Brad Ballard

Wildlife Resources Division Mission: to conserve, enhance and promote Georgia’s fish and wildlife resources and outdoor heritage through science-driven research, management, regulation, and education. The Game Management Section (GM) manages one million acres of land in 90 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) for hunting, fishing, wildlife enhancement, bird watching, hiking, camping and conservation education. GM conducts research and surveys to monitor hunter harvest, wildlife populations and habitat. These efforts support setting regulations and other management activities. GM also provides technical assistance to landowners, private organizations and governmental agencies. The Fisheries Management Section (FM) manages 500,000 acres of lakes, 12,000 miles of warm water streams and 4,000 miles of trout streams to provide high quality sport fishing. FM surveys fish populations to determine sound management approaches and set regulations. FM also constructs and maintains public boat ramps and fish attractors, investigates pollution and fish kills, assesses environmental reviews, provides technical assistance to environmental agencies, operates fish hatcheries and Public Fishing Areas. The Nongame Conservation Section (NCS) conserves and protects nongame wildlife and plants and their habitats through public education, research and management. NCS conducts research and surveys on a wide variety of nongame wildlife, identifies critical habitats and implements species and habitat restoration programs. NCS encourages the appreciation and enjoyment of observing wildlife, catalogues and distributes information on occurrences of rare plants, animals and natural communities, participates in cooperative habitat management with private and corporate landowners and leads WRD conservation education efforts.