Intern - Fisheries (Spring/Summer)

South Dakota AG; Fort Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks invites applications for spring Fisheries Intern positions in Fort Pierre, SD. Start and end dates are February 1 through October 30, with requirement to be a current part- or full-time student.

Duties include assisting biologists, leading crews, and performing field and data tasks across multiple projects. Applicants must enroll part- or full-time for upcoming semester, possess valid driver's license, ability to lift 60 pounds, and willingness to work nights,

Qualifications

• operation and maintenance of boats, motors, and trailers.
• basic vehicle and equipment maintenance.
• knowledge of fisheries management principles and techniques.
• fish identification.
• basic computer operation.

Responsibilities

• Assist biologists and lead crews of fisheries interns in tasks such as annual Walleye spawning operations on the Missouri River.
• Trap & transfer of various fish species into new waterbodies.
• Assist with research project tagging Smallmouth Bass on Lake Sharpe.
• Assist with acoustic telemetry project evaluating fish use around introduced habitat structures.
• Assist with capturing and tagging Paddlefish to estimate population size.
• Lead crews conducting fish population surveys on small impoundments.
• Involve boat/gear maintenance, angler use surveys, AIS inspections, etc.
• In office tasks may include ageing fish via otoliths, data management, manuscript writing, and presentations.

Skills

Boat operation

Vehicle maintenance

Fisheries management

Fish identification

Basic computer operation

Job description

Session: Spring (January - May) / Summer (June - October)

Position Title: Intern - Fisheries

Hiring Manager: Dylan Gravenhof

Agency: Department of Game, Fish, and Parks

Location: Fort Pierre, SD

Minimum Salary: $19.09/hr

• APPLICANT MUST BE A CURRENT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDIT HOURS) IN UPCOMING SEMESTER OR IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SEMESTER.

Position Description

South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks is seeking applicants for three spring fisheries intern positions for the 2027 field season. Applicants must either have graduated the semester prior to beginning employment or be enrolled as full‑time students during their period of employment. Start and end dates for the position will be approximately February 1 through October 30 (9 months) dependent on applicant's educational status.

Primary work duties will include assisting biologists and leading crews of fisheries interns in various tasks including:

• Annual Walleye spawning operations on the Missouri River.
• Trap & transfer of various fish species into new waterbodies.
• Assist with research project tagging Smallmouth Bass on Lake Sharpe.
• Assist with acoustic telemetry project evaluating fish use around introduced habitat structures.
• Assist with capturing and tagging Paddlefish to estimate population size.
• Lead crews conducting fish population surveys on small impoundments.
• Many other various tasks including boat/gear maintenance, angler use surveys, AIS inspections, etc.
• In office tasks may include ageing fish via otoliths, data management for projects, assisting with writing manuscripts for publication and developing presentations for professional meetings.

Opportunities will also be available for the applicant to assist with other areas within GFP including Law Enforcement, Terrestrial Habitat and Access, and Terrestrial Wildlife crews.

Qualifications

Applicant must be enrolled as a part‑time/full‑time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program.

Valid driver’s license, the ability to perform strenuous physical labor, the ability to lift 60 pounds repeatedly, willingness to work in inclement weather, and the availability to work nights and weekends. Some overnight travel may be required.

All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to applicants with a standing of junior/senior, South Dakota residents, and students of South Dakota institutions.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• operation and maintenance of boats, motors, and trailers;
• basic vehicle and equipment maintenance;
• knowledge of fisheries management principles and techniques;
• fish identification;
• basic computer operation.

*Positions can be filled prior to the closing date.*

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone]

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"