[Nov 2] Wildlife - Turkey Project Temporary Worker

Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Iowa; On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking two Wildlife - Turkey Project Temporary Workers to perform winter trapping, habitat management, and disease monitoring tasks on public wildlife areas across southeast/east central Iowa.

Positions involve long outdoor hours, operating heavy equipment, and coordinating with Wildlife Biologists. Flexible winter schedules and potential lodging in field units are possible; prior coursework in wildlife or related fields is preferred.

Qualifications

• Graduated from or currently enrolled in college.
• Major must be Wildlife Ecology/Biology or another closely related Natural Resource Field.
• Must be available for all interviews and training as required.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain turkey trapping sites on public or private land.
• Scout areas for turkey use and establish bait sites and rocket net arrays.
• Operate remote cameras and maintain trapping equipment.
• Live-capture wild turkeys and safely handle and transport them.
• Assist with biological data collection from live-captured wild turkeys.

Education

Wildlife Ecology/Biology or related Natural Resource Field

College enrollment or graduation

Job description

[Nov 2] Wildlife - Turkey Project Temporary Worker

Job Title: Wildlife - Turkey Project Temporary Worker (2 Positions Available)

Start Date December, 2026
End Date April, 2027
Salary: $15.25/hr

Locations: Possible locations include:

• Maquoketa Wildlife Unit, Miles, IA 52064
• Sugema Wildlife Unit, Keosauqua, IA 52565

Job Description:

The Iowa DNR is looking to hire two (2) Turkey Project Temporary Workers to complete field work associated with an ongoing 10-year wild turkey study in southeast/east central Iowa. Under the daily direction of Iowa DNR staff, the incumbent will assist with turkey trapping work during the winter months. The incumbent will also be expected to conduct habitat management work on public wildlife areas and wildlife disease monitoring work such as tissue collection. This DNR Wildlife Temporary Worker position is expected to perform a variety of semi-skilled maintenance and technical tasks at a wildlife management unit. The employee is expected to display a high level of initiative and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. Employees in this position will work with other wildlife unit personnel and be under the general direction of the Wildlife Biologist.

Examples of typical job duties may include:

• Create and maintain turkey trapping sites on public or private land. Scout areas for turkey use, establish and maintain bait sites, set up rocket net arrays, operate remote cameras and maintain all equipment.
• Turkey trapping activities including: spending long hours in a blind, including early morning hours, during cold weather conditions to monitor trap sites; visual identification of age/sex of wild turkeys from a distance; launching rocket net or triggering other trap devices to live-capture wild turkeys; safe handling and transport of wild turkeys; assist with biologic data collection from live- captured wild turkeys. Travel between wildlife unit locations and overnight stays are expected.
• Perform general wildlife management activities including: Wetland management, prairie management, native prairie seeding, food plot development, edge feathering, tree/brush removal, spraying, disking, mowing, etc. using large farm machinery, chainsaws, and other hand tools.
• Prescribed fire implementation for ecological purposes. This duty will require fire-line construction, fire-line holding, and mop-up activities. Performance of these tasks will require the employee to periodically work under physically stressful and adverse conditions.
• Wildlife Surveys & Monitoring including: Avian influenza sampling, deer spotlight routes, spring bird point counts, chronic wasting disease sampling, etc. Collecting of biological data occasionally will require early or late in the day work scheduling
• General area maintenance involving mowing, sign posting, fence building, fence removal, tree/brush control, noxious weed control etc. These activities require the ability to use simple power equipment; drills, saws, hand tools, chainsaws, trimmers, small mowers etc.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduated from or currently enrolled in or on break between semesters of college.
• Major must be in Wildlife Ecology/Biology or another closely related Natural Resource Field.
• Must be available for all interviews and training as required
• Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license
• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Able to work alone, with the public, in all conditions, on weekends, holidays, nights, and evenings as required.
• Able to withstand physically demanding work, including lifting, bending, or hauling
• Able to withstand working in tough environmental conditions including extreme cold, deep snow, wet environments, etc.
• Work with minimal supervision, demonstrate responsible behavior and attention to detail
• Follow policy and cooperate with supervisors and co-workers
• Exhibits honesty and integrity.
• Works and communicates with internal and external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous and cooperative manner.
• Displays a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently.
• Aligns behavior with needs, priorities, and goals of the organization.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is an EEO/AA EMPLOYER.