The Valley Land Fund - Dedicated to the conservation of the unique natural habitats of the Lower Rio Grande Valley for future generations.

The Valley Land Fund’s
Wildlife Photo Contest 2008
Small Tract Competition

$20,000 in Cash Prizes!
From back yards up to 100 Acres
Lots of fun and rewarding!

PHOTOGRAPHERS
LANDOWNERS
SPONSORS

Registration: January 2007 through February 29, 2008
Contest runs April 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008

Reminder Submission deadline is July 8th, Tuesday 5 o'clock - We strongly encourage you to submit by Tuesday. For those of you who may need more time we are offering an extension for submissions until Friday July 11th at 12 o'clock. You must contact the Valley Land Fund Office at 956-686-6429 and inform staff of the extension.

Rules: Read the Rules Online

THE VALLEY LAND FUND
Over 90% of Texas land is privately owned. Landowners of less than 100 acres play a crucial role in the conservation of habitat, especially in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. What tomorrow's generation will know of wildlife, we decide today. Wise landowners will recognize their power to make a difference.

To be saved, wildlife must be important to people. Wildlife photographers bring nature to the eyes of friends, neighbors and the public. Their photographs create lasting impressions of respect, admiration and compassion.

The Valley Land Fund (VLF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit land trust, was founded in 1986 to preserve, expand and enhance the remaining wildlife habitat of the Lower Rio Grande Valley through education, land ownership and the creation of economic incentives. The VLF believes that wildlife conservation can best be promoted through sound economic incentives for private landowners. In this spirit, the VLF has created three wildlife photo contests:

In this spirit, The Valley Land Fund has created three Wildlife Photo Contests:

The South Texas Shootout
The richest wildlife photo contest in the world (since 1994)

The Small Tract Competition
Designed for small tract landowners (up to 100 acres)

The Youth Photo Contest
Introducing young people to wildlife photography and conservation (ages 10-19)

$20,000 IN CASH and PRIZES!
Other prizes may be awarded including gift certificates, equipment, events and services offered by contest sponsors.

For more information, contact us

Photo Contest Management Committee
Tony Corso
Esperanza Chapa
Michelle Romero
John Martin
Jack Wilson

WHO CAN ENTER
Any owner of private land (up to 100 acres) in the following eight counties of South Texas: Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, Willacy and Zapata. Any photographer, professional or amateur may enter as an individual. The competition is limited to those who register and pay the entry fee. Please note that a landowner may not pair with other landowners.

WHERE & WHEN
Paid entries are due by February 29, 2008. Images are to be taken April 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008, with submissions due on July 08, 2008. All images must be taken on the land that is registered by the landowner-photographer team.

ENTRY FEE
$125 per landowner entry and $125 per photographer entry. An entrant who registers as both landowner and photographer pays both fees. $25 discount if paid and registered by 12/31/2007.

THE LANDOWNER-PHOTOGRAPHER TEAM
The landowner and photographer must form a team to compete. The landowner enters with land and wildlife and establishes the rules of access and conduct on the land. The photographer takes all images and selects which ones are submitted. The Valley Land Fund will maintain a list of unmatched landowners and photographers. It is the responsibility of the participants to make their own contacts and arrangements. Landowners and photographers may enter the Small Tract Competition or the South Texas Shootout - but not both.

THE CONTEST
Submission
All entries must be either mounted 35mm color slides or high-resolution digital images. Photographers may submit slides or scan and enter them as digital images. Rules of acceptable digital manipulation apply to all photos. Rules will be sent to each participant after receiving registration form and fee. Photographers may submit a maximum of 25 images representing the 5 Divisions - 25 classes. No more than three images may be submitted per class. The Valley Land Fund cannot assume responsibility for submissions, yet utmost care is taken to ensure proper handling. All submissions remain the property of the photographer and will be returned. The VLF and its sponsors reserve certain rights to use the winning images, including, but not limited to, production of brochures, promotion of future contests, public relations, advertising, education, books, prints and a traveling photo display. Sponsors will also receive prints of winning photos. Official Rules here.

RARE CAT COMPETITION
A landowner-photographer team may elect to enter the Rare Cat Competition, where a winning image of a mountain lion, jaguarundi or ocelot will win $5,000. Participants of the South Texas Shootout and the Small Tract Competition compete collectively for this single prize. The registration fee is an added $25 for the photographer and $25 for the landowner. Fees for this competition must be received on or before February 29, 2008. Special rules apply.

SPONSORS
Sponsorship opportunities are available. The VLF has been blessed with national, regional and local sponsors for each photo contest. Please take an active role in conservation by joining this worthwhile effort. Contact The Valley Land Fund for details.

Official Rules

Check Out The Competition!
Visit this page periodically to see a growing list of participants. . Register today!