Butler County has a new conservation agent to replace Caleb Pryor, who left for Livingston County after two years in Poplar Bluff.
Mark Skelton now joins veteran Frank Campa as the second agent for the county.
Skelton is a 2015 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Martin with a degree in natural resources management, including a fisheries concentration.
Skelton, a native of Hohenwald, Tenn., graduated from the Department of Conservation's agent training class on Oct. 4 and has been working with a field training agent until last week, when his training was complete.
"I always wanted to be a game warden," said Skelton, who grew up fishing with his dad and an uncle. He essentially taught himself to hunt, with a little guidance from a sixth-grade science teacher.
"Duck hunting is my favorite," he said, "but I hunt pretty much everything."
Skelton also enjoys all forms of fishing, though bass fishing is his favorite. In fact, he competed on his college bass fishing team.
Applying for a conservation agent job in Missouri, Skelton said, was an easy decision.
"My fiancé has family in Springfield and wanted to move back to Missouri," he said. "The application came open, and here I am."
So far, Skelton said, he's enjoying the job, especially the flexibility of setting his own schedule.
"The challenge," he said, "is managing my time and trying to figure out where my efforts are best applied."
The daily barrage of telephone calls also has taken some time adjusting to, he said.
Skelton enjoys the different aspects of the outdoors which Southeast Missouri offers, and said he's adjusting well.
"The variety here has been fantastic," he said, noting he spends a lot of time driving around to learn the county as best as he can.
"Every day is something new and exciting," he said, "and I look forward to going to work every day."
Skelton can be reached at 573-300-3693 or by email at mark.skelton@mdc.mo.gov.