SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural (WVDNR) resources has named Steven Rauch as its new assistant chief of Game Management. Rauch replaces Gary Foster, who retired in October 2021.

“We are excited to have Steve Rauch join our management team,” said Paul Johansen, chief of the WV Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section. “Steve is a talented wildlife professional and he brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership to our game management program.”

Rauch has more than 32 years of game management experience with the WVDNR. Before his appointment, he served as the district game biologist for WVDNR District 1, which covers a 12-county area in northern West Virginia. He began his career with the WVDNR as a wildlife manager in 1990.

Rauch holds both bachelor of science and master of science degrees from West Virginia University. His major field of study was wildlife and fisheries resources. Rauch also is a Wildlife Society certified wildlife biologist. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting and fishing.

About WVDNR’s Game Management Unit – The Game Management unit oversees a variety of programs related to wild game in West Virginia. It manages 96 wildlife management areas where outdoorsmen and women hunt and fish. This unit surveys and researches big game populations in West Virginia, including white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, wild boar and elk, which was reintroduced in southern West Virginia in 2016.

Game Management also coordinates the wildlife damage and nuisance wildlife program, which licenses private businesses to take and dispose of nuisance wildlife. Additionally, Game Management works with other state, federal and international organizations and agencies to resolve common challenges related to wild game.