Local News

Carlini begins new chapter with Game Commission

By Mary Haley

For the Mirror

David A. Carlini was named director of the southcentral region of the Pennsylvania Game Commission in mid-February. His office is in Huntingdon. He got the job when former regional director Bradley Myers retired.

Carlini recently participated in a question and answer session with Mary Haley, who does freelance articles for the Mirror.

Mirror: How did you come to work for the Game Commission?

Carlini: I was always interested in being a game warden, even as a young boy. I grew up in Brockway where the original training school for Game Commission officers originated. (Ross Leffler School of Conservation).

I became a deputy with the agency at 21 years of age and worked in that position for eight years until I was accepted into the Game Commis­sion's training school/academy in 1993. I graduated and was assigned to a district in Clearfield County where I was a field officer for 18 years.

I took a promotion to the northcentral region office as the information and education supervisor, which I held for 3.5 years. I then transferred to another supervisor position in the same office (conservation administration supervisor), which I held for eight years until I was promoted to my current position in February of this year as the southcentral region director.

Mirror: Have you always been interested in the outdoors and hunting? Conservation and the environment play key roles in your work also. Have they been long-term interests?

Carlini: Yes, I have always had a strong desire to hunt, trap and fish and for the outdoors in general. In my current position as southcentral region director, I will have the ability to oversee large scale habitat work projects on our game lands and that work improves the environment for everyone. I also have game wardens working for me, and these dedicated officers are out protecting our wildlife and environment every day.

Mirror: You have made the Game Commission your career. Can you talk about some things you'd like to highlight from your career so far?

Carlini: I have served the sportsmen and sportswomen of Pennsylvania for over 33 years to date and will continue to serve for several more years. It is my honor and privilege to do so. In my current position I will be able to oversee the southcentral region's overall operations and look forward to working for the hunters and trappers of this region.

Mirror: Are there aspects of the Game Commission that are overlooked (or unknown) by the general public and/or that the public has misconceptions about?

Carlini: The one area that comes to mind is our state game lands. These lands are owned and managed by the Game Commission for wildlife and for hunters and trappers to use for their sport. A lot of the public doesn't understand that these lands are purchased by hunters through the purchase of mainly hunting licenses.

They get confused with state forest lands or state parks managed by the state Department of Conserva­tion and Natural Resources. The state game lands are purchased and managed for wildlife and hunters. Many people use the state game lands for other recreation, but that is not their intended purpose and I think that message gets lost by the public in general.

Mirror: What is your position on chronic wasting disease, and how should it be dealt with responsibly?

Carlini: I am a hunter, and most of the people that work for the Game Com­mis­­sion are hunters, which is what drew them to work for this agency. I know for me, that certainly is the case.

So, when a disease hits that affects hunting, we, as hunters, have the same feelings and emotions as all hunters do, but we also have the responsibility to make decisions that we feel are in the best interests of hunters and the deer.

There are a lot of opinions out there as to what should be done, and some don't like what we have been doing to date, but we must use the best information that we have to do the right thing for our sport and the deer. We can't af­ford to be wrong, so we will again use the best science and information available to make the best decisions to slow the spread of CWD, and we will be open and honest with the sportsmen and women and non-hunting public moving forward.

Mirror: How much input should hunters have in working out a solution to the problem?

Carlini: The sportsmen and women are our customers, and we will always listen to hear opinions on any subject. But at the end of the day, we must use the best science and information we have to make the best decision we can for everyone.

Mirror: Do you have any comment about the Game Commission's reported $72 million surplus in the game fund? This kind of disclosure does make it difficult for the public to trust state agencies and public officials doesn't it?

Carlini: I certainly do have a comment and I appreciate the opportunity. If what was being reported in the press was true re­gard­ing the Game Com­mis­sion's reserve fund, then I would agree, but what has been reported by the media in regard to the reserve funds has been misleading. An audit is designed to find areas where improvement can be made, which the Game Commission welcomes. The audit found that the Game Commission did nothing wrong, no illegal activity or mismanagement of funds. The Game Com­mis­sion's reserve account has never been hidden from hunters or the public. We publish our balance every year on our website and in the Game News, the agen­cy's monthly publication.

Mirror: Is there anything that you'd like to add?

Carlini: I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the Game Commission and some of its challenges facing the agency. The Game Commission is made up of many dedicated and hard-working people that care about our wild places and wildlife and it is my distinct honor to be the director of the southcentral region and working with these people to enhance our mission.

The Carlini file

Name: David A. Carlini

Career: All jobs held have been with Pennsylvania Game Commission: deputy game warden, eight years; game warden, 18 years; information and education supervisor, 3.5 years; conservation administration supervisor, five years; currently southcentral region director.

Education: Ross Leffler School of Conservation, Pennsylvania Game Commission Academy, 2018 Graduate of National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs and Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy

Hometown: Lock Haven

Family: Wife, Carol, married 34 years; daughter, Madison