Vilicus Land & Wildlife Management · Florida · posted 22 days ago
Little Orange Creek, LLC is seeking a full-time Ranch Hand / Wildlife Technician to support habitat management, wildlife monitoring, and infrastructure work on a privately owned, intensively managed property in north central Florida. The property is managed for native groundcover, longleaf and upland pine communities, northern bobwhite, and white-tailed deer, with an active prescribed fire program, timber management, a gopher tortoise recipient site, and ongoing invasive species control. The technician will gain hands-on experience across the full annual cycle of a working conservation property — burning, planting, trapping, surveying, and data management — rather than a single-season narrow skill set. This is a strong fit for a recent wildlife, forestry, or rangeland graduate who wants to build applied management experience with a clear path toward increasing responsibility, or for an experienced ranch hand who wants to further their career. Responsibilities Habitat Management and Restoration • Groundcover restoration, including site prep, planting, and monitoring • Assist with prescribed burn planning and implementation • Food plot planting and establishment • Brush control and mechanical vegetation treatments • Invasive and exotic species control using chemical and mechanical treatments • Assist with management of timber harvest and reforestation activities • Management of gopher tortoise recipient site and silt fence enclosures • Fisheries management Wildlife Surveys, Data, and Mapping • Assist with wildlife surveys, including camera surveys, whistle counts, and covey call surveys • Vegetation plot sampling • Tree and herbaceous vegetation identification • Data collection, organization, entry, and basic analysis • Mapping and data management using ArcGIS Pro • Drone operation for imagery and survey support Species Population Management • Nest predator trapping using box and leghold traps • Hog trapping using BoarBuster and Pig Brig systems • Filling and maintaining feeders; running established quail feed routes • Cleaning and processing game harvested on the property • Assist with permit applications — alligator, antlerless deer, and trapping • Assist in creating and implementing annual management plans Equipment, Roads, and Facilities • Farm tractor and implement operation (disc, mower, sprayer, seed drill, front-end loader) • Road maintenance and repair • Fence building and repair • Equipment and vehicle maintenance and repair • Facilities maintenance and repair • Landscaping and grounds upkeep Required Qualifications • High school diploma or GED • Valid driver's license and clean driving record • Experience operating farm tractors and implements • Mechanical aptitude and willingness to maintain and repair equipment in the field • Comfortable and safe around firearms • Ability to work outdoors year-round in heat, humidity, rain, and biting insects • Ability to lift and carry 50+ lbs, work on uneven terrain, and perform sustained physical labor • Willingness to work early mornings, occasional nights, and weekends during peak seasons • Reliable, self-directed, and able to keep accurate records Preferred Qualifications • Degree or coursework in wildlife ecology, forestry, rangeland or agricultural science, or a related field • Experience with prescribed fire; Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager a plus • Working knowledge of ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Field Maps • FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate • Trapping experience • Chainsaw, welding, or fabrication skills • Familiarity with southeastern longleaf pine and sandhill plant communities • Northern bobwhite management experience Compensation and Benefits Annual salary depends on experience and certifications. Benefits are provided in accordance with company policy, as may change from time to time, and after meeting the applicable eligibility requirements: • 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums for the employee and 50% for family, beginning the first day of employment • $25,000 life insurance policy at no cost • Long-term disability insurance at no cost • Company truck for work purposes • 401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match after 3 months of employment • Annual performance bonus of up to 10% of salary • Eight (8) paid company holidays annually: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day • 15 days of paid time off each calendar year for vacation, illness, or personal matters, with up to 5 days eligible for carryover to the following year • Training, certification support, and continuing education opportunities To Apply Email a resume, a cover letter describing your relevant field experience, and contact information for three references to Josh Gamblin at ranch@shibumicapitalpartners.com. Applications will be reviewed as received. Little Orange Creek, LLC is an equal opportunity employer.
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