Kind of weird to think but it is high time I have the beginnings of plan in place for retirement. Dependent upon how things go I am done in as little as 6 years but no more than 10. Everything goes as planned I’ll be working because I want to. So part time will likely be the case for me. I’ll be 42-46 based upon when I call it a day.
This career has been quite enjoyable, granted it got pretty rough for a couple years, but has bounced back and hopefully it stays that way for my duration. But it will be time for something different.
I love the outdoors, I love fishing, hunting, wildlife, and I want my boys to enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer and many generations after them. I’d like to do my part to help.
I am not sure I really want to go full out top shelf Wildlife Biologist being I just want a part time gig I am good with being the helper shall we say.
Of course this means going back to school for me which I don’t take issue with. I am just not sure the best path to take being that I work full time. Do I start with the biology basics at the community college level and then get a BS in Wildlife Managment with an emphasis in Game Management or Conservation from the decent sized local University. Do I do a full online program from one of the bigger Universities?
I have a Criminal Justice degree so that really does not help me at all.
I know I have some time but would like to turn my zero documentable experience into some true experience so I would like to spend the next few years furthering my education and volunteering in the field.
As much as I would like to move to a costal area upon retirement it is not going to happen and thankfully Kentucky has a ton to offer for wildlife management. We have arguably the most successful black bear and elk reintroduction programs there are.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has started a new program (yes it is a fund raising campaign I understand but believe in the cause so I am all good with that) called Kentucky Wild. You donate money to Fish and Wildlife and you get the opportunity to work along side the biologists.
So I figure this is a good place to start

https://app.fw.ky.gov/kywild/

Just looking for some suggestions on the best way to get started educationally and in the field.
Any private groups like Ducks Unlimited or U.S. Fish & Wildlife I should be looking to as well as the state Fish & Wildlife?

with a criminal justice degree you should consider conservation officer, it would be full time but heck...your young enough and no one says you can’t retire again in 10 years with a small pension.
I know a lot of CO’s....they hate the biologists because they are pretty much idiots, come up with stupid unenforceable plans for the LE to try and enforce...there is a big riff between those two in this State and I can only assume it’s similiar elsewhere. The CO’s are great, biologists...not so much

Can’t help much but I know in Texas there are more people with wildlife biology degrees than there are jobs. I also didn’t realize how difficult the work is for those degrees (memorizing all the different plants in addition to animal related knowledge). I hunt on Texas state land a few times a year so I know a couple wildlife biologists that work those areas, one who just got out of college and one who’s been one for 20 plus years. Why not find one around you and ask them?

I hate to tell you, but about the only degree as worthless as Anthropology is Wildlife Biology.

It's unfortunate, as those who go into it are as passionate as you are, but there just aren't any jobs out there that will come close to paying for your degree.

Given that you have a degree in Criminal Justice, I would suggest looking for work as a game warden. Around here they are considered law enforcement and it requires attending the LE academy, but it sure would be a great job IMO...best of both worlds. Truth be told, I've been looking at it myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
I hate to tell you, but about the only degree as worthless as Anthropology is Wildlife Biology.

It's unfortunate, as those who go into it are as passionate as you are, but there just aren't any jobs out there that will come close to paying for your degree.

Given that you have a degree in Criminal Justice, I would suggest looking for work as a game warden. Around here they are considered law enforcement and it requires attending the LE academy, but it sure would be a great job IMO...best of both worlds. Truth be told, I've been looking at it myself.

My Criminal Justice Degree is as about as worthless as they come.

My current employer will be paying for the degree. And this will be a retirement gig so the pay is of pretty much zero concern to me.
Not really looking to be a biologist more of the assistant. They call them Fish & Wildlife Technicians here. The local universities Wildlife Managment degree technically certified one as an associate wildlife biologist.

After this I am done with Law Enforcement. Wanted to be a game warden when I first started but my academy pay was 3 times what game wardens were making at the time.

I am not really looking for something that is going to make me much money.
Will have a pension and healthcare already. Any money made will be for fun or adding more to the 457.

Black, sending you an email...kinda hostile in here to be admitting that I'm a biologist...


s.

btw, I was involved in capturing the elk that Utah transfered to Kentucky to get their herd started.

I’m in the same boat as you, Black. I am pulling the plug at age 44 in less than 8 years. I’ll be done with LE and Corrections with the caveat of possible consulting as a private contractor, depending on how the last 8 years play out.

I too am contemplating what my post retirement gig will be.

Nothing else to add other than make sure it is something you enjoy. That’s pretty much my main measure going forward.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:


Nothing else to add other than make sure it is something you enjoy. That’s pretty much my main measure going forward.

Another reason I want to start doing a little now. Still gives me time if I change my mind. Hopefully this new Kentucky Wild program will be a decent start in volunteering and getting out in the field a bit to give me a better idea before I start towards a degree.

Look into forestry instead. They are connected at the hip and I think you could likely work as much or as little as you want as a timber consultant.

Why don’t you start by sitting down with a regional level director with KDFW, in other words someone in a leadership position with a good deal of experience in the Department. Listen to what he or she thinks about your goal. Then go over to the Natural Resources School at the university you’re considering and get a meeting with the Chair of the NRS school and see what you get out of that meeting. You mentioned that this career transition is several years down the road, often both KDFW and SRNR chairs see trends in those fields most, and less competitive. A similar meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Education for SRNR at Arizona changed the direction I was pointing toward in resource management.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Look into forestry instead. They are connected at the hip and I think you could likely work as much or as little as you want as a timber consultant.

Not a bad thought. I’ll start perusing the National Forest Service site. We have the Daniel Boone National Forest here. That is where I do most of my off-roading so maybe next time I run into some folks out there I’ll start up a conversation.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Why don’t you start by sitting down with a regional level director with KDFW, in other words someone in a leadership position with a good deal of experience in the Department. Listen to what he or she thinks about your goal. Then go over to the Natural Resources School at the university you’re considering and get a meeting with the Chair of the NRS school and see what you get out of that meeting. You mentioned that this career transition is several years down the road, often both KDFW and SRNR chairs see trends in those fields most, and less competitive. A similar meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Education for SRNR at Arizona changed the direction I was pointing toward in resource management.

Sounds like a good idea. Hope to link up with the local game warden that works the area where my cabin is as I have shitbird taking a bunch of fish from my pond. Maybe he’ll have a good contact for me.