Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bowwild on August 30, 2010, 08:01:00 PM
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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?
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Currently Im working for the IDNR...raising pheasants for controlled hunts. very interesting to see 40,000 pheasants at one time.
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I'm a fish biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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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.
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Bowwild should write a book...I know I would buy it. :D
Thanks for all your efforts everyone.
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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)...
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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.
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I work for Maryland D.N.R. as the Coldwater Hatcheries Manager.
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I'm a Wildlife Officer in Tennessee.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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
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Work as a fisheries research biologist for the Alaska Dept of Fish and Game. Started in 1984 as a college intern.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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....
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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.
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Jonsi,
One more thing. I cannot forget to report that because Prayer is number one on my list, I owe everything to Him.
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Was a temp tech for a short while with North Carolina WRC.
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Bowwild
I cover what now is district 11. It is east central Indiana. I replaced Ed Guljas when he retired. He would have had a couple years in by the time you left for greener pastures.
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I knew Ed very well! A fine Christian fellow who could save you a fortune if you simply followed his buying habits -- I never met a more frugal, honest man.
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I am a fish biologist in southeast Kansas.
Roy give me the where, when and what for your Kansas stint??
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Bluegill,
Region Supervisor, Parks & Public Lands, Valley Center (now Wichita) office. I was there from 1989-1992. Loved it -- especially the fantastic fishing! People don't realize that Kansas is one of the finest crappie fishing states in the country! It seems as if every year (I preferred winter) 1-3 of the reservoirs were producing boatloads of 15+" specs.
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Utah Division of Wildlife Resources...it will be 20 years in December, much of it in fisheries management. Currently a working as a Habitat Restoration Biologist; rebuild blown out rivers and attempt to acquire sportsman's access on private land, oh, and other duties as assigned...
S.
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Roy,
I joined up in 1995 and have been here ever since. The crappie keep on getting on.
Sean
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Well Roy if you knew Ed you knew John Russell too. I have his old district now. Let me know if you have any dirt on them. I like to raz both of them whenever I get the chance.
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I was a game warden for 15 years in Washington and Wyoming, then for a family reason changed to a habitat biologist with Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife. All total, will be 27 years the end of this month. I miss the warden position in Wyoming most, but have done a lot of neat things over the years. I was into trad bowhunting for a couple years in the mid 90's till I hurt my shoulder dragging a moose out of the river to see if it was poached. Just got back into it since last Christmas and am looking forward to hunting this weekend ( archery deer just opened today!)
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John Russell!
I grew up in Richmond, IN - John was over my county. John is one of the funniest and smartest people I know. He used to be (?) a fanatic about motorcycles. He and Jim New (my mentor) were great cycle buddies - both retired. Jim and I were the bowhunters in the group.
A picture of him washing his motorcycle with a waterhose made the rounds. The hose was beside the far leg and you couldn't see it. All you could see was a mighty powerful stream of water coming from near Jim's waist hosing down the BMW Bike.
Sorry folks, I didn't realize this thread would bring up such terrific folks and great memories!
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Conservation officer in MO
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John is still riding. Just doesn't take the long distance trips anymore.
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i worked a s fish tech for AK DF&G for quite a few years.... worked for chinook907 for a while, as a matter of fact.