8149

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8149
• Author: Phenicie, C. K. and J. R. Lyons.
• Title: Tactical Planning in Fish and Wildlife Management and Research.
• USFW Year: 1973.
• Copyright Material: NO

TACTICAL PLANNING IN
FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH

Charles K. Pheniciel
John R. Lyons

Federal Aid Division
U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
Twin Cities, Minnesota

ABSTRACT

Planning to identify needs and procedures is a pre-
requisite to rapid progress in fish and wildlife management
and research. Logical reasoning applied to a precise
problem statement to identify and state clear tactical ob-
jectives and testable hypotheses is essential for problem
solution. The identification and proper statement of
tactical objectives is facilitated by use of a step-down
plan. In six steps this plan identifies appropriate
activities for scheduling and management control and iso-
lates the needs for experimental design by research.

INTRODUCTION

If we don't clearly define objectives and plan wisely
in advance on meeting them, we are not likely to succeed
very well. This has always been a problem of Federal and
State agencies. It is perhaps most comfortable to stay in
a rut, but if progress is to be made, there must be advanced
and wise planning. "Without vision the people perish" is as
true of fish and game departments as it was of ancient
Israel! (Cottam, 1966)

Planning is the selection and prearrangement of events for the pre-
dictable attainment of an objective. In driving, when we want to reach a
specific destination at a particular time, we use a road map to determine
our route and departure time. The development of a travel itinerary is the
selection and prearrangement of events for a predictable arrival at a
selected destination. Fish and wildlife biologists routinely develop
carefully planned travel itineraries.

IPresent address: U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.

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