The commission shall consist of three (3) to seven (7) members appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the city council, or by the town council, or by any authority designated in its city or town charter. The members of the commission shall be appointed for three (3) year terms, except the initial appointments of some of the members shall be for less than three (3) years to the end that the initial appointments shall be staggered and so that all subsequent vacancies shall not reoccur at the same time. In the event of a vacancy, interim appointments may be made by the appointing authority to complete the unexpired term of the position. Duly incorporated and existing wildlife, conservation, sportsmen’s, horticultural, or like organizations may present to the appointing authority a list of qualified citizens from which lists the appointing authority must select at least three (3) members of the commission and from which list the appointing authority may select the remainder.