Shikar-Safari Club International names Division of Wildlife Officer of the Year

The Shikar-Safari Club International named ODNR Wildlife Officer Supervisor Mike Miller as their Wildlife Officer of the Year. The award was presented at the Ohio Wildlife Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Wildlife District One office in Columbus. The award was presented by Mr. Tony Gioffre representing the Shikar-Safari Club International and by ODNR Division of Wildlife Chief Scott Zody.

The Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Each year the club sponsors an award for the wildlife officer of the year in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and the territories of bothnations. In 1966, the Shikar-Safari International Foundation was formed to support various wildlife conservation projects with funds raised by club members.

Chief Zody said, "It is an honor to help present this award to Wildlife Officer Supervisor Mike Miller. Mike started his career as a Division of Watercraft Officer before transferring to Wildlife. He has previously served in Knox and Franklin Counties prior to his promotion to Wildlife Officer Supervisor. He volunteered to a temporary duty assignment in southwest Ohio to support that district with some additional requirements. He was promoted to District 1 Wildlife Officer Supervisor. Mike has informed us he is transferring back to Watercraft where he will serve as Assistant Chief for Field Operation. I can't think of a more appropriate send-off for him. We look forward to a long continuing partnership once he is at Watercraft."

Shikar-Safari Club International representative Tony Gioffre added, "The Wildlife Officer of the Year is very special for us and a great program to honor our officers. Shikar-Safari International has a number of programs in support of conservation and wildlife. We have worked with Kentucky on their elk re-introduction program and similar efforts across the United States. We also sponsor scholarship programs for wildlife officer education. Congratulation to Mike Miller for his selection as our Wildlife Officer of the Year. We extend our best wishes as you move to new challenges in your job at the Division of Watercraft."

Miller, who was rather emotional when accepting the award, noted, "Unless you work here you do not understand how passionate and wonderful it is to be part of the Division of Wildlife. It's one of the few jobs in life that can get people choked up when leaving. Working here has been a very special place for me."

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Foundation and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award, the 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year and the 2010 National Wild Turkey Federation/ Women in the Outdoors Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.