Any professional game biologists here?

[mcw3734]

There has been a fair number of threads here discussing turkey biology, research and management actions by state agencies. One can hear it on podcasts and with YouTubers as well. Being that we are the premier turkey nerd site, it has me wondering if we have any professional wildlife biologists, especially those working for state fish & wildlife agencies, who are here on Old Gobbler?

Besides getting a sense how many, I'm curious to know what their thoughts are as they read some of these discussions.

Also, speak up if you're a wildlife bio graduate student or university professor.

Full disclosure: I'm not fish & game, but I am with a federal land management agency here in the west.

[Wigsplitter]

I've often wondered this as well - maybe some lurkers out there will speak up if they are in this field - we would like to hear your thoughts!!

[Brew-Ho]

I hold a degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Haywood Community College and I am a nationally registered wildlife technician.  I worked primarily on the private side of wildlife management. I was the land manager of a 14,000 conservation in the mountains of Western North Carolina 5 years before changing careers after I got married. I wrote my senior Management thesis on early succession Ruffed grouse management and Turkey population decline in the southern Appalachians. I still consult/assist multiple private landowners with wildlife management on weekends and after work.

[deerhunt1988]

I know there is a few. A couple retired from their career. A couple still very active.

[cwb04]

I am a Certified Wildlife Biologist since 2004 and have been working in MS as a biologist for over 30 years (private organization).  Unfortunately, for the last 20 years I have been more of a government contractor working between our organization and NRCS on WRE as a wetlands biologist.  Deerhunt1998 and I have actually been involved in a few of the same deer scoring sessions over the years.

Where I live and do most of my work, turkey numbers are depressingly low and in many areas they are non-exitant unless you have access to batture land.  Where I cut my teeth turkey hunting, they haven't had an open turkey season for several years.  Still hunt several days a week, but it requires a 100 mile one way drive.       

[Wigsplitter]

Great to hear from you biologists guys!! Gives us another angle to look at things when we all get one sided on issues!!

[mcw3734]

Brew-Ho - thanks for speaking up. Don't suppose you have a link to that senior thesis paper? Probably in the school's library directory somewhere?

cwb04 - thanks to you as well. And guess what, I learned a new word today: batture. Sorry to hear about the bird numbers where you're at.

There's got to me more out there... would sure love to hear from y'all.

[Brew-Ho]

Yes Sir. I made myself a copy and had it printed and bound. I'm not sure about access through the school library as the wildlife department was ran as a seperate entity. I can email it to you if you would like to check it out.

[aclawrence]

Wow driving 100 miles one way to hunt would be tough and expensive. I'm grateful that I don't have to drive quiet that far.


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[GobbleNut]

I suppose I am what one would refer to as a "non-professional" wildlife manager/biologist/scientist.  I have a degree in wildlife management but have never worked professionally in the field.  After graduating (1973), I just chose to go another direction as a career while still being involved in wild turkey management both in my own state and, to some degree, at the national level.  Based on that involvement, a more accurate description for me would probably be "an 'unpaid' professional wildlife biologist".   

I have just always kept a keen interest in wildlife management and with a special interest in wild turkeys.  Now, looking way back to that time when I graduated, I often regret not having pursued a career in wildlife.  As they say,..."hindsight is 20/20",...even if you are blind at the time.   

[mcw3734]

Yes Sir. I made myself a copy and had it printed and bound. I'm not sure about access through the school library as the wildlife department was ran as a seperate entity. I can email it to you if you would like to check it out.

PM sent

[nebgoosehunter]

Degree in Range Ecology/Wildlife Management.  In college and first year out of college I worked for our state agency as a wildlife tech.  Being that it took several years to be promoted to a wildlife biologist and me being newly married I took a full time job more in the agriculture field.  It has been a good job, but I do miss the wildlife side of things.