This is the third post in a four-part series looking at Wildlife Management in Michigan from the perspectives of a Natural Resources Commissioner, Conservation Officer, and statewide Biologist. The last part of the series will look at how these positions overlap, work together and outline the regulatory aspects of deer management.
I want to thank Brent for setting some time aside to provide some responses for this blog series. What stood out to me the most was his response to my question about a time he went “above and beyond because you cared deeply about the outcome.” His response was, “It’s hard to think about an instance of going “above and beyond” in this field and with the committed colleagues and coworkers I have. Everyone cares tremendously about what they do and the resources we have the privilege to work to help conserve.” I think to add to his comment and maybe add some context from my experience as well, Brent isn’t saying he can’t think of a time when he or one of his colleagues went above and beyond at work, but what they do on a daily basis comes out of a place of deep investment and care for the resources they help steward. This reminded me that many Wildlife Division staff are in the positions they are in because they are passionate about the wild critters and their habitats here in Michigan.
Brent Rudolph, Ph.D., Deer, Elk, and Moose Management Specialist, DNR Wildlife Division
Tell us about your background. What experiences growing up influenced your desire to pursue the job you have now?
I grew up in a suburban metro area looking for every way I could find to spend time outdoors. I had a great high school biology teacher who provided opportunities to see what research in that field was like. The opportunity to do field research and use it to help make better decisions about the wildlife and natural resources I appreciated so much is what drew me to pursue college and grad school experiences in wildlife, and eventually a whole career on that path.
What is your role in wildlife management policy and regulations?
As the deer, elk, and moose management specialist with Michigan DNR, my biggest role that would be familiar to most people is coordinating the development of the Department’s recommendations for deer and elk hunting regulations, and then working through the Natural Resources Commission process through which they establish the bulk of those regulations. I’m involved with a lot of other policy decisions and public communications about hunting seasons and our other efforts to manage and monitor those populations.
What is something you wish hunters understood about your role?
Particularly when it comes to deer regulations, hunters often believe that a specific regulation or combination of “tweaks” can have a big impact on deer harvest and the future course of the deer population, but that’s typically not the case. Highly restrictive regulations, like dramatically shortening or closing seasons or substantially reducing license availability, can certainly have a big impact, but the more typical types of modern regulatory changes have far less impact on the outcomes and consequences our hunting seasons than the collective decisions of about 600,000 licensed deer hunters. My belief is there are other things that could benefit from our attention – collaborating on habitat improvement, improving communications about deer and deer management between the DNR, the hunters, and the public at large , etc. – if we could free up some of the time invested in constantly deliberating regulations.
Can you share a time when you went above and beyond because you cared deeply about the outcome?
It’s hard to think about an instance of going “above and beyond” in this field and with the committed colleagues and coworkers I have. Everyone cares tremendously about what they do and the resources we have the privilege to work to help conserve. Maybe one thing I sacrifice based on the demands of my specific position is giving up the opportunity to enjoy my own deer hunting more. There are a lot of time demands and distractions that keep me from being in the mindset and having the amount of time I like to commit to travel to and hunt deer in my favorite places.
What part of your job gives you the greatest sense of accomplishment?
I’m proud of having put in a lot of time and served in a few different roles (research, management, and a combination of the two) in support of deer, elk, and moose management in Michigan. These are iconic species anywhere, but definitely a big part of what many Michiganders value about our state.
How do you stay engaged and continue learning in your field?
I was very proud of my prior work and service with the Michigan DNR in similar roles to what I do now, but a while back I had a chance to make a shift and work on a national scope in the non-profit conservation sector. Those roles focused on conservation and management of habitat, government affairs efforts, and building partnerships, especially with the corporate sector. Those were all tremendous learning experiences, but I came to miss the agency work I used to do, and wanted to focus again on my home state, so I was very fortunate to return to Michigan DNR after 8 years away. Now I get to build on my prior experience here while learning about many things that changed during my time away!
Read Part 4 here.
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