Paul Dalke was a wildlife management professor at the University of Idaho in the School of Forestry. He also worked with the rangeland management department, as well as the forest management department at the university. He comes from Missouri, where he worked at the Missouri Conservation Department, researching the wild turkey. He is a forester with a PhD degree in wildlife management from the University of Michigan. Paul Dalke also worked as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist.

Professor Paul Dalke was the first unit leader of the Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. During his time as unit leader, Dr. Dalke and his students assessed the effectiveness of different Fish and Game Department programs. They studied the big game salting program in the Selway River Regions. Dr. Dalke emphasized wilderness research. He and his students were conducting early research in the Chamberlain Basin, when they discovered the Taylor Ranch. Paul Dalke played a very important role in helping the University of Idaho acquire the Taylor Ranch. The ranch later became the keystone of the Wilderness Research Center.

Professor Paul Dalke was a well-established wildlife researcher and played a large role in the development of the natural resource programs at the University of Idaho.