Idaho Fish and Game Commission and SE Idaho conservation officer recognized at recent WAFWA award ceremony

At the recent Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) summer conference in Stevenson, Washington, both the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and an Idaho Fish and Game officer from southeast Idaho received awards for their outstanding service and dedication to Idaho’s wildlife resource.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission was recognized as WAFWA’s Commission of the Year for 2024, and Southeast Regional Investigator Cody Allen received the Pogue-Elms Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award. 

Commission of the Year Award

Considering that there were commissions from 24 states and several Canadian provinces being considered for the Commission of the Year award, it is an incredible honor for Idaho’s Fish and Game Commission to be recognized in such a big way.

“This award was such a surprise—definitely did not see this coming,” says Southeast Region Fish and Game Commissioner Jordan Cheirrett who was at the WAFWA meeting where the award was announced.  Cheirrett who resides in Soda Springs is one of the seven commissioners appointed by Idaho’s governor to administer the fish and game policy of the state.

According to WAFWA, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission was selected for this award in part for its “exceptional oversight and guidance through challenging wildlife management issues in 2023 and recent years.  They’ve been required to make policy decisions on several complex and high-stake issues including chronic wasting disease, salmon and steelhead management, and wolf management.”

It was also in 2023 when Idaho had its first detection of quagga mussels in the Snake River, prompting an immediate response from the commission to close hunting, fishing, and trapping in certain places in order to facilitate treatment and prevent spread to other waters.

WAFWA also touted the Fish and Game Commission’s “extraordinary commitment to serve, a passion for fish and wildlife, and a willingness to listen and learn from each other, the public, and staff. Civility and professionalism characterize the Commission. Every member is well informed and interested in wildlife conservation and restoration.”

The Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners serving during the 2023 time period for which the award was conferred were:

• Ron Davies of Clayton, Commission Chairman, representing the Salmon Region
• Dave Bobbitt of Coeur d’ Alene, representing the Panhandle Region
• Don Ebert of Weippe, representing the Clearwater Region
• Tim Murphy of Boise, representing the Southwest Region
• Greg Cameron of Rupert, representing the Magic Valley Region
• Jordon Cheirrett of Soda Springs, representing the Southeast Region
• Derick Attebury of Idaho Falls, representing the Upper Snake Region, who after serving the maximum of two terms has been recently replaced by Brody Harshbarger of Ashton.

“We do have a great group of commissioners who work together to ask the tough questions in order to get to the right answers,” Cheirrett added. “And, Idaho Fish and Game has been top notch-- setting us up to succeed in our efforts.  We work as a team with them and the sportsmen of Idaho, and together we will have a lasting effect on Idaho’s wildlife.”

When asked about how he feels serving on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, Cheirrett enthusiastically responded, “This is hands down the best thing I have ever done professionally.   My biggest reward is working with concerned sportsmen to resolve challenges. Sometimes we are successful, and that’s especially rewarding when that happens.” 

Pogue-Elms Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award

Cody Allen has worked as a conservation officer in Idaho Fish and Game’s Southeast Region for 12 years.  Since becoming the regional investigator in 2017, he has been an instrumental part of every major wildlife-related criminal investigation in southeast Idaho from doing initial undercover work to the filing of criminal charges.

The cases are often extensive, complicated investigations involving many search warrants, multiple felony indictments, misdemeanor charges, and sometimes coordination with other states’ wildlife agencies.

One recent noteworthy investigation he helped bring to completion was a multi-year, multi-state commercial wildlife trafficking case resulting in multiple felony charges and over one hundred thousand dollars in fines and restitution.

Allen is known for his outstanding investigative skills, specifically in regards to digital media.  His peers remark that his ability to collect evidence from cell phone data, social media sites, and computer storage is second to none, and he is largely regarded as the state subject matter expert on cell phone investigations.  He is also known for his willingness to work collaboratively with conservation officers in the Southeast Region as well as other regions when his special skills are needed.

Graduating from Utah State University in Logan with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Science and an advanced degree in Watershed Science, Allen says he chose an enforcement career with Idaho Fish and Game because it combined his love of wildlife with a desire to be challenged in unique ways.

Allen says,“I always felt drawn to work with wildlife in some aspect.  I chose this career because it constantly offers new challenges and a high degree of variability.  Each day brings something different allowing me to adapt and keep my work exciting,” 

You could say that Allen got what he asked for.  It is no secret that the day in the life of a conservation officer is dynamic and unpredictable with no such thing as set “office hours”.  Wildlife emergencies and wildlife crimes can happen during the middle of the night, on holidays, in inconvenient locations, and during the most inclement weather conditions, often interrupting an officer’s downtime and family life.

“My family deserves a special thanks,” comments Allen. “My beautiful wife and kids are the motivation for everything I do.  They are all very patient with me, and they are my support system.”

The Pogue-Elms Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award honors Idaho Fish and Game officers Bill Pogue and Conley Elms who were killed in January 1981 while trying to arrest poacher Claude Dallas in the remote Owyhee River country of southwestern Idaho.  The WAFWA website says that this award acknowledges “contributions to fish and wildlife law enforcement; exceptional leadership, skill, or ingenuity in the performance of their duty; contributions to areas of applied technology in fish and wildlife enforcement; and/or contributions that brought credit to their agency or the field of fish and wildlife enforcement that were unique or original.”

“I am extremely honored to be selected for this award,” Allen says.  “The fact the award is named in the memory of Bill Pogue and Conley Elms is very humbling for me.  They gave their lives for wildlife conservation, and all game wardens are doing the work to protect that legacy."

More about WAFWA

Established in 1922, WAFWA and its supporting foundations, Foundation for Western Fish and Wildlife and Species Restoration Foundation, represents 24 states and Canadian provinces.  According to the association’s website, its goal is to “support sound resource management and build partnerships at all levels to conserve wildlife for the use and benefit of all citizens.”