Best way to get in contact with Wildlife Biologists?

topher89

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I am thinking about picking up a whitetail only tag in Eastern Colorado. I already have a tag for the mountains but my uncle has a plains rifle tag out east and I thought it would be fun to join in on that hunt and have a second deer tag. As far as I can tell, there are whitetails in the unit but they are a little farther south than the property we hunt.

I want to call and talk to some CPW employee in the area but other than the general office number, I wasn't quite sure the best way I can reach them.

Any tips and tricks to having a productive conversation with the CPW officers and bios?

Thanks!
 

fngTony

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Start by calling the closest cpw office. Ask to speak directly to the senior officer or biologist. Then play phone tag. That worked for us last year. Be patient for a response they are busy.

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Have a directed inquiry when you do reach someone and leave a message.
"Hey biologist, this is billy Bob and I was wanted to know where to kill the biggest buck in your unit" will rarely get a response.
"Hey biologist after studying maps and talking with a few others I was wondering if we could discuss whether deer ridge or elk meadow would best meet my goals" will get you a lot further.
 

fngTony

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Two great points ^^^^. We left our phone number and email, leaving it open for their convenience.

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It could take a while for them to get back to you so when they finally do be ready. Have specific questions. I have had them call me back on Saturday afternoon while I was shopping. Didn't expect a weekend response. The CO people I have tried to talk with have all been great. The last 2 years in AZ I have not even gotten a response. Not impressed with AZ.
 

Vargasm

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Can't say about Colorado but I work for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and talking to new hunters about where to go is one of our favorite parts of the job. I would just call the main office and ask if anyone there could tell you more about the hunt. I'm sure they would love to talk hunting with you.
 

pwsINC

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Best odds to are calling April, may very early June. I usually call right after winter kill surveys are done... they seem to be most open to discussing wildlife with a bit separation from season..... in my experience

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It could take a while for them to get back to you so when they finally do be ready. Have specific questions. I have had them call me back on Saturday afternoon while I was shopping. Didn't expect a weekend response.

I have experienced the same thing. Definitely be ready, I kept all my questions/checklist on my notes app on my phone so I'd be sure not to forget to ask anything. BTW, I had great communication and talked with a Utah biologist on 3 different occasions last year.
 

vanish

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topher89 - Not directly related to your question but my wife hunted one of the C tags for doe whitetails last year. If you wind up hunting the same areas I might be able to give you some of what we found. Are you hunting north, central or southern?
 

TheTone

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Have a directed inquiry when you do reach someone and leave a message.
"Hey biologist, this is billy Bob and I was wanted to know where to kill the biggest buck in your unit" will rarely get a response.
"Hey biologist after studying maps and talking with a few others I was wondering if we could discuss whether deer ridge or elk meadow would best meet my goals" will get you a lot further.

Really good advice. Any bio worth a crap isn't going to be hot spotting an area to every person they talk to, but should give honest answers to direct questions.
 
OP
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topher89

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topher89 - Not directly related to your question but my wife hunted one of the C tags for doe whitetails last year. If you wind up hunting the same areas I might be able to give you some of what we found. Are you hunting north, central or southern?

I didn't realize there were C tags. The doe tag I am looking at it a B so I can have it along with the other tag I already pulled.

I am looking in the Southeast. The guys I hunt with all drew deer tags for the area and this would allow me to tag along.
 
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topher89

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Thanks for all the great advice so far!

I have never called before, it is reasonable to hope the Bio or Warden may point me in the right direction for some private land access? I want a whitetail only doe tag in an agricultural area and am hoping that there is some farmer/farmers out there who would let a guy thin out the herd on their land.

Do you think a bio/warden would help point me in the right direction for some private land access?
 

TheTone

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Thanks for all the great advice so far!

I have never called before, it is reasonable to hope the Bio or Warden may point me in the right direction for some private land access? I want a whitetail only doe tag in an agricultural area and am hoping that there is some farmer/farmers out there who would let a guy thin out the herd on their land.

Do you think a bio/warden would help point me in the right direction for some private land access?

They might, especially with a doe tag. I don't know the area at all, but if they are dealing with agricultural damage in the area they will probably have a good idea of what landowners allow access and have "too many" deer. Often some of those issues can vary from year to year so might be a good idea to see what they say now, as well as ask about a follow up call later as the season gets closer and they get a better feel as to who has complaints.
 
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topher89

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They might, especially with a doe tag. I don't know the area at all, but if they are dealing with agricultural damage in the area they will probably have a good idea of what landowners allow access and have "too many" deer. Often some of those issues can vary from year to year so might be a good idea to see what they say now, as well as ask about a follow up call later as the season gets closer and they get a better feel as to who has complaints.

Great. That is what I am hoping.

The CPW Hunting Atlas has also been helpful. The place that we antelope hunt is 2 miles north of what the map shows as a "Whitetail Concentration" area. It has helped me narrow down doors I will try to knock on this summer.
 

bbell

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When my wife and I drew a cow hunt that was comprised mostly of private land I called the fish and game office to see if there were any farmers/ranchers that had elk complaints. Got a list with about 10 ranches on it. We got permission for about 5 of the ranches. Helps when it is your wife's first elk hunt and 7 months pregnant as well. Worth a shot to call and ask.
Brandon
 

Beendare

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Many years ago I was in the Durango F&G office squaring away my CC certificate [they no longer use those] and while waiting I heard last minute phone call after phone call get directed to 'missionary ridge". Pretty convincing too. An example of what NOT to do.

Good advice to know a bit about the area first. My first question is usually what TH's/areas see the most hunting pressure.
 
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Many years ago I was in the Durango F&G office squaring away my CC certificate [they no longer use those] and while waiting I heard last minute phone call after phone call get directed to 'missionary ridge". Pretty convincing too. An example of what NOT to do.

Good advice to know a bit about the area first. My first question is usually what TH's/areas see the most hunting pressure.
I bet!
Good question, I like it.
 
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