The DNR announced Monday it has hired Adam Murkowski as the new big game manager for Minnesota's deer, elk and moose populations:

The DNR release said:
Murkowski worked in a similar position, deer project leader, in Vermont from 2012 to 2015. Since March 2015, he worked for the Wisconsin DNR as assistant deer, bear and wolf ecologist in Madison.

"Adam is passionate about deer and deer hunting, and I think he is particularly well suited to our big game job because of his strong interest in big game and his professional experience," said Steve Merchant, DNR wildlife populations program manager.

The primary responsibilities of the big game program leader are to manage deer and elk populations and harvest seasons, and to work with groups and individuals interested in big game management to address the expectations of a diverse public.

Murkowski was born and raised in Wisconsin, where he attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and received a bachelor's of science degree in wildlife management and ecology. He also has a master's degree in forest resources (with a wildlife emphasis) from the University of Arkansas-Monticello where he worked on bear, deer, and elk research. He has held temporary jobs working on deer projects in North Carolina and Colorado.

He replaces Leslie McInenly, who left the big game program leader position in October when she was promoted to the DNR wildlife section's forest habitat team supervisor.