The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council) has named Chuck Sykes as its new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2025. With decades of experience in wildlife management, conservation, and hunter education, Sykes brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the role.

“Chuck Sykes is exactly the right person, at the right point in time, to take the Council to the next level,” said Mark Tisa, Ph.D., Chair of the Council’s Board. “Chuck’s passion for hunting, shooting, and the outdoors embodies this Council’s mission.”

Sykes has served as the Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources since December 2012. A lifelong conservationist, he has been deeply engaged in hunting, fishing, and wildlife management from an early age in his home state of Alabama. His extensive field experience, combined with his formal education, has shaped a career dedicated to advancing responsible natural resource stewardship.

A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Wildlife Biology, Sykes founded a full-service natural resource consulting firm in 1999, managing hundreds of thousands of acres nationwide. In 2001, he launched “The Management Advantage,” a pioneering television program on the Outdoor Channel that focused on wildlife management and habitat restoration. The show aired for 11 years, educating landowners and the public on sustainable conservation practices.

“It’s an honor to be named Executive Director of the Council. The organization provides important leadership and training for Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) professionals, playing a vital role in protecting the future of hunting and the shooting sports, and I’m proud to help carry that mission forward.” said Sykes. “I’ve spent my life working to conserve wildlife and pass along our hunting and recreational shooting heritage, and I look forward to working with partners across the country to strengthen that legacy for generations to come.”

Sykes has been a leader in promoting hunting participation and firearm education, spearheading programs such as the Alabama Adult Mentored Hunting Program, the Go Fish Alabama Program, and Firearms 101 Courses. His commitment to preserving America’s hunting heritage and fostering new generations of hunters aligns with the Council’s mission to protect and advance hunting and shooting sports.

In addition to his extensive conservation work, Sykes has held numerous leadership positions within the industry, including serving as Past President and current Executive Committee member of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Past President and current Executive Committee member of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Past Chair of the Alabama Natural Resources Council, Past Civilian Co-chair of the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS), and AFWA representative to the International Hunter Education Association. Notably, he also previously served as Chair of the Council, bringing a deep understanding of the organization’s goals and initiatives.

“I’ve watched the Council grow under the leadership of past executive directors over the past decade,” said Sykes. “John Frampton guided the organization through some tough early years, and Dr. Leath helped secure stable funding and took the R3 community to new heights. I certainly have big shoes to fill, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Succeeding Dr. Steven Leath, Sykes takes the helm of a Council that has grown stronger, more visible, and more capable of advancing its mission to support the future of hunting and shooting sports under Leath’s four years of dedicated leadership and forward-thinking guidance.

The Council looks forward to Sykes’ leadership as it continues to advocate for wildlife conservation, hunting participation, and shooting sports.

For more information about the Council, visit www.cahss.org.