Nearly $12,000 awarded to winners of 2015 OWAA Excellence in Craft Contests

The Outdoor Writers Association of America is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Excellence in Craft Contests. First, second and third-place winners were chosen in 10 contests. Entries were from work created in 2014. Cash prizes totaled more than $11,000. Prize money, plaques and certificates were presented to winners at OWAA’s 88th annual conference in Knoxville, Tennessee.

For more information on the annual EIC contests, visit http://www.owaa-oldsite.birchbarkmedia.com/eic.

OWAA thanks the 2015 contest sponsors – National Rifle Association, Ocean Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Realtree – for their continued support of this prestigious contest program.

2015 winners are as follows:

Television/Video/Webcast Contest

Conservation or Nature Category
Sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts

• 1st place: David Majure, “Arizona’s Endangered Mexican Wolf,” http://www.azgfd.gov/video, October 17, 2014
• 2nd place: Charles “Trey” Reid, “Hummingbird Banding at Cooks Lake,” KARK Channel 4, August 17, 2014
• 3rd place: John Carlin, “Trout Unlimited: Fracking could endanger national forest trout streams,” WSLS-TV Roanoke, November 14, 2014

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education Category
Sponsored by Realtree

• 1st place (tie): David Majure, “Kids and Wild Gobblers,” http://www.azgfd.gov/video, October 30, 2014

• 1st place (tie): Grant McOmie , “Salmon Watch,” KGW-TV Portland, Oregon, October 8, 2014
• 1st place (tie): Charles “Trey” Reid, “McNair Middle School Fly Fishing Club,” KARK Channel 4, August 3, 2014

Fishing Category
Sponsored by Ocean Conservancy

• 1st place: Tim C. Smith, “Recreational Long Range Tuna Fishing,” http://www.thefisherman.com, February 1, 2014
• 2nd place: Charles “Trey” Reid, “Crooked Creek and the Art of Fly Fishing,” KARK Channel 4, September 28, 2014
• 3rd place: Grant McOmie, “Bobber Doggin’ Steelhead,” KGW-TV, Portland, Oregon, March 19, 2014

Hunting or Shooting Sports Category
Sponsored by the National Rifle Association

• 1st place: David Majure, “Kids and Wild Gobblers,” http://www.azgfd.gov/video, October 30, 2014
• 2nd place: David Majure, “A Blast from the Past,” http://www.azgfd.gov/video, November 30, 2014

• 3rd place: Karen Loke, “Dove Forecast 2014,” http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasParksWildlife/, September 2, 2014

Outdoor Fun and Adventure Category

• 1st place: Brett Prettyman, “The Utah Bucket List 2,” KUED Channel 7, August 11, 2014*
• 2nd place: Grant McOmie, “Oregon’s Iron Giant,” KGW-TV Portland, Oregon, July 2, 2014

• 3rd place: David Majure, “Wings Over Willcox,” http://www.azgfd.gov/video, May 22, 2014

Radio/Podcast Contest

Conservation or Nature Category
Sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts

• 1st place: John Kruse, “Winter Whale Watching,” Northwestern Outdoors Radio, December 26, 2014
• 2nd place: Ty Stockton, “Hunters need more conversations about ethics,” Cowboy State News Network, November 18, 2014
• 3rd place: Ty Stockton, “Don’t commercialize wild deer,” Cowboy State News Network, November 20, 2014

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education Category
Sponsored by Realtree

• 1st place: John Kruse, “Creating Memories for Disabled Children,” Northwestern Outdoors Radio, December 20, 2014
• 2nd place: Ty Stockton, “Take a kid hunting,” Cowboy State News Network, March 18, 2014
• 3rd place: Dan Small, “Sara Nieheuser – Women on Target,” Outdoor Radio Network – WHBL, November 22, 2014

Fishing Category
Sponsored by Ocean Conservancy

• 1st place: Ty Stockton, “If you catch and release, release ‘em right,” Cowboy State News Network, July 29, 2014
• 2nd place: Dan Small, “The Magic of Spring Creek Trouting,” Outdoor Radio Network – WHBL, August 16, 2014
• 3rd place: John Kruse, “Montana Ice Fishing with Mike Howe,” Northwestern Outdoors Radio, January 11, 2014

Gear/Technical Category

• 1st place: Ty Stockton, “The one-shot “sight-in,” Cowboy State News Network, February 18, 2014
• 2nd place: John Kruse, “Wide Angle Shooting Systems,” Northwestern Outdoors Radio, December 13, 2014
• 3rd place: Dan Small, “Survival Tips for Hunters,” Outdoor Radio Network – WHBL, February 22, 2014

Humor Category

• 1st place: Dan Small, “Red Green on Tour,” Outdoor Radio Network – WHBL, March 22, 2014*
• 2nd place: Ty Stockton, “Jackalope will finally be federally protected,” Cowboy State News Network, April 1, 2014
• 3rd place: Ty Stockton, “Facebook is getting creepy,” Cowboy State News Network, May 6, 2014

Hunting or Shooting Sports Category
Sponsored by the National Rifle Association

• 1st place: Ty Stockton, “Long-range hunting brings up questions of fair chase,” Cowboy State News Network, August 13, 2014
• 2nd place: Ty Stockton, “The economics of shooting,” Cowboy State News Network, January 27, 2014
• 3rd place: Charles Burchfield, “Trigger Finger Deer Management,” WCED 1420 AM/107.9 FM/96.7 FM, November 10, 2014

Outdoor Fun and Adventure Category

• 1st place: John Kruse, “Route of the Hiawatha,” Northwestern Outdoors Radio, August 16, 2014
• 2nd place: Dan Small, “Shipwreck Survivor Dennis Hale,” Outdoor Radio Network – WHBL, March 8, 2014
• 3rd place: Ty Stockton, “Return of the “Moat” makes me glad I have a boat,” Cowboy State News Network, February 24, 2014

