Fishing and Hunting Workers

Salary Overview

Salary data is not available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for this occupation.

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Key Skills

Knowledge Areas

What They Do

• Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments.
• Remove catches from fishing equipment and measure them to ensure compliance with legal size.
• Direct fishing or hunting operations, and supervise crew members.
• Interpret weather and vessel conditions to determine appropriate responses.
• Travel on foot, by vehicle, or by equipment such as boats, snowmobiles, helicopters, snowshoes, or skis to reach hunting areas.
• Select, bait, and set traps, and lay poison along trails, according to species, size, habits, and environs of birds or animals and reasons for trapping them.
• Maintain engines, fishing gear, and other on-board equipment and perform minor repairs.
• Connect accessories such as floats, weights, flags, lights, or markers to nets, lines, or traps.

Tools & Technology

★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)

Education Requirements

Typical entry-level education: Less Than High School

Related Careers

Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Fishing and Hunting Workers.

A Day in the Life

A typical day begins well before dawn, as fishing and hunting workers must reach their harvest areas during peak animal activity periods. Commercial fishers check weather forecasts and tide charts before departing the dock, then navigate to fishing grounds where they set, tend, or haul nets, traps, pots, or longlines. Hunters and trappers scout terrain, set blinds or trap lines, and position themselves based on animal patterns and wind direction. Throughout the day, workers process their catch or harvest in the field—gutting fish, sorting by species and size, or preparing pelts and hides. They maintain and repair equipment including boats, engines, nets, traps, firearms, and vehicles. Record-keeping is essential for regulatory compliance, including documenting catch quantities, species, and locations for wildlife management agencies. Workers must monitor changing weather conditions and make safety decisions about when to stay or return. The day often extends until all equipment is stowed, catches are properly stored or delivered, and preparations are made for the next outing.

Work Environment

Fishing and hunting workers operate in some of the most physically demanding and unpredictable environments of any occupation. Commercial fishers face the open ocean with its rough seas, extreme temperatures, and the constant risk of equipment entanglement and man-overboard incidents. Hunters and trappers work in remote forests, wetlands, and mountains where terrain is rugged and help may be hours away. The work is intensely seasonal, with frantic activity during open seasons and harvest periods followed by slower maintenance and preparation periods. Physical labor is constant and heavy, including hauling nets and traps, lifting catches, carrying equipment over rough ground, and operating in wet, cold conditions. Weather drives nearly every decision, and workers must be willing to operate in rain, snow, fog, and extreme temperatures when conditions allow harvest. Most work is conducted outdoors with no shelter, and injuries from equipment, animals, and environmental hazards are common. The isolation and time away from home can be significant, particularly for offshore fishing operations lasting days or weeks.

Career Path & Advancement

Most fishing and hunting workers enter the occupation through informal apprenticeships, learning from experienced family members, community elders, or commercial operators. No formal education beyond a high school diploma is typically required, though courses in marine biology, ecology, or natural resource management can be beneficial. Workers must obtain appropriate licenses and permits, which may require passing exams on regulations, species identification, and safety. Career progression often means moving from deckhand or assistant to captain or independent operator with one's own vessel or territory. Some workers build businesses by acquiring additional boats, equipment, or harvest permits and hiring their own crews. Advancement can also come through specialization in high-value species such as lobster, crab, or wild-caught salmon that command premium market prices. Some experienced workers transition into guide services, teaching recreational hunters and anglers for additional income. Others leverage their field expertise into resource management, wildlife survey, or conservation consulting roles.

Specializations

The fishing and hunting field encompasses a diverse range of specializations based on species, method, and environment. Commercial ocean fishers may specialize in groundfish trawling, pelagic longlining for tuna and swordfish, or pot fishing for crab and lobster. Freshwater commercial fishers focus on species like catfish, perch, or walleye using gill nets, seines, and hoop nets. Shellfish harvesters gather clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops through diving, dredging, or hand raking. Trappers specialize in furbearing animals such as beaver, muskrat, fox, and coyote, using various trap types and techniques. Wild game hunters may focus on deer, elk, wild boar, or waterfowl for commercial or population management purposes. Divers harvest sea urchins, abalone, kelp, and other marine organisms in coastal waters. Some workers specialize in invasive species removal, helping control populations of animals threatening native ecosystems.

Pros & Cons

Industry Insight

The commercial fishing and hunting industry faces significant pressures from environmental change, regulatory tightening, and market evolution. Climate change is shifting species distributions, altering migration patterns, and creating uncertainty for workers reliant on predictable seasonal harvests. Fisheries management is increasingly data-driven, with electronic monitoring, vessel tracking, and catch documentation requirements adding technology demands. Sustainable and traceable seafood markets are growing, creating premium pricing opportunities for workers who can document responsible harvest practices. Wild-caught products face competition from aquaculture and farmed alternatives, though consumer preference for wild-caught remains strong in many segments. Labor shortages in commercial fishing are growing as younger generations choose less physically demanding careers. Technology improvements in vessel navigation, fish-finding electronics, and safety equipment are making operations more efficient. The fur trapping industry has declined significantly due to market and cultural shifts, though wildlife management trapping for population control remains in demand.