Cedar Cove Ranch
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Eustace, TX
Reports To: Ranch Ownership / General Manager
About Cedar Cove Ranch
Cedar Cove Ranch is a premier luxury hunting and corporate retreat destination in East Texas, delivering highly curated outdoor experiences rooted in safety, conservation, and elevated hospitality. Our commitment is to Create Lasting Memories through intentional service, ethical hunting, and world-class operations.
Position Overview
The Hunting Operations & Wildlife Manager serves as the senior operational leader for all hunting and wildlife-related activities at Cedar Cove Ranch. This role ensures that hunting programs are safe, ethical, professionally executed, and aligned with long-term wildlife sustainability and luxury guest expectations.
This position requires a seasoned operator and people leader—someone with the experience to design systems, lead teams, manage complex wildlife programs, and step into the field when needed to support guests or staff.
Time Allocation (Approximate)
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70% – Operations, Wildlife Management & Leadership
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30% – Guiding & In-Field Support
Key Responsibilities
Hunting Operations (Primary Focus)
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Plan, manage, and oversee all hunting activities, including whitetail, exotics, predator management, and special hunts.
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Develop and execute seasonal hunting plans, harvest strategies, and hunt schedules.
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Ensure consistency, safety, and professionalism across all hunts.
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Oversee trophy standards, scoring, documentation, and post-harvest handling.
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Manage hunting infrastructure, blinds, stands, vehicles, firearms, and equipment.
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Minimize operational disruptions through proactive planning and leadership.
Wildlife Management
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Lead wildlife conservation, herd health, and population management initiatives.
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Implement and monitor MLDP and TPWD-compliant management plans.
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Oversee food plots, feeders, water systems, mineral programs, and habitat improvements.
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Direct predator management strategies to support herd health and fawn survival.
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Track wildlife data, harvest metrics, and long-term performance trends.
Hunting Hospitality & Guest Experience
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Ensure hunting experiences align with Cedar Cove Ranch’s luxury hospitality standards.
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Serve as the senior on-site hunting leader for guest groups.
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Coordinate closely with Hospitality, F&B, and Guest Services teams.
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Manage guest expectations and resolve issues professionally and discreetly.
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Educate guests on wildlife, ethical hunting, and ranch stewardship practices.
Team Leadership & Operations
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Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate hunting guides and wildlife staff.
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Establish SOPs, safety protocols, and performance standards.
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Conduct regular training sessions, safety briefings, and evaluations.
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Build a culture of accountability, professionalism, and stewardship.
Safety, Compliance & Stewardship
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Enforce firearm safety and zero-tolerance safety policies.
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Ensure compliance with CCR policies, TPWD regulations, and MLDP requirements.
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Protect CCR wildlife assets, property, and brand reputation at all times.
Performance Measurement (KPI Summary)
The Hunting Operations & Wildlife Manager is evaluated on operational leadership and outcomes, not on the number of hunts personally guided. Key performance expectations include:
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Safety & Compliance: Maintain a zero-incident safety culture and full regulatory compliance.
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Wildlife Health & Management: Achieve wildlife management objectives related to herd health, population balance, habitat quality, and sustainability.
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Hunting Operations Excellence: Deliver well-planned, consistently executed hunting programs with minimal disruptions and well-maintained infrastructure.
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Guest Experience & Hunting Hospitality: Ensure professional, high-quality hunting experiences that meet or exceed CCR’s hospitality standards.
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Team Leadership & Development: Build, train, and retain a capable, accountable hunting team.
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Operational Efficiency & Stewardship: Operate within budget, reduce preventable losses or damage, and continuously improve efficiency.
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Planning & Communication: Provide timely plans, reports, and strategic input to ownership.
Guiding performance (approximately 30% of the role) is measured on leadership presence, safety, training impact, and guest experience—not volume.
Qualifications
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10+ years of progressive experience in hunting operations, wildlife management, or large-scale ranch leadership.
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Demonstrated experience leading and managing hunting programs, not solely guiding.
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Advanced knowledge of whitetail and exotic species management.
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Proven ability to lead teams, enforce standards, and manage complex operations.
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Strong familiarity with MLDP programs and TPWD regulations.
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High standards for safety, ethics, and guest service.
- Microsoft Excel – tracking, budgeting, inventory mgmt, etc. and MS Power point knowledge for presentations
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Ability to work flexible and extended hours during hunting seasons.
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Experience in luxury hunting lodges or high-end ranch environments.
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Experience working with corporate, family, or high-net-worth hunting clients.
- Valid driver’s license; firearms proficiency required.
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CPR/First Aid certification (or ability to obtain).
Preferred Experience
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Degree in Wildlife Management, Range Management, or related field.
- Background in habitat development, data-driven wildlife management, and long-term conservation planning.
Important Role Clarification
This is not a full-time hunting guide position. While the Hunting Operations & Wildlife Manager may guide select hunts as needed, this role is primarily responsible for planning, leadership, oversight, and execution of hunting operations and wildlife management programs.
Approximately 30% of this role involves guiding and in-field support, while 70% is focused on operations management, wildlife stewardship, team leadership, safety, planning, and guest experience oversight.
Who This Role Is (and Is Not) For
This role IS for someone who:
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Brings senior-level experience and judgment
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Thinks strategically and operationally
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Enjoys leading people and systems
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Can guide when needed but does not want to guide full-time
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Values long-term wildlife stewardship
This role is NOT for someone who:
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Is seeking a full-time guiding position
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Prefers a purely field-based, individual-contributor role
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Lacks experience managing teams or operations
Why Join Cedar Cove Ranch
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Lead a growing, nationally recognized luxury hunting operation
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Shape long-term wildlife and hunting strategy
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Work closely with ownership in a senior leadership role
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Competitive compensation aligned with experience and responsibility
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Opportunity to grow with CCR’s next phase of expansion
TO APPLY:
Forward cover letter & resume to our email address.
Email
[email protected]
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