In the year 2000 Bill and Ellen Carter, founders of Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores headquartered in Spring,
Texas, established the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Texas. The primary mission of the foundation is to
award
scholarships to assist high school graduates and college students who are studying to pursue careers in the
outdoor field, be it wildlife or agriculture.
The Carters, also longtime owners of the Sombrerito Ranch in Webb County, Apache Springs Ranch in Kerr
County
and
Cotton Mesa Ranch in southeast Colorado, felt that one way to help insure that firearms ownership, hunting
and
wildlife conservation will be around for future generations was to help young students to get an education
and
pursue a career in the outdoor field.