FOR WILDLIFE, FOR PEOPLE.
"The mission of the Colorado Division of Wildlife is to protect, preserve, enhance, and manage the wildlife of Colorado for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of Colorado and its visitors." United by our passion for wildlife, we live and work in both rural and urban communities throughout Colorado. We're doing what we love and making a difference, for wildlife, for people.
Here's what we do to achieve our mission:
- Regulate hunting and fishing
- Manage public wildlife areas
- Conduct wildlife research
- Provide technical assistance concerning wildlife and habitat management
- Work to protect and recover threatened and endangered species
We use our expertise and passion for wildlife every day - and it shows. The agency and its employees have received countless local and national awards recognizing important contributions to wildlife management in the fields of engineering, education, conservation, wildlife research, and wildlife law enforcement. We have a wide range of employment needs, from wildlife officers and researchers to clerical and support personnel. The Division employs over 650 permanent, full-time employees and annually hires more than 300 temporary, seasonal employees.
Wildlife belongs to all people. Those who enjoy wildlife recreation make an enormous contribution to the economy. More than 1.1 million people hunt, fish, trap, or watch wildlife in Colorado every year and they infuse over $2.4 billion dollars each year into the Colorado economy, rivaling the ski industry. As an employee, it is likely you will often interact with and provide customer service to hunters, anglers, wildlife viewers, other wildlife organizations, State Wildlife Area users, and people who are experiencing conflict with some wildlife species. Hunting and fishing play a crucial role in wildlife management and license purchases provide a large source of revenue to support conservation. Without the support of hunters and anglers there would be no management programs for species such as elk, pronghorn, cutthroat trout, turkey, and bald eagles. Keep in mind that wildlife management sometimes raises controversial issues, and it is important that you are able to understand different perspectives about how wildlife should be managed. As with many other careers, having excellent communication skills is a must.
Do you want to work for wildlife? Read on to find out how to start your career with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
BUILD YOUR RESUME
...Through Education, Volunteering, Service Learning, and Temporary Jobs
You want to take advantage of the opportunities to work side by side with wildlife professionals who are passionate about their jobs. The Colorado Division of Wildlife is nationally recognized for its wildlife management efforts. There is low employee turnover because we love what we do and enjoy contributing to our mission. All of this can seem daunting as you begin your career journey. Here are some tips from current employees on how to get started:
"I started as a Volunteer for the Division of Wildlife in high school. I grew up hunting, fishing, and hiking in the outdoors and knew this is what I wanted to do. In college I majored in biology and put all of that experience and education on my resume."
"I was flexible about where I wanted to live, so I was able to move to Montrose to get my first temporary job here as a Wildlife Technician. After six months I applied for a permanent job and got it. I think my seasonal experience was a huge plus on my resume."
Education You Will Need
General requirements are described below. Refer to the specific job announcements for exact requirements and information on minimum qualifications.
Educational requirements vary depending on the career path. Many of our field jobs require a degree in biology or a natural resources-related area. If you have a passion for journalism, engineering, education, or another field in addition to your love of wildlife, keep in mind that the Division of Wildlife has jobs such as Public Information Officer, Engineer, and others with their own specific degree requirements. View Career Paths to find out more about the jobs that peak your interest, and what education you will need for each job.
Many of our jobs that deal primarily with wildlife management, such as District Wildlife Manager, Fish Hatchery Technician, Property Technician, Wildlife Biologist, and Wildlife Researcher, have similar educational requirements, discussed below.
HIGH SCHOOL: In high school, work on biology, chemistry, physics and math classes. Even though you’ll be working for wildlife, be prepared to work with people. Take advantage of school activities that allow you to practice public speaking, presentations, and writing. Don’t forget wildlife hobbies such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and hiking – the abilities you develop through personal experiences in the outdoors will be useful throughout your career.
COLLEGE: In college, focus on communication skills, science classes, and your wildlife hobbies. Many of the positions involving outdoor field work require a four year degree in biology or natural resources. Where you go to college is a personal choice. Make sure the college you choose gives you a strong foundation in the biological, social, and political forces that affect wildlife study and management. Take advantage of field work and outdoor opportunities offered by your college.
Not all entry-level positions require a college degree. For example, Property Technician and Fish Hatchery Technician positions require applicable work experience, for which certain degrees may substitute.
GRADUATE SCHOOL: If your passion lies in wildlife research or field biology, it is highly recommended that you go to graduate school to earn your Master’s or Ph.D. in a field relevant to wildlife management. Choose your graduate projects with your eventual career goals in mind. Do you want to work on a particular species? If so, you might have to be selective about graduate projects. Because our research applies directly to wildlife management, it is a good idea to choose a project that has a management focus. Select a professor who you feel will work closely with you throughout your project.
Still have questions about educational requirements? Check out Career Paths or Jobs for job announcements and specific requirements.
Volunteer
View our Volunteer pages. Volunteer work looks great on a résumé!
"I started out as a hatchery volunteer, and now I'm a permanent employee. I grew up in the San Luis Valley and went to Adams State College where I majored in Wildlife Biology. My first experience with the Colorado Division of Wildlife was volunteering at the Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility in Alamosa. I was then hired as a temporary worker. It was great for my resume and got me a whole bunch of connections. Now I'm a Property Technician in Southeastern Colorado."
Service Learning
Take advantage of Service Learning opportunities. They’ll look great on a résumé!
Temporary Jobs
View current Temporary Job Openings or check with your local Division of Wildlife office to see if they’re hiring. Temporary jobs are one to six month opportunities to gain experience with wildlife management as you assist biologists, researchers, property technicians, support personnel, and others. These jobs offer pay ranging from $10 to $14 an hour.
Do you want to be part of a mission that benefits everyone?
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