National Wild Turkey Federation Academic Scholarship Essay

   Hunting is important to me for many reasons.  One reason is that in my home, hunting is a family tradition and is a very big part of our lives.  When anyone goes hunting in my family everyone knows about it.  From cousins to my grandpaw, we all know who is hunting, what they are hunting with (bow, muzzle loader, etc.), where they are hunting, and what they have shot that day.  Hunting also puts food on the table and gives me an opportunity to enjoy watching wildlife in their natural habitat.  The feeling that I feel when I am in the woods is one of the best I have ever experienced.  Knowing that there is wildlife all around you is a great feeling.  I really enjoy being in the woods.  I am in the woods, in my pond, or someone else’s pond year round.  I deer hunt, squirrel hunt, rabbit hunt, duck hunt, turkey hunt, and love to fish anything that will bite.
   When I was 13 years old, my parents purchased a lifetime hunting and fishing license for me.  I cherish this license as if it were my drivers license.  I have the certificate that came with my card framed and hanging on my bedroom wall.  I started hunting with my dad when I was about 4 years old.  Last year I shot my first rack buck and first turkey which I was told was a really nice bird.  I did not think much of it other than just being excited to have shot my first gobbler. I called this gobbler up, shot him, and retrieved him myself.  I was so excited because he had a long beard.  Little did I know that when I retrieved him he really had three beards, a 9 inch, a 6 ½ inch, and a 2 inch beard.  My parents were so excited because they knew what I had just done but I still really did not understand because I was a deer hunter and only understood racks. Once Mr. Stafford called and told me that I had won the Senior division of our local NWTF chapter Turkey Competition, it finally hit me what I had really done.
   If awarded this conservative scholarship, I would great investment because I plan to major in Forestry when I get to college.  Without Foresters, there would not be healthy wildlife habitats.  Without healthy wildlife habitats, our wildlife numbers will drastically decrease from many different things including diseases and starvation due to overpopulation.  As a Forester, I will be working first hand with Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Agents, and other Foresters, all of which work together for success in the Conservation Field.  Forestry is a huge part of my life.  I have competed in Forestry competitions successfully for many years.
   I am heavily involved with the Florida Parishes Shooting Sports.  My experiences with Shooting Sports demonstrates my dedication and preservation of our hunting heritage.  I assist younger children with hands-on activities including: safety in the woods, safe firearm handling, skeet shooting, archery, hunting, and much more.  I am also actively involved with 4-H and FFA and participate in many outdoor activities during the school year and summer time which include Forestry, building bird houses for our state parks, parish wide clean-up days, and many other activities.
   Please consider me, Corey Welch for this very important conservation scholarship opportunity.