Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife traces back to 1830 when wardens were first appointed by the Governor to enforce the moose and deer laws enacted that year. Two Commissioners of Fisheries were appointed in 1867. In 1880, the Commissioners were assigned responsibility for also enforcing game laws, and in 1895, their title was changed to Commissioners of Inland Fisheries and Game. The two Commissioners were later replaced by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Game in 1917. Divisions were added as the Department responsibilities expanded, e.g. Warden Service Aviation in 1937; Wildlife Division in 1938; Fisheries Division in 1951; Information and Education in 1955; Program Development and Coordination in 1968; Snowmobile Registration in 1969; Realty in 1970; and Watercraft Registration and Safety in 1974.

Effective October 1, 1975, the Department was renamed the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In 1984, the Department was reorganized into the following: Bureau of Administrative Services, Bureau of Resource Management, Bureau of Warden Service, and Office of the Commissioner.

In 2006, a statewide reorganization created the Natural Resource Service Center and the Office of Information Technology. In 2009 the Bureau of Administrative Services became the Division of Licensing, Registration and Engineering in 2009.