Joshua W.D. Coursey

Joshua W.D. Coursey joins the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following 13 years as Founder and President/CEO of the Muley Fanatic Foundation (MFF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of mule deer and their habitat. Under his leadership, MFF evolved from a grassroots initiative into a nationally recognized conservation force, with active chapters in seven states, members in all 50 states, and more than 700 Life Members.

Throughout his tenure, Coursey oversaw a wide range of impactful initiatives. These included directing funding toward cutting-edge mule deer research, launching the first MFF Fellow program in partnership with the University of Wyoming, and drafting legislation that led to the creation of the Wyoming Wildlife Conservation license plate. MFF’s efforts under his guidance also generated more than $12 million for conservation easements, wildlife crossings, and large-scale habitat restoration projects. The organization’s “Putting the ‘U’ in Hunt” program provided meaningful hunting experiences for over 100 youth facing terminal or life-threatening illnesses.

Coursey’s leadership earned him a respected voice in broader wildlife and hunting policy efforts. He co-chaired the state’s Chronic Wasting Disease Working Group in 2020, has served on the Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition since 2017, and was a member of Governor Gordon’s Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce from 2021 to 2023. His service also includes roles on the Bureau of Land Management’s Resource Advisory Council, the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan Taskforce, and the 2024 Wyoming State Shooting Complex Taskforce. In 2023, he launched the Wild Things & Wild Places podcast, producing 97 weekly episodes before stepping into his new role with the Service.

A proud Wyoming native, Coursey graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1992 before serving in the U.S. Army as a Photojournalist. He later completed the Colorado Peace Officers Academy and earned an Associate of Science from Western Wyoming Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. He is also a graduate of Leadership Wyoming.