Many thanks to all of the college and high school students who participated in the 2021 South Carolina Wildlife essay contest. Submissions were received from each corner of the Palmetto State!

We would also like to extend our great appreciation to the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, sponsor of the South Carolina Wildlife essay contest.

The judges of the contest were impressed by the excellent quality of writing and the broad array of outdoor stories.

The scores have been tallied, and the results are in! It was nearly impossible to select the top five essays, as many writers shared vivid, well-written accounts of their adventures, and essays included valuable information about South Carolina’s natural resources.

The TOP FIVE essays are listed below. They are ordered alphabetically, by the last name of the writer. Each essay will soon be posted on www.SouthCarolinaWild.org.

The Best Lesson
by Bryson Backman

A Different Kind of Hunting 
by Anna O’Cain

The First and Last Cast
by Dylan Price

The World Beyond the Back Porch
by Emery Tumbleston

My Favorite Hunt; A Glimpse of the Good Ole’ Days of Simple Hunting
by Kelly Venning

 

• The five top-scoring winners will be contacted by the staff of South Carolina Wildlife magazine.
• Stay Tuned! The overall winner, one of the top five, will soon be announced!
• Please email thompsonc@dnr.sc.gov with questions about the contest or to inquire about future submissions.

On behalf of the staff of South Carolina Wildlife magazine, we send our best wishes to the students who submitted essays. You are the future outdoor writers of our great state! Please continue to submit your stories and photography. We will do our very best to publish your work here on www.SouthCarolinaWild.org