Magazine/E-zine Contest

Conservation or Nature Category
Sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts

• 1st place: Hal Herring, “Rotenone Reality,” Trout magazine, Summer 2014
• 2nd place: Dave Smith, “Sandhills and Cycles,” Arizona Wildlife Views, January/February 2014
• 3rd place: Nate Schweber, “Dr. Trout,” Trout magazine, Winter 2014

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education Category
Sponsored by Realtree

• 1st place: Matthew Copeland, “Lessons From the Land,” Wyoming Wildlife, September 2014*
• 2nd place: Lisa Ballard, “Raising an Outdoorsman,” Colorado Outdoors
• 3rd place: Pat Wray, “Telling Stories,” Game & Fish Magazines, April 2014

Fishing Category
Sponsored by Ocean Conservancy

• 1st place: Tom Sadler, “Back to the Basics,” Fly Rod & Reel, Summer 2014
• 2nd place: Andy Whitcomb, “Fishy Relationships,” ICAST Show Guide, July 2014
• 3rd place: Brian Irwin, “Revived,” The Drake, October 2014

Gear/Technical Category

• 1st place: James Smedley, “Keepers,” Ontario Out of Doors Magazine, August 2014
• 2nd place: Shane Townsend, “The Original Multitool,” Field & Stream, March 2014
• 3rd place: Wm. Hovey Smith, “Two Years with Young Blunderbuss,” Whitetails Unlimited, Winter 2014

Humor Category

• 1st place: Pat Wray, “The Best of Deliveries — A Bearskin Rug,” Game & Fish Magazines, May 2014
• 2nd place: Tom Keer “Wearing off the Brown,” Sporting Classics Daily, November 2014
• 3rd place: Steve Duda, “The Post-Capital Wilderness,” The Fly Fish Journal, Spring 2014

Hunting or Shooting Sports Category
Sponsored by the National Rifle Association

• 1st place: Mark Herwig, “Paw Power,” Pheasants Forever Journal, Fall 2014
• 2nd place: Michael Furtman, “The Beaver Ponds,” Ducks Unlimited, July/August 2014
• 3rd place: Tom Keer, “Best of the Sporting South: Top Dog,” Garden & Gun, December 2014/January 2015

Outdoor Fun and Adventure Category

• 1st place: Russell Roe, “Courage and a Rope,” Texas Parks & Wildlife, May 2014
• 2nd place: Tim Gallagher, “Subantarctic Sojourn,” Living Bird, Summer 2014
• 3rd: Marty Basch, “Exploring New Hampshire’s North Country on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail,” New Hampshire Wildlife Journal, May/June 2014

Newspaper/News Website Contest

Conservation or Nature Category
Sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts

• 1st place: Nate Schweber, “Moving Back Home Together,” New York Times, August 25, 2014
• 2nd place: Tristan Baurick, “Running free again,” Kitsap Sun, August, 24, 2014
• 3rd place: David Hendee, “Answering the call of the cranes,” Omaha World-Herald, March 16, 2014

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education Category
Sponsored by Realtree

• 1st place: Brent Frazee, “The hunt for diversity,” The Kansas City Star, December 21, 2014
• 2nd place: Brett Prettyman, “Father and daughter trek through Antarctica together,” Salt Lake Tribune, December 8, 2014
• 3rd place: Pat Wray, “Outdoor adventures with one of life’s treasures,” Corvallis Gazette-Times, November 20, 2014

Fishing Category
Sponsored by Ocean Conservancy

• 1st place: Tom Tatum, “Looking back at my most memorable catch,” Daily Local News, April 15, 2014
• 2nd place: Tom Stienstra “Fishing pole a present connection to past,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 29, 2014
• 3rd place: Christine Peterson, “All in a day’s work,” Casper Star-Tribune, August 21, 2014

Gear/Technical Category

• 1st place: Brett Prettyman, “Hot New Gear is Worth the Wait,” Salt Lake Tribune, August 9, 2014
• 2nd place: Brett Prettyman, “Insider’s Guide to Outdoor Gear,” Salt Lake Tribune, February 9, 2014
• 3rd place: Bob Frye, “Wooden crankbaits have their place on the water,” Tribune-Review, June 8, 2014

Humor Category

• 1st place: Marty Basch, “From Mount Israel, such a view,” Concord Monitor, July 20, 2014
• 2nd place: Mark Freeman, “Grill-to-grill dining is not an Oregon thing,” (Medford) Mail Tribune, December 5, 2014
• 3rd place: Pat Wray, “Morning ministrations of old men,” Corvallis Gazette-Times, April 10, 2014

Hunting or Shooting Sports Category
Sponsored by the National Rifle Association

• 1st place: Pat Wray, “Natural progression realized during hunt with son,” Corvallis Gazette-Times, January 15, 2014
• 2nd place: Mark Freeman, “Not by a long shot?,” (Medford) Mail Tribune, September 26, 2014
• 3rd place: Nelson Sigelman, “On Martha’s Vineyard, women embraced by hunting’s bonds,” The Martha’s Vineyard, January 30, 2014

Outdoor Fun and Adventure Category

• 1st place: Tom Stienstra, “Paddling with giants: Humpback whale spectacle in Monterey Bay,” San Francisco Chronicle, August 5, 2014*
• 2nd place: Brett Prettyman, “Nonprofit shares outdoor ‘magic’ with people with disabilities,” Salt Lake Tribune, July 7, 2014
• 3rd place: Mark Freeman, “Green Skiing,” (