Tim Van Deelen receives Jim McDonough Award

Timothy Van Deelen, a long-serving TWS member and renowned researcher, has received the Jim McDonough Award for his many contributions to the wildlife profession.

For over 25 years, Van Deelen has led research on wildlife ecology, population dynamics, harvest management and survey methods for multiple species, including deer, wolves and bears. His research has primarily been focused in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, but he has worked throughout the U.S., Africa, Asia and beyond.

During his research career, Van Deelen has connected with a variety of audiences, from hunters to policymakers, to wildlife advocates. His colleagues have compared his passion and convictions about wildlife to those of Aldo Leopold. A self-proclaimed “deer nerd,” Van Deelen worked as a wildlife scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, focusing primarily on deer ecology and management. He also worked at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, where he became a leader in the state’s efforts to manage chronic wasting disease. 

He has authored and co-authored around 105 peer-reviewed journal publications, six book chapters, 25 other publications on wildlife ecology, and co-edited the book, “Recovery of Gray Wolves in the Great Lakes Region of the United States.”

Van Deelen has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 19 years. In 2016, he was promoted to full professor within the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology. Van Deelen has been a mentor to dozens of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Many of his students have since landed roles with state wildlife agencies, colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to his work with graduate students, Van Deelen continues his varied wildlife research at the university, including studies on bobcats (Lynx rufus), badgers (Taxidea taxus), sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis), moose (Alces alces), flying squirrels (Pteromyini) and more.

A TWS member since the early 1990s, Van Deelen has been active in the Wisconsin and Illinois chapters, as well as the international organization. He was part of the Program Committee for the 12th annual TWS conference in 2005, and has been on the committee for Technical Review of Ungulate Management in Natural Parks, as well as a frequent reviewer for The Journal of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Society Bulletin. He served as the president for the Illinois Chapter in 1999-2000, the Wisconsin Chapter in 2004-2005, and acted as a faculty advisor for student chapters at both the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin. Van Deelen also served two three-year terms on TWS’ Certification Review Board (CRB) between 2012 and 2018.

Van Deelen will be presented with the Jim McDonough award at the 2024 Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.