New Mexico Wildlife magazine Conserving New Mexico's Wildlife for Future Generations
If it has to do with habitat and wildlife in the northwest part of the state, you can bet that Chuck Schultz, regional habitat biologist, will be involved. He has been in this line of work for over 27 years and has worked on habitat and with wildlife as a biologist and natural resource manager.
In an interview with New Mexico Wildlife, Schultz talked about the many different jobs and habitat projects that he has been involved with over the years and his passion for creating habitat that will support wildlife for years to come.
Banner: Chuck Schultz. Department photo by Alexa Henry. Inset: Schultz and an AmeriCorps volunteer plant trees as part of a habitat restoration project at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area. Department photo by Martin Perea.
?Tell us how you started with the Department.
I have been in the natural resource field at many different levels from mine reclamation to tribal land management. When I saw that an opportunity was available with Game and Fish, I thought it would be a great opportunity to work with habitat management for wildlife on a larger scale, benefiting many different types of wildlife across the state. ?What do you do in your free time?
I like to spend time with my family in the outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and playing music. ?How did you get involved with habitat management?
I have always had a passion for wildlife, habitat and the great outdoors. I have been in the natural resources field for almost 30 years. I started with non-profit organizations and worked my way up from there taking on jobs with tribal agencies, private industry, academia and into state government. ?What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being outdoors and working with the many types of habitat that support wildlife in New Mexico. There is nothing more gratifying than completing a habitat project and seeing wildlife move in and start to use it. I am always glad to see that what we do works. ?How does someone who wants to make the habitat on their private lands better for wildlife get a start?
The Department, and other government entities, aid private landowners who want to improve habitat on their lands for all types of wildlife. Private lands play an important role in wildlife management when it comes to habitat management in the state of New Mexico. Crossing fences with multiple landowners and land management agencies to make habitat better for wildlife is very important.
I have been in the natural resource field at many different levels from mine reclamation to tribal land management. When I saw that an opportunity was available with Game and Fish, I thought it would be a great opportunity to work with habitat management for wildlife on a larger scale, benefiting many different types of wildlife across the state. ?What do you do in your free time?
I like to spend time with my family in the outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and playing music. ?How did you get involved with habitat management?
I have always had a passion for wildlife, habitat and the great outdoors. I have been in the natural resources field for almost 30 years. I started with non-profit organizations and worked my way up from there taking on jobs with tribal agencies, private industry, academia and into state government. ?What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being outdoors and working with the many types of habitat that support wildlife in New Mexico. There is nothing more gratifying than completing a habitat project and seeing wildlife move in and start to use it. I am always glad to see that what we do works. ?How does someone who wants to make the habitat on their private lands better for wildlife get a start?
The Department, and other government entities, aid private landowners who want to improve habitat on their lands for all types of wildlife. Private lands play an important role in wildlife management when it comes to habitat management in the state of New Mexico. Crossing fences with multiple landowners and land management agencies to make habitat better for wildlife is very important.
