John retired from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after a 34-year career in wildlife management and research, where he authored or co-authored more than 40 technical and popular publications on white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and wild turkeys. Tom holds a B.S. degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Michigan., and has received the Award for Excellence in Research by WDNR Bureau of Research in 1987 and the Wisconsin Award in 1998 – the highest honor bestowed by The Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society.