Robert Boyles, praised for his steady, professional touch as director of South Carolina’s wildlife agency, is stepping down after three decades of government service and five years as department chief.
The Department of Natural Resources made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon in a news release. Boyles won’t leave the DNR until January 2025 and the agency said it will soon begin a search for his replacement.
Boyles, 56, declined an interview request to explain why he was retiring, but in the DNR’s release, he thanked department officials, state lawmakers and Gov. Henry McMaster for their support.
“Serving as SC DNR director has been the honor of my professional life, and I recognize that any success I have enjoyed is the result of the passion, vision and commitment that our staff and our partners bring to the realm of natural resources stewardship every day,” Boyles said. “I’d like to offer my profound thanks to Gov. McMaster, the SC DNR Board, the members of the S.C. General Assembly, and our conservation partners throughout South Carolina for their devotion to natural resources conservation throughout our wonderful state.”
DNR board chairman Norman Pulliam told The State that Boyles is not leaving because of any problems within the agency, but he said the pressure of the job is substantial and Boyles felt it was time to retire.
“It’s a stressful job, it really is,’’ Pulliam said. “It will wear you out.’’
The DNR board recently met with Boyles for an annual review. Pulliam said that is a routine meeting held each year.
One of the toughest parts of running the DNR, say those familiar with the agency, is working with the Legislature on hunting and fishing rules changes. Unlike many states, the South Carolina Legislature approves bag limits for game species, and lawmakers have many opinions on what those limits should be.
Both Pulliam and McMaster praised Boyles’ leadership at the agency. Boyles, a soft-spoken Mt. Pleasant resident, became director in 2019 . His salary is $187,000, according to the DNR.
“Director Boyles has been a consummate professional and key member of my cabinet, providing steady leadership throughout his tenure,” according to a statement from McMaster. “Under his direction, DNR has thrived, making significant progress in protecting our state’s wildlife and natural resources. ‘’
But Boyles’ department has been involved in a number of contentious issues that drew criticism. Among those was the agency’s oversight of the coastal horseshoe crab harvest, which critics said was too loose for such an important wildlife species.
The agency also raised eyebrows when staff members questioned the environmental impact of the high-profile Scout Motors project near Blythewood, as well as their support for a proposal to offset the wetlands loss. Staff questions about the project came at a time when state and local economic development officials were pushing hard to get the project going. The agency staff’s questions stirred discussion in a 2023 DNR board meeting, when the politically appointed board said it supported the Scout project.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is South Carolina’s primary agency overseeing hunting and fishing. It also has a marine resources division in Charleston and a climate section in the Columbia office, as well as a law enforcement division. The agency has 1,119 employees and operates on a total budget of $172 million, including state and federal sources.
Some of Boyles’ biggest accomplishments were helping to make sure major land acquisitions took place. The DNR has focused efforts for years on acquiring habitat for wildlife, as well as natural areas for the public to visit. During his tenure, the department was involved in 37 land conservation projects, according to the state Conservation Bank.
One recent project involving the DNR, the Conservation Bank and non-profit natural resource organizations is an effort to protect the 7,600-acre Snow’s Island and surrounding land along the Great Pee Dee River. The agency also was involved in the substantial expansion of the Congaree Creek preserve in Cayce during Boyles’ time at the DNR.
Boyles began working at the DNR as an hourly employee in 1992 and rose through the ranks, eventually taking the top job at the agency. For 16 years, he served as the department’s marine resources director. He took over as director following the retirement of the affable Alvin Taylor, a former agency law enforcement director, who was sometimes criticized for being too conciliatory.
Pulliam told The State the next DNR director must, like Boyles, be able to navigate pressure from the Legislature.
“SCDNR is a well-managed organization, and director Boyles has laid impressive groundwork to ensure it remains a premier state agency for years to come,’’ Pulliam said in the news release. “As we begin the process for selecting a new director, I’m sure he will be available any way he can to help us choose another capable leader.”
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