The Arizona Game and Fish Department offers paid summer internship opportunities in cooperation with participating college and universities. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in gaining experience while working with a diverse group of professionals in the fields of wildlife science, biological science and wildlife management.

The following are eligibility guidelines and the application procedure for our internship program.

1. All students must be enrolled in a curriculum leading to a Bachelor’s or Post-Baccalaureate degree on a substantially full time basis (usually 12 semester hours) and must be pursuing a major in Wildlife Biology or closely related field in order to be eligible to participate in the Intern Program.
2. All eligible students interested in summer employment must submit a resume, via our recruitment site. The site address is www.azstatejobs.gov key word AGF job announcement for State Intern Program. The drop box will become available on February, 2010.
3. Resumes must be submitted to the site no later than March, 2010.

For additional Information on the Internship program, contact Sally Little, Staffing Coordinator at (623) 236-7325.

- View 2009 Internship job descriptions [PDF, 26kb]

- View Internship Opportunities

What is the Arizona Game and Fish Department?
The Arizona Game & Fish Department is responsible for managing Arizona’s fish and wildlife resource as an enduring public trust. In addition, the department is charged with promoting safe and responsible use of watercraft and off-highway vehicles. Funding is provided from the sale of licenses and permits; watercraft registration fees; federal excise taxes on firearms, fishing equipment, boats, and other sporting goods; state lottery revenues; donations on state income tax forms; and various contracts and grants. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission, whose five members are appointed by the governor, set department policy.

Internship job description
As trainees in the office, laboratory or field, interns will learn to perform work in wildlife research, wildlife management or a related administrative program while assisting in the management of Arizona’s wildlife. Interns conduct field surveys and studies of wildlife with biologists as needed and will work on special projects. Internships are available in the following divisions:

Wildlife Management
Responsible for programmatic management related to wildlife, wildlife habitat, fisheries management, nongame and endangered species, and research.

Information and Education
Responsible for informing the public about wildlife, conservation issues, laws regulating harvest of wildlife, as well as environmental and hunter education programs.

Field Operations
Responsible for field wildlife management, such as wildlife surveys, law enforcement, customer service and services provided at six regions located in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, and Mesa.

Special Services
Responsible for the administration of watercraft registrations, hunting & fishing license sales, as well as the construction and maintenance of water developments and habitat improvements.

Eligibility Requirements
The student must currently be enrolled in a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s or higher-level degree on a substantially full-time basis (usually 12 semester hours); and should be pursuing a major field of study in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Management or a related area at an accredited college or university. The students should have the ability to perform a variety of work tasks in wildlife, fish management, research programs, and be able to walk or travel over rough terrain and camp overnight. Work may have to be performed in inclement weather. Off-highway driving is required in most positions.

Advantages for you
Each intern will be provided with interpretation and training in the methods and objectives of each branch and on-the-job experience in wildlife research, wildlife management, or related administrative programs, and will be evaluated by their supervisors at the end of the program.

Interested?
For additional information see the career center at your college or contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department Human Resources Office at (623) 236-7325.

Examples of Past internship job Duties

• Desert tortoise telemetry
• Monitor endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher nests and other passerine species using time-lapse video cameras and systems
• Radio track pronghorn antelope and collect field data (activity patterns, food habits, predator scat, and aerial location) of marked pronghorn
• Conduct habitat assessments at squirrel use sites as part of a habitat selection study
• Assist with live trapping and marking of squirrels
• Creel census and lake & stream survey
• Assist with fishing clinics and teacher workshops
• Conduct frog surveys
• Conduct elk and turkey surveys
• Learn skill in electro fishing, and gill netting
• Measure and evaluate riparian and aquatic habitat
• Assist with lake limnological surveys
• Conduct bat surveys
• Operate off-highway vehicles and ride horses to pack equipment. Operate small watercraft
• Work in a hatchery; feed and care for fish; stock fish in lakes
• GPS data acquisition
• Arcview mapping
• Assist Information & Education Program
• Implement habitat improvements for the Forage Enhancement Project

This is just a small sample of the many diverse internship projects available!