Waterfowl Jobs

[Richnkwack]

Are there a good amount of opportunities available to get a job in the waterfowl industry whether it be for a call company,being a sales rep., etc.? I'll be going to college next year, so I'm starting to think about my career, and I've gotta find a job where my boss won't mind some time in the woods!

-Mark Wood

[Max4Gooser]

Become a fireman, Last year I worked 90 days and Made 70 grand, not to bad.

[Chris Jones]

As far as waterfowl industry occupations. It is difficult to get started. For the bigger companies that are going to pay well it takes time to get in with them.Most of the guys that have a career in the industry have started out in some facet of retail (buyers,associates,etc.)

If I had to recommend a career, I would recommend getting into water or wastewater.Once you have completed the training and getr the certifications required.Its pretty easy to go to work for a muncipality or rural water district. You get plenty of vacation, all the benefits you could ask for, and good pay. The best thing about getting into this water world is the job is always needed and you can transfer anywhere.
GOOD LUCK!

[Alex Langbell]

I agree with Max4, become a firefighter. During this hunting season, I was able to stack all my vacation days and I worked 6 days in the last 3 months (and still got my full salary) plus you drive around in the coolest ride in town.

[ January 16, 2006, 10:53 PM: Message edited by: Alex Langbell ]

[Mike Bard]

I can tell you that you don't want to work in the corporate world, as vacation is limited, you are at a desk all day and most people I work around frown on hunting...but I'm working on them.

Several of my buddies work in union jobs and they seem to get a lot of vacation, so that's another option. Firemen do get a lot of vacation or days off, given their whacky work schedules... very rewarding job I imigine as well.

There seems to be a good number of biologist jobs through DU, Delta, the DEC, and other similar organazations. Most companies in teh waterfowl industry are small, even those you consider the big players in the industry have very few full-time positions. I guess though if you really want to do it, work hard and make it happen.

[Montauker]

Firefighter or cop is the way to go. I, like Mike, work in the corporate world. I'm fortunate in that I get a lot of vacation and good salary but I'm riding a desk and checking this website about 25 times a day. And few people know that I take days off to hunt.

If I had to do it over again, firefighter or cop.

If you're thinking about being a cop, be careful what you do during college.

[Bill Clarke]

I agree with you guys. I am a cop that has the two on two days off and every other weekend is a fri, sat, sun break schedule. You get plenty of time off however the only rub is that if you work in a rural area as I do, many of your coworkers hunt as well and take their vacation time on opening weeks and during the rut. This means that you will be working alot of OT.

[George Zahradka]

I NO ONE THING DON'T GO INTO PRODUCE FARMING

BILL, HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU GET IN LAW ENFORCMENT

[iluvfish2]

I work for the US Geological Survey as a hydrotech. I love the job, granted it does have its desk time, but once you get 3+ years in, your vacation ups to 6 hours every 2 weeks (get the magic 15 yrs and its 8 hrs every 2 weeks!). While I don't get much overtime, I do rack up a fair number of credit hours during the summer months servicing my water quality monitors which are bank rolled and used during the hunting season. As a bonus, most Federal holidays are mondays (and if you check luckily to me theres a good number of them from Sept-Jan), so you get lots of 3 days weekends.

If my boss was more flexible, I do have the ability to work 8, 9, or 10 hour days (which I can also determine my weekday off). Pay isnt all that great until you get up the ladder, but depending on the job it can be very rewarding. Whatever you do, find something you enjoy, theres nothing worse that working at a job you dont like....but theres others that will agree that its only 8 hours a day and/or the money you'll make can make the other 16 more enjoyable.

[Brian Schmidt]

...........There seems to be a good number of biologist jobs through DU, Delta, the DEC, and other similar organazations. ..........

i agree with mike. Personally i will be graduating with a BS in wildlife mgmt this spring and thats been my plan so far. Biology is cool stuff and i love research and reading up on new topics pertaining to waterfowl bio...........if u are into 7+ years of college and grad school, its definately a fun career!!! LOL;) :D

then u can band ducks for class like this:;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v623/BrianSchmidt2/IMG_1494.jpg

[Michael Weiss]

Thats me.....Grad school come August!! Alot of Biologist I know get to do alot of cool hunting trips all over. Last week a bunch were up around the Wis. boarder killing deer for CWD....@ night.....over bait....and getting paid for it! I really cant wait to get back into school because of all the great hunting up there. In 35 minutes I can be to pool 19 or 20 Canton! Not to mention all the mines that are around there.

[Brian Schmidt]

Mike..........if u dont mind me askin, where you going to grad school and what will you be doing?

