A two-stage method is used to page a target mobile station. A wireless network transmits an initial page message into a plurality of wireless coverage areas (e.g., the wireless coverage areas defined by a paging zone) that includes the target mobile station's last reported location. The initial page message is received by a plurality of mobile stations, which then transmit a plurality of responses. The plurality of responses includes a target response from the target mobile station. The wireless network determines the target wireless coverage area that received the target response and then transmits a supplemental page message into the target wireless coverage area. The initial page message may be a very short message, such as a page indicator, that does not identify the target mobile station. The supplemental page message may be a longer message that identifies the target mobile station and the reason for the page.