Wildlife Agency Trad Gangers?

[Bowwild]

From time to time it seems in a post that the writer has insider insight regarding the ticking of a fish & wildlife agency.  I'm retired from four such agenices;IN, KS, MO, and KY. Sometimes I frusrated my peers because I considered my self a bowhunter/biologist rather than a biologist/bowhunter --  priorties and perspective.  Are there any other "DNR" folks (retired or current) among the fine traditional folks here?

[pintail_drake2004]

Currently Im working for the IDNR...raising pheasants for controlled hunts. very interesting to see 40,000 pheasants at one time.

[jsweka]

I'm a fish biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

[Glenn29]

I work for Florida Division of Forestry as a Forest Technician doing FIA research plots. Pay stinks, benefits are great, and I get to see alot of pretty woods and nasty swamps.

[Bonebuster]

Bowwild should write a book...I know I would buy it.  :D  

Thanks for all your efforts everyone.

[Sarah]

Used to be, temporarily. Worked in Maine for the USFWS for a few months as a Biological Aide, and in Iowa for the DNR doing similar work with wetlands and trapping birds and amphibians. Loved every minute of it and miss those jobs dearly!

- actually, it was because of the IDNR job that I got into trad archery in the first place (the guys I lived with shot compounds and I was more interested in shooting traditional and ended up meeting the local chief of police who showed me the ropes)...

[Roughcountry]

I've worked as a tech. for the  Dept of Fish and Wildlife on a temp basis for several years. In the past I've set my own schedule and used it as a very enjoyable break from building saddles and being couped up in the shop. I've worked as a habitat tech and a damage tech.
For the last four years I've spent about four months every winter hunting and trapping lions for the dept. Nice time to be in the high country.

[marshall brown]

I work for Maryland D.N.R. as the Coldwater Hatcheries Manager.

[knobbymag]

I'm a Wildlife Officer in Tennessee.

[Bowwild]

Excellent! I knew there were several traditional archers imbedded in the wildlife agencies.  

I remember one time hearing a Wildlife Commissioner (like a board member) complain about bowhunters being too demanding and watchful of the regulatory process. I politely reminded the fellow that bowhunters are among the most avid of all hunters.  Bowhunters spend more time, on average hunting, and they are far less likely to skip a hunting season. I also pointed out that the state bowhunting group, while not very numerous, was always ready to go to bat for conservation and the agency when called upon.

Of course I also recognize that some of the traditional folks are "way out there".  I mean, gee whiz some of you guys use bows without the least hint of curve on the limb tips, four feathers with no index vane, and broadheads heavier than I can curl! LOL!

[Turkey-duke]

I'm with VA Dept of Game.  I work as a district wildlife biologist.  Get to do a lot of fun rewarding work.  There are few days that I really hate to go to work.  Pay ain't all that great but the job is fun enough to make it worthwhile.

[smoke1953]

I was a natural resource and forestry major from UW- Madison some 35 yrs ago and worked with the DNR on a regular basis as a county level land manager for my entire career.

[OkKeith]

Let's see... Field Tech. w/ US Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Specialist w/ the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Wetlands Specialist w/ the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Regional Information and Education Specialist w/ the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, District Manager of a county conservation district.

Now a Park Manager with the Oklahoma State Parks system. I have been a Trad Archer through it all.

OkKeith

[chinook907]

Work as a fisheries research biologist for the Alaska Dept of Fish and Game.  Started in 1984 as a college intern.

[House]

I've been a fisheries biologist in Cali and Idaho for the past 5 years working primarily with Green Sturgeon, and Salmonids.  Currently (and for the forseeable future) in Northern Idaho working with salmon and steelhead.

Travis

[meathead]

I am a district wildlife biologist for Indiana fish and wildlife.  I have the bowhunter/biologist label on me too, but in my defense I have only worked for IDNR for about 13 years and have been a bowhunter for about 25.  Nate

[jonsimoneau]

I wish some of you guys could help me get a job with one of the agencies!  I studied wildlife biology in college, and then I got an M.B.A.  I've never been able to get in anywhere.  How did you guys do it? I've just about given up on it.  Trouble is, I know I would be great at the job...I just need somebody to give me a chance.

[meathead]

It is a rough one.  It was 4 years for me after college before I started working.  And then I was on the bottom rung of the ladder and have had to work my up.

[mississippidave]

I'm a wildlife biologist for the Us Forest Service.  Spent alot more time in the woods when i was a tech!  Now most of my day job is at a computer and my recreation is in the woods....

[Bowwild]

Meathead,
What district is yours? I was DB for District #1 (NW Indiana) from 1979-185 -- then on to Patoka Lake, Kansas, Missouri, and ended the career here in KY. I was IN's B.O.Y. in 1984.

I come back every bow season to hunt near Attica with my best friend who lives in Lafayette.

Jonsi,
Wildlife and Forestry are tough jobs to land. When I was graduating (Purdue-77) the expectation was that 1 in 3 would land jobs and in wildlife it was worse at 1 in 5.  The keys:
1.Prayer
2. Be willing to move to the job. I moved through 7 positions during my career.
3. Be willing to start low, bug the dung out of who ever is doing the hiring.
4.Then, when you get a job try to be the best there has ever been at it so the promotions will line up - and so you'll end a career feeling great that you made a difference.