management structured the 

 program in these regions so biologists and wardens are involved and 

 would have landowner contact. 



Role of the Block 

 Management Coordinators 

 Could Be More Efficient 



Based on comments and observations made during the audit we are 

 not sure biologists and wardens are aware of all the nuances of the 

 Block Management Program. In one example, we asked biologists 

 and wardens if they recommended rest days to landowners. Rest 

 days entail curtailing hunting on the BMA for a few days each week 

 to allow the animals to hopefully come back into the area. 

 Responses ranged from "suggesting to all landowners they put some 

 limit on the area" to the staff who "would not enroll a landowner 

 that wanted rest days because the landowner would not be providing 

 the hunting opportunity." Overall, our observations suggest that a 

 block management process as used in Region 2 provides a more 

 efficient approach. It allows for consistency in negotiation and 

 renewal. It maintains the warden and biologist contacts as part of 

 their overall roles in enforcement and wildlife management, leaving 

 the administration of block management to the coordinator. Having 

 the Block Management Coordinator be the primary contact person 

 for negotiating new and renewal contracts, as is done in Region 2, 

 leads to more consistency in the region and in the program. 



Summary 



Having biologists and wardens negotiate contracts leads to 

 inconsistencies in information given the landowners. These 

 biologists and wardens are then also responsible for the 

 administration of the contract process. If the Block Management 

 Coordinator in each region is the only person responsible for 

 contract administration, all landowners in the region should be 

 provided the same information. The biologists and wardens are still 

 responsible for maintaining contact with the landowners to determine 

 the status of the resource (wildlife and habitat). 



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