Gary Dietrich Wildlife Management Apprentice Program

The Gary Dietrich Wildlife Management Apprentice Program is a 2-year graduate program with a goal of improving habitat management throughout the Southeast. Candidates who have completed a 2-year or 4-year degree can come to learn hands-on wildlife, fisheries, and natural resource management skills. Through the implementation of a quality curriculum, expert instructors, and a host of industry and landowner partners, we are equipping apprentices with the training and on-the-job experience needed to provide quality wildlife management on public and private lands.

This program is great place to kick start your career. Through SCWA and our partners, we have successfully placed one hundred percent of our Apprentices in desired wildlife related jobs. During your time as an Apprentice, you will participate in the following annual activities:

Wildlife Management

• Planting and maintaining crops

• Pesticide applicator training

• Sprayer calibration

• Duck pond management and construction

• Trapping nuisance animals

• Tractor/Equipment maintenance

• Planter /Grain drill set up

• Quality deer management

• Prescribed burning training

• Bird dog training

• Early release quail management

• Pond fisheries management

• Wood duck nest box maintenance

Hospitality

• Running hunts(Duck,Deer,Quail,Turkey, Dove and Pheasant tower shoots)

• Accounting and Budgeting

• Food Service management

• Sporting Clays Course design and Management

Other Skills

• Basic Welding/Fabricating

• Basic Carpentry

• Basic HVAC

• Basic Electrical

• Basic plumbing

• Surveying

• Turf Management

Apprentices receive an annual stipend of $12,500 along with lodging and utilities. They also earn up to $5,000 in tips while guiding duck hunters participating in the SCWA duck hunt program. To learn more about SCWA and our programs please visit SCWA.org. If you are interested in our Apprentice Program, please contact Jonathan Patrick (jonathan@scwa.org).