CLAREMONT, N.H. (AP) – The man tapped to temporarily lead the New Hampshire Fish and Game director is a longtime hunter and former dairy farmer from Claremont.

Don Clarke was named acting Fish and Game was named acting executive director of the state’s wildlife agency last week. He’ll hold the job until the state Fish and Game Commission names a permanent replacement for Lee Perry, who retired last week.

Clarke, 73, served as the Sullivan County Fish and Game commissioner from 1999 to 2006.

He’s also the former owner of what once was New Hampshire’s largest dairy farm, the 1,000-acre Sugar Vale, in Claremont.

Clarke jokes that running the $26 million state agency will likely curtail his hunting activities. He said he wants to enhance the quality of life in New Hampshire and hunting opportunities in the state.

—

Information from: Lebanon Valley News, http://www.vnews.com

AP-ES-08-19-07 1630EDT