Wildlife Judging

The Tennessee 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest helps youth develop skills in wildlife identification, habitat evaluation, and resource management. Through hands-on learning, participants strengthen their decision-making abilities while gaining a deeper understanding of how wildlife and their environments interact. Members learn to identify species, evaluate habitats, and recommend appropriate wildlife management practices for various situations, including aquatic environments.

About the Contest

This contest is open to 4-H members in the 4th to 12th grade, as of January 1st of the current year. The top three senior teams from each region will advance to the state contest. Please check the regional calendar for the exact date and location.

Teams consist of three or four members.
The top three individual scores are combined for the team total.

The contest has two parts:

Site Evaluation – members are taken to a site to judge and determine the wildlife management practices needed for each species of wildlife, including aquatic species
Wildlife Challenge – members are asked to identify a variety of wildlife species, including such things as food, calls, pelts, feathers, scat, or skulls

The state contest is typically held in late summer, with locations varying based on the ecological diversity of the contest.

State Awards:

First-place team: Plaque, medals for team members, and qualification for the National 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest.
First- and second-place high individual scorers: Plaques
Coach of winning team: Plaque (if the coach is a volunteer leader)

Did You Know?

WHEP was founded by faculty at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

About the Contest

Did You Know?

WHEP Manual