Page 59 - OSCSCI 38th Annual Banquet

Creative Writing Competition

2023

Essay Contest Sponsored By:

Theme: Students must use the theme, Hunting: Sharing the Heritage, Archery: What I like about Archery in the Schools and
Bowhunting or the concept of the theme to develop an expository essay or short story.
Eligibility: Students ages 11‐17 currently enrolled in any Oklahoma School and home school students are eligible for participa‐
tion. Winners of the 2022 contest are not eligible. Applicants must have successfully completed an Oklahoma Hunter Education
course by the entry deadline.
Number of Entries per school: There is no limit to the number of entries per school.

Specifications:
 Essay or short story should be double-spaced on white, 8 1/2 x 11 paper, with 1 1/2 inch margins on top, bottom and sides.
Typewritten copy is preferred. All essays or short stories must be legible.
 Length should not exceed 1,000 words (four typewritten pages) for short stories, or 500 words (two typewritten pages) for
essays.
 Students must have successfully completed an Oklahoma Hunter Education course by the entry deadline.
 Papers should be carefully proofed for spelling, punctuation, capitalization and grammar.
 A completed entry blank must be used as a cover sheet and stapled to the essay or short story. Entry must be typed or clear-
ly printed and signed by the teacher or youth group leader.


Judging: All essays or short stories will be judged in one of two categories: 11‐14 age group or 15‐17 age group. Applicants
will be judged on the use of the theme concept, creativity, neatness, proper grammar and punctuation. Winners of the
statewide competition will be notified by phone:
Prizes:
 In the 11‐14 age category: One boy and one girl will get a hunting trip at Rack Attack Outfitters in Fairview, Oklahoma
or similar and receive a scholarship to the Outdoor Texas Camp for hunting during the summer of 2024. The Oklahoma
Station Chapter of Safari Club International will reimburse the winners travel expenses up to a maximum of $500 per Essay
Contest Winner.
Apprentice Hunter Program Information: Outdoor Texas Camp’s hunting camp is a unique, hands‐on camp designed for
girls and boys aged 9‐16. The program covers hunting techniques, shotgun skills, survival, GPS use, tracking and interpret‐
ing sign, small and large caliber rifle skills and scoring and aging deer.
 In the 15‐17 age category: One girl and one boy will go on a guided antelope hunt in one of the Western States ‐ depend‐
ent on the ability to access Licenses and Permits. Note: most states with a huntable population of pronghorn antelope have
gone to a preference point system, with 5 preference points required to draw an antelope tag. It is possible to obtain per‐
mits from Sovereign Nations; which have their own game laws and frequently do not require preference points. If tags for
antelope do not become available a hunt of equivalent or greater value may be substituted. The Oklahoma Station of Safari
Club International will reimburse the winnersʹ travel expenses up to a maximum of $500 per Essay Contest Winner where
driving is a possibility. If we are required to fly, to help control over all costs ‐ all airfare for the contest winner and their
guardian will be reimbursed by the Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club International. Also included will be all meals
and lodging during the hunt as well as all license and permit costs.
The four statewide winners and their legal guardians will be invited to to attend an awards ceremony in 2023. In addition, the top 25 essay entrants will
receive a one‐year membership to Safari Club International. The four state winners’ entries will be printed in the Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club
57
International Newsletter “Safari Trails”.