Wargo appointed to FWP Region 1 Commission

This spring, Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Ian Wargo of Kalispell to be the new Montana Fish and Wildlife Commissioner for Region 1 (northwest Montana). 

A lifelong resident of the Flathead Valley, Wargo graduated from Columbia Falls High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Montana State University. 

He currently serves as a Project Manager in the Airports Group at Robert Peccia and Associates, where he oversees infrastructure projects that support aviation and community development across the region.

With a strong passion for Montana’s natural heritage and wildlife, Wargo has been actively involved with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. He has had the privilege of serving on the FWP Elk Management Citizen Advisory Group, the Mule Deer Citizen Advisory Council and the Region 1 Citizen Advisory Council.

Q: What inspired you to become a Montana Fish and Wildlife Commissioner?  

Wargo: At 39 years old, I have been fortunate to experience Montana during what I believe was its near peak in hunting and fishing opportunities. However, I have recently witnessed a concerning decline in the quality of the outdoor experience available to the average Montanan. 

This is why I applied for a seat on the commission — I wanted to do what I could to ensure that my children, and all future Montanans, inherit a state with abundant wildlife and quality access to the outdoors.

Q: Can you share a personal experience with Montana’s outdoors that shaped your passion for fish and wildlife conservation?  

Wargo: I can’t point to a single experience in the Montana outdoors that sparked my passion for fish and wildlife conservation. Instead, it’s something that grew naturally from being fortunate enough to grow up in this incredible state — at a time when opportunity felt more abundant than it does today. I recognize that things change and that some aspects of the past can’t be reclaimed. 

But I firmly believe that, no matter where we’re at, things can always be better. My passion for conservation comes from that desire — to see a future with more abundant wildlife, healthier habitats, and the kind of outdoor opportunities that shaped my own life.

Q: What unique skills or perspectives do you bring to the commission?

Wargo: Beyond my passion for the outdoors, my professional background in civil engineering has equipped me with the analytical skills necessary to interpret and assess the complex data and the management plans and regulations presented to the commission. 

I am detail-oriented, solution-driven, and accustomed to making decisions based on facts, science, and stakeholder input. I intend to bring this same disciplined, thoughtful approach to my service on the commission.

Q: What’s your favorite Montana species to fish, hunt or observe, and why?   

Wargo: This one is easy for me — my favorite species to pursue is high-country mule deer. I’ve always had a deep admiration for the animal itself, but what I love most is the pursuit and the places it takes me. Mule deer live in some of the most rugged and spectacular terrain Montana has to offer, and chasing them is a challenge unlike anything else I have experienced. Most days don’t end in a harvest, but every day spent in that kind of country is a success in its own right — because there’s always an adventure to be had, and something new to learn.

Q: How can the public best engage with you and the commission to share their concerns or ideas?

Wargo: In my view, the most important thing for the public to understand is that the commission is often the final step in the decision-making process. By the time a proposal reaches us, many of the core details are already in place — the “cake is already baked,” so to speak — and public input at that stage may only influence the “frosting.” 

If you’d rather have pie than cake, it’s essential to get involved earlier, during the department’s scoping and development phases. That’s when your voice can have the greatest impact.

 As for engaging with me directly, email is a great way to connect — it allows me to respond during gaps in my schedule. If you’d prefer a phone conversation, the best approach is to send a text and we can set up a time to talk, as I may not always have my commission phone on hand.

CommissionerRegion1@mtfwp.org
406-438-1714