HUNTER WATSON
Mesa,AZ
Summary
Employed with the Arizona Game and Fish Department for approximately two years, starting as an aquatics sportfish intern acquiring skills in fisheries such as backpack/boat electrofishing, hoop/seine netting, creel surveys as well as helpful data collection practices. During this time as an intern, there were opportunities to assist frequently with activities involving terrestrial wildlife; such as narrow-headed garter snake, various dove species, marsh birds and leading the Christmas bird count. After interning, was then employed as a contractor at Robbins Butte Wildlife Area assisting in day-to-day land management practices such as irrigation of crops, maintenance of utility vehicles/equipment on the property, and managing a budget. Currently employed at Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery, rearing rainbow and brown trout, performing tasks with heavy machinery such as forklifts, becoming adept at the use of hatchery management software and performing tasks independently.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Fish Culturist Specialist 1
Arizona Game And Fish Department
2024.03 - Current
- Rearing of rainbow and brown trout
- Using heavy machinery such as forklifts and stocking trucks to move objects or stock fish
- Perform maintenance of state-owned dwellings, equipment, vehicles, landscape and dwellings
- Became adept in use of hatchery manager software such as F.I.N.S. and HMS to collect and analyze data
- Perform different aquaculture management practices such as feeding, cleaning, disinfecting and harvesting
- Use of PO numbers/budget management
- Ability to work independently/dependently living on-site
- Supervision and management of intern
Wildlife Area Manager's Assistant (Contractor)
Arizona Game And Fish Department
2023.12 - 2024.03
- Maintaining crops with use of irrigation and monitoring
- Maintenance of state-owned property such as utility equipment, vehicles, landscape and dwellings
- Interact and assist with public for use of recreational areas
- Used PO numbers to purchase equipment for state as well as manage budget as needed
- Assisted in leading youth groups around property for educational purposes
Sportfish Aquatics Intern
Arizona Game And Fish Department
2022.05 - 2023.12
- Efficient in use of backpack and boat electrofishing equipment
- Proficient at using monitoring techniques such as hoop netting, seine netting and minnow traps
- Assisted at data collection and data analysis using Excel
- Camped in isolated areas in order to conduct rigorous field surveys
- Assisted in dove trapping/banding to prepare for 2022 hunting season
- Participated in Narrow-headed Garter snake project involving release of neonate Garter snakes into wild
- Conduct Creel Surveys weekly at Bartlett Lake as well as analyzing and finalizing data into report
- Assisted in removing invasive Apple Snails from Lower Salt River
- Collected fecal DNA from various fish species to determine diet
- Participated in invasive fish removals from various Arizona waterways
- Collected environmental DNA from region 6 lakes in Arizona
- Collected and analyzed water quality data
- Assisted in marsh bird surveys at Hassayampa River
- Public outreach and education on various fishing techniques and fishing regulations
- Regularly camped overnight in extreme conditions
- Participated in construction and deployment of Mossback fish habitat at Bartlett Lake
- Assisted in large game animal check-in (big horn sheep, mountain lion and black bear)
- Assisted in Sonoran Sucker gillnetting at Lower Salt River
Chef
Barros Pizza
2015.05 - 2022.05
- Monitored line processes to maintain consistency in quality, quantity and presentation
- Oversaw grill, stove and oven and cleaned equipment after every shift
- Inventoried food, ingredient and supply stock to prepare and plan vendor orders
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Biology
Maricopa Community Colleges - Mesa Community College
Mesa, AZBachelor of Science - Natural Resource Ecology
Arizona State University
Tempe12.2022
Skills
- Marsh/Reservoir avian survey techniques
- Herpeto-fauna identification
- Leading/guiding others during field work
- Managing budget/use of PO numbers
- Aquaculture husbandry
- AZGFD training: fish identification, electrofishing, rappelling, venomous reptile safety, Rotenone usage training, Wilderness survival 101
- AZGFD state vehicle operation training including 4 x 4 training and trailer training
- Knowledge of laws, policy and procedure for hunting, fishing, and wildlife
- Experience in fish survey techniques, summarizing fish survey results, and report writing
- Species identification, measurements and data collection (plants, mammals and fish)
- Proficient in data base creation, entry, and analysis in Excel or Google program equivalent
- Knowledge of native wildlife, flora/fauna
- Skilled fisherman
- Skilled at identifying birds visually and audibly
- Skilled in seine netting/hoop netting
- Proficient in dove trapping and banding
Certification
- Scuba Certified
- Fundamentals of GIS, course completed 3/21/23
Affiliations
Member of Wildlife Restoration Student Association (Former)
Volunteering
- Assisting in Bird Watching Tours for Audubon Society (Desert Rivers): 11/2021
- Sun Devil Audubon Christmas Bird Count 12/23/2021
- Saguaro Lake Christmas Tree Install 1/8/2022: Installing aquatic habitats in Saguaro Lake
Hobbies
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Birdwatching
- Herping
- Photography
references
David Fox, Sterling Springs Hatchery Manager
Arizona Game and Fish Department
(928) 233-5800 dfox@azgfd.gov
Collin Kemp, Robbins Butte Wildlife Area Manager
Arizona Game and Fish Department
(602) 290-2237
Amberle Jones, Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager
Arizona Game and Fish Department
(480) 324-3545, akjones@azgfd.gov
Daniel Kimball, Native Aquatic Specialist
Arizona Game and Fish Department
(480) 324-3553, dkimball@azgfd.gov
Sean Key, General Manager
Barro's Pizza, Mesa AZ
(480) 703-1352 voodoovfr@gmail.com
Timeline
Fish Culturist Specialist 1
Arizona Game And Fish Department
2024.03 - Current
Wildlife Area Manager's Assistant (Contractor)
Arizona Game And Fish Department
2023.12 - 2024.03
Sportfish Aquatics Intern
Arizona Game And Fish Department
2022.05 - 2023.12
Chef
Barros Pizza
2015.05 - 2022.05
Some College (No Degree) - Biology
Maricopa Community Colleges - Mesa Community College
Bachelor of Science - Natural Resource Ecology
Arizona State University
- Scuba Certified
- Fundamentals of GIS, course completed 3/21/23
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