Wildlife Management Biologist

Position Title

Wildlife Management Biologist – )

This position may be eligible for a statutory base pay increase of $1.00 an hour effective July 1, 2026.

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.

Women and minorities are under-represented in this job category and are encouraged to apply.

The Conrad Area Wildlife Biologist is responsible for the implementation of the Department's wildlife management program, including the State Wildlife Action Plan in the north Rocky Mountain Front and Golden Triangle area of the FWP Region
4. This includes designing and conducting field investigations on wildlife populations and habitats, preparing wildlife management recommendations, communicating department programs and policies, informing the public of wildlife and habitat matters, maintaining, enhancing and protecting wildlife habitat and hunting access on private and public lands and maintaining proficiency as a professional wildlife scientist.

Survey, capture, and handling methods frequently involve stressful and dangerous situations. Surveys require fixed wing and helicopter flights in prairie, mountain valley, foothill, and high mountain habitats at low altitudes and in hazardous flying conditions, sitting in confined spaces with exposure to high noise levels.

Capturing and handling big game animals involves the use of controlled substances and potentially lethal immobilization chemicals and handling big game animals such as deer, elk, bears, lions, moose, and sheep.

Field work is often carried out alone in rugged terrain during unpredictable and inclement weather conditions via foot, ATV, horseback, motorbike, etc. Hours of work are often long and irregular and include evening meetings and occasional weekend work.

This position will be responsible for wildlife management activities in the greater Conrad area (including but not limited to part or all of Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Chouteau, Pondera and Teton Counties).

Designs and implements projects which enhance and maintain wildlife habitat on private, public and FWP owned lands, including: developing contracts to protect and enhance habitat using programs such as the FWP Upland Game Bird Enhancement and Migratory Bird Programs, Habitat Montana, and private funding sources; provide technical assistance to public land management agencies for habitat improvements and reviews resource management plans, grazing allotments and other environmental documents;

oversee public use management and habitat development/management on the FWP owned Blackleaf and Marias River WMA’s.

Designs and conducts field investigations to determine the characteristics and dynamics of wildlife populations and their habitats and uses this information to make recommendations for hunting season proposals, quotas, and habitat and access projects, includes surveying big game, upland game bird and nongame populations; compiling, analyzing and interpreting data; and designing and implementing special investigations and research studies.

Increases opportunities for public enjoyment of wildlife resources by: improving hunter access to private and public lands by developing solid working relationships with private landowners, implementing the Block Management and Upland Game Bird Enhancement Programs and through potential conservation leases, conservation easements and fee title acquisition; collaborate with USFS, BLM, DNRC and Tribal (Blackfeet Reservation) personnel; expand distribution of selected species by trapping and/or transplanting into suitable unoccupied habitats.

Responds to game damage complaints and takes or recommends appropriate actions to alleviate problems.

In conjunction with FWP health lab plays a…