The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Mourns the Death of Congressman Don Young

Last week the conservation community lost a fierce champion of fish and wildlife conservation.  Congressman Don Young was the longest-serving member of the current Congress and an influential advocate for conservation policy.  Young served the Congress since 1973 and was serving his 25th term and 49th year as Alaska’s only Member of the United States House of Representatives. 

Don Young was known as an avid outdoorsman, hunter, angler, and trapper who worked to ensure that future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen have the same outdoor opportunities that he enjoyed during his life. Young was one of the earliest voices for dedicated and permanent funding so that state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies have the resources they need to recover and proactively conserve at-risk species. He led efforts to secure funding for states and tribes through the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, Migratory Bird Join Ventures, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, Multinational Species Conservation Fund, and Wallop-Breaux reauthorization. In 2012, Young was a recipient of the Association’s Teaming With Wildlife Award. In addition, in December 2021, he voted in the House Natural Resources Committee to advance Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, as amended. 

“We have lost one of the greats,” stated Tony Wasley, Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Congressman Young was a true conservation hero and a leading champion for wildlife conservation.  We send our heartfelt condolences to the Young family.”

“Congressman Young will be remembered for his decades of service to the people of Alaska and for his leadership in fish and wildlife conservation. I have fond memories of working with him on conservation funding opportunities,” said Executive Director Ron Regan.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies—the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies—promotes sound resource management and conservation, and speaks on important fish and wildlife issues. Found on the web at www.fishwildlife.org, on Facebook / AssociationofFishandWildlifeAgencies and on Twitter @fishwildlife.