The next director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife should value conservation and have experience in science-based policy, according to the results of a recent public survey.

The agency conducted the survey as part of the process to select a new director, after Roy Elicker resigned from the position in September to take a job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ODFW released the results of the unscientific survey on Tuesday.

Other qualities people selected as most important for the next director were strategic and visionary leadership on fish and wildlife management, and the experience to communicate “high profile, complex and potentially controversial subject matter” in a way that is transparent and encourages public trust.

Nearly 2,400 people participated in the online survey, which asked people to rank by importance a list of characteristics and experiences the state might look for in job candidates. ODFW asked participants if they identified with any particular interest group, and approximately 26 percent of the 2,000 people that answered the question said they were hunters. Roughly 13 percent of people identified themselves as anglers, 12 percent described themselves generally as members of the public, 10 percent said they were ODFW employees and 8 percent were from conservation organizations.

The agency is accepting applications for the job and although administrator Roger Fuhrman did not know how many people had applied as of Tuesday, he said the total number of applicants will be available after the Dec. 5 application deadline. The ODFW director reports to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which will make the final hiring decision.

After Dec. 5, the state will begin a vetting process that includes interviews with a Department of Administrative Services executive recruiter and screening panel, meetings with Gov. John Kitzhaber or a member of his staff and an opportunity for the public to meet the candidates on Feb. 12. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to interview finalists for the job at a Feb. 13 meeting, and could decide at that point to offer the position to one of the candidates.

In the survey, ODFW also asked people to provide their own ideas on qualities that will be important in the next director. Many people said the director should be someone who hunts or fishes, while others said that person should concentrate more on conservation and the health of non-game species.

Some respondents said the new director should be ready to expand the agency’s focus beyond issues related to hunting and fishing. The numbers of hunters and anglers in Oregon declined over the past 30 years, and revenue from hunting and fishing licenses no longer keeps pace with inflation and other cost increases, according to an ODFW budget document from August. In ODFW’s 2015 biennium budget request, the agency asked the governor for $13.4 million in general fund and other state money, to cover expenses ODFW historically paid for with license revenue.

“It is important that the director be able to also bring the non-hunting and fishing community into the fold,” one respondent said. “Once included it is important that the director help those that do and don’t hunt and fish both understand the important role of responsible consumptive and non-consumptive uses of natural resources for both commerce and recreation.”