Hamilton Reef
11-09-2004, 05:16 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 09 NOV 04
Contact: Dale Elshof, 517-432-7651
Students invited to design Michigan wild turkey patch
Michigan students have an opportunity to help wildlife in Michigan by designing a patch for the third annual wild turkey patch contest.
The contest is open to all students grades K-12. The winning design will be incorporated into the 2006 Michigan wild turkey management cooperator patch. The winner and his or her parents or guardians will be invited to the Michigan chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) banquet in January 2005, where the winner will receive a $100 award.
“Youth can use their design skills and creativity to help wild turkeys by improving their habitat in Michigan,” says Dale Elshoff, Project WILD coordinator at Michigan State University. “Wild turkeys disappeared in Michigan in the early 1900s, but now, thanks to proper management, our turkey population has returned to healthy levels.”
The cooperator patch program was launched in 1972, when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources provided patches to deer hunters as an incentive to bring harvested deer into DNR check stations. Cooperator patches for turkeys and bears also were added to help collect management data for these animals.
The Michigan chapter of the NWTF now facilitates the production of the wild turkey management cooperator patch, which is available to anyone. Sales and proceeds are used to support wild turkey-related projects in Michigan. The Michigan Chapter of the NWTF, Project WILD and the DNR are sponsoring this year’s contest.
For more information and complete contest rules, visit www.canr.msu.edu/projectwild/ or contact Dale Elshoff at elshoff@msu.edu or 517-432-7651. All entries must be postmarked by Dec. 9.
Contact: Dale Elshof, 517-432-7651
Students invited to design Michigan wild turkey patch
Michigan students have an opportunity to help wildlife in Michigan by designing a patch for the third annual wild turkey patch contest.
The contest is open to all students grades K-12. The winning design will be incorporated into the 2006 Michigan wild turkey management cooperator patch. The winner and his or her parents or guardians will be invited to the Michigan chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) banquet in January 2005, where the winner will receive a $100 award.
“Youth can use their design skills and creativity to help wild turkeys by improving their habitat in Michigan,” says Dale Elshoff, Project WILD coordinator at Michigan State University. “Wild turkeys disappeared in Michigan in the early 1900s, but now, thanks to proper management, our turkey population has returned to healthy levels.”
The cooperator patch program was launched in 1972, when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources provided patches to deer hunters as an incentive to bring harvested deer into DNR check stations. Cooperator patches for turkeys and bears also were added to help collect management data for these animals.
The Michigan chapter of the NWTF now facilitates the production of the wild turkey management cooperator patch, which is available to anyone. Sales and proceeds are used to support wild turkey-related projects in Michigan. The Michigan Chapter of the NWTF, Project WILD and the DNR are sponsoring this year’s contest.
For more information and complete contest rules, visit www.canr.msu.edu/projectwild/ or contact Dale Elshoff at elshoff@msu.edu or 517-432-7651. All entries must be postmarked by Dec. 9.