RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 22, 2019) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking nominations for its Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Award, which recognizes an individual or organization whose actions have significantly and positively impacted North Carolina’s small game populations through habitat management, education, research, the Hunting Heritage Program or other efforts. These actions also benefit other species, including nongame animals such as songbirds, reptiles and amphibians.

Nominations for this year’s awards are due by the end of closing on May 1. Winners are selected by the Commission’s Small Game and Wild Turkey Committee and will be recognized formally at the Commission’s business meeting in October with a plaque and wildlife print. 

The awards are named for the late Larry Diedrick, a lawyer and a former Wildlife Commissioner from Rocky Mount who died in 2002. Diedrick was well known for his passion and advocacy of wildlife conservation, in particular small game. 

In the individual category, past award winners have been landowners who improved and integrated small game habitat into their forestry or farming operations. In the organization category, past award winners have included corporations, government agencies, and non-government organizations whose actions improved small game habitat.

Anyone interested in submitting an award nomination must submit a nomination form and a written explanation describing why the nominee should receive the award. The written explanation should include the following:

• Methods the nominee has used to further conservation of small game species
• Commitment, effort, and longevity of the nominee’s efforts
• Accomplishments and results of the nominee’s efforts
• How the nominee’s efforts impact small game populations at the local, regional, or state-wide scale
• The long-lasting benefit to small game populations which will result from the nominee’s efforts

Please limit the explanation to no more than two pages. Nominations can be submitted by emailing stacey.thorpe@ncwildlife.org or mailing to: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Wildlife Management Division, c/o Diedrick Small Game Award, 1722 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1722.

For more information about small game management in North Carolina, visit www.ncwildlife.org/hunting.