Opinions/Suggestions Please

Recently I made the decision to work towards a Wildlife biology degree. Since they are still trying to put me together I pretty much have my next two years deployment free before I get out. Now my reasoning behind this is of course so I have a better chance at a job that I care about when I get discharged.
So my questions are these. Is it going to be worth getting into that line of work to fight for us as sportsman or is it going to just be a dead end job because I don't neccesarily go with the flow?
The reason I ask is because the military definatly didn't turn out like I thought it would and it has actually hurt me carreer wise to stand up for what I beleive was right. Do you think this is the case with state Wildlife agencies? Just some thoughts thanks in advance for your comments.
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pram-z
Let me start out saying THANK YOU for your service to our country =D> and I too do not go with the flow, and I'm know it has held me back job-wise, but I wouldn't change a thing. I think there are lots of guy's out there who wish they had a pair, and could stand-up for what they believe, but don't. It's not always about getting to the top but doing what you enjoy, kinda like hunting. I guess I would appreciate someone like you out helping us out. Go with your heart, and again, Thank You and all who serve. :thumb
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I started college to pursue a career in wildlife mangement and saw what it was like and got out and went into machining. My closest fiend didn't. He even got a postgraduate degree. He was blackballed for publishing a study that didn't turn out as his superiors had hoped and wanted to bury. He then went to work as a carpenter's apprentice and eventually became a contractor. My advice is to make up your mind to be a "team player" or get a job as a carpenter right now.
Mark
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NONYA
Judging by my experience with our local bios,most of them have a general anti hunter agenda,do whatever they can to eliminate the hunter from the picture,getting into it with the hunter in mind is a great plan but you may find its not at all about the hunter. :-k
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Springville Shooter
Ay my prior place of employment I hired a couple of guys fresh out of college with degrees in wildlife management to track a couple of fishers that were living on some of our forest land. When I went to get their salaries assigned, I was suprised at the low -ball wages offered by my company. They said that the wages were based on what biologists for the state and federal govt made. Trust me, they sucked. Try about $32,000. I would say to only pursue this line of work if you really want to work with wildlife.....and make sure your wife has a good job. Too much BS for me, got out of the business. Work for the railroad for money, follow animals around on my own time.--------shooter
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Any block of completed college education will put you ahead in todays job market. As for biology I know a couple of people ( 1 male 1female) that do pretty well consulting on pond and small lake stocking and maintinance. Controlled burns, and several military bases that allow hunting contract biologists to do herd counts and studies on certian species of birds and things like that. Most states employement offices have all the federal state jobs and pay scales posted that would be the place to start your research. As someone posted you may not get rich but if thats the kinda thing you like do it. Don,t let the downer DEBBIES discouredge you. SON OF A CARPENTER.
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Springville Shooter
I would like to respectfully disagree with Maintguy. While I do encourage education, I would disagree that any block of education will put you ahead in todays job market. Ten years ago, yes, but not today, and not in the near future in my opinion. I know alot of people with various degrees of education that are simply unable to find any type of viable employment in their field of study. Trust me, I used to hire them as summer help at my last job. Even people with graduate degrees applied for summer biologist/botanist jobs every year. My advise is to so ALOT of research and planning before commiting to just any program of education. Look for a field that interests you that provides good employment prospects after graduation and get as much real world work experience as you can while you are in school. In my experience, college is not as valuable for the education you get as it is for the contacts you make as you work on projects and take internships with companies that recruit in your field. This has been the key to my success in the field of telecommunications as well as my wifes in her field of accounting. Just my two cents. Wish you the best. --------shooter
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