House Bill 1174, aimed at enhancing educational outreach and job shadowing opportunities through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, took center stage during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting on March 20, 2025. Representative Donald Longyear introduced the bill, highlighting its potential to attract young talent to careers in wildlife and natural resource management.

The bill seeks to establish programs that allow high school students to engage in hands-on experiences within the department, such as participating in pheasant surveys and fish spawning activities. Bill Haas, assistant wildlife chief for the Game and Fish Department, emphasized the importance of these initiatives, noting a significant drop of over 70% in applications for seasonal positions from 2014 to 2022. He stated that 68% of current biologists and game wardens began their careers as seasonal employees, underscoring the need for early exposure to these roles.

The proposed legislation would provide the department with the statutory authority to conduct job shadowing activities, which Haas believes will enhance recruitment efforts and ignite passion for careers in natural resources among students. While the program does not mandate school credit, it could encourage schools to recognize these experiences as valuable.

Committee members raised questions about potential risks associated with the program, particularly regarding safety during field activities. Haas reassured them that the envisioned activities would be low-risk, primarily involving supervised environments like boat ramps and wildlife surveys.

As the committee deliberates on House Bill 1174, the Game and Fish Department is hopeful that the initiative will foster a new generation of professionals dedicated to wildlife conservation and management in North Dakota.