Wildlife Judging gives 4-H’ers an appreciation for wildlife and challenges them to manage wildlife habitat and preserve this valuable resource. Competitions are held at the county, district, state and national levels.
Objectives
- To give 4-H’ers an appreciation for wildlife and to challenge them to preserve this natural resource in this country.
- To learn about wildlife habitat and how to manage it.
- To learn about wildlife management practices and their effect on habitat for various wildlife species.
- To be able to interpret wildlife habitat from aerial photographs and learn to communicate reasons from observations.
- To learn common wildlife foods for identification purposes.
- To give 4-H members leadership training.To develop abilities and attributes for better citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
Competition Guidelines
- Participate in a community and/or county 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest.
- At the state contest, each county may have a maximum of twenty Junior (Cloverleaf and Junior age groups) and/or twenty Senior contestants. The total score of the high three separate teams must designate them before the contest. Contestants from a county with less than three entries may participate as individuals.
- The area winner will be the individual who has the largest sum score. The winning area team will be the county team with the largest sum score.
Awards & Recognition
- Each participant will receive an award card and a judging pin.
- District winning team and the 2nd place team will receive a certificate
- The high individual at the district contest will also receive a certificate
- State Winning senior team (four members) will participate in the National 4-H Forestry Invitational or a forestry educational tour. Some expenses will be covered for the national trip.
- Additionally, the state winning team and the high senior individual in the state contest will be eligible for Master 4-H’er status and participate in the recognition of Special Events Winners at State 4-H Congress. The banquet meal and lodging expenses will be paid for the team and coach; however, travel costs are not covered.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action organization.