[biologist]

Oh yes the wildlife biology profession, 7 + years of schooling and no guarantee you'll get a job after your done . lol. The jobs in the wildlife field are highly competative. Most don't realize that the wildlife field is 90% people management and 10% wildlife management. Depending on the job you get you may actually spend more time in the office then out in the field. Most jobs are low paying compared to other professions, but those who stay in the field and succeed don't do it for the money. Its a chance to take the passion you have for the outdoors and wildlife and use it to improve things for the future generations.

Athough I may sound a little synical, I wouldn't change what I've been doing for the last 13 years for anything (4yrs BS, 3 yrs MS, 3 yrs working, 3 yrs Ph d).

[Josh B]

Biologist, where are you going to school? Or where did you go? I am planning on attending Unity college in Maine next year and the following three years for my BS and then i hope to go on for my MS. Then, potentially my PHD, depending where i am at.

Josh

[Michael Weiss]

Brian, I will be attending Western Illinois University. I will be doing my masters on Waterfowl. Hopfully something along the lines of either migratoion or nutrition. There is also talk of my professor wanting me to do something with burn ecology and turkey dynamics after the burn.

Josh, Biologist is right on. However, with a Masters.....that opens so many doors. Without it, there are only low paying tech jobs. A MS is good for a job in wildlife. Most everyone I know getting a PhD are going to be in the academics. I dont know many PhDs that are in the field. They are behind a desk writting reports.........getting paid the same. That is just what I have seen. By no means am I telling you NOT to continue to go, just do you homework and take the best route. Hope this helps and good luck in the future!!!! If you have any other questions, feel free to email me!

[HeatherReddemann]

I am at the U of Minnesota currently and am transfering over to South Dakota State in the fall to finish my bachelor's in Wildlife/Fisheries Biology with hopes of completing my Master's too. I am also a minor in journalism too.

The jobs are out there but actual work experience I have found with a degree is very very important when competing with other for work.

If I were considering a career I would try to find a way to do a job shadow under a biologist, CO or some jobs that you may want to consider. It is good to try a few different people to get a general idea of what it is like... From personal experience summerwork for the DNR/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Conservation organizations can give you the hands on experience and taste of what it is like in specific studies and work... Good luck :)

Though the money may not always be in the "big buck" brackets the experiences and oppurtunities are priceless-just my opinion. I would rather be happy and doing what I love than be rich and unhappy! ;)

[biologist]

I have a BS from California University of Pennsylvania, MS from Emporia State University and hopefully a Ph D from Kansas State University in 4 months.


If you are just getting started in the wildlife field, make sure to get as much experience as you can. The job market in the wildlife profession is extremely competitive. I know people with Master’s degrees and several years of experience that still have problems getting their foot in the door for a job interview. While working on BS make sure to volunteer to help professors and/or graduate students with their research projects. In your junior year start applying for seasonal wildlife jobs. These jobs often last 2 to 3 months during the summer and provide housing so you can go pretty much anywhere. With a BS degree it may take you 6 or more years of seasonal work to get a permanent position. Most wildlife jobs are giving to people with a Master's degree. When going for a MS degree try and get the degree at another University then the one you got your BS at and also in a different part of the country. For instance if you get your BS degree in the eastern US then get your MS in the Midwest or Great Plains.

Ph D positions are also harder to get because there are so few positions. Also if you looking at getting a faculty position you will often need to have post doctoral experience before many Universities will even consider hiring you. So your looking at another 2 to 4 years making only slightly more then you did as a graduate student.

I highly recommend that you consider joining the Wildlife Society (http://www.wildlife.org) if you are serious about the wildlife profession. Its an International Organization that produces to scientific journals and also have meetings that you can go to and network with future employers or advisors.

[iluvfish2]

He he this sounds all to familar to me. I went in so "green" knowing exactly what I wanted to do, but it wasnt until 3 months before my graduation did I realize there were no jobs to be had. Luckily I was ahead of most everyone and had the volenteer status in. The volenteering I did I have no doubt, actually helped me land my job I now have. Prior to graduation from Lake Superior State Univ with my BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Management I had volenteered at the two federal fish hatcheries near the school (about 20 min away) one to two days a week, plus the year or so at the schools fish hatchery (some of it paid). In addition to that, it was actually added to my "sevice" time, but it counted for work experience, which I think brought my scores up slightly above other applicants. I know in the Michigan area, the US fish and Wildlife Service has summer job slots for science techs that work on the sea lamprey program. I got to travel from throughout Michigan (upper and lower), and parts of Indiana, New York, and Wisconsin. In addition, most of the guys did fish/hunt, so we were always scounting and heading off on after hours hunts. Since our work scheduled varied, some did deer hunting, duck hunting, and lots of grouse/rabbit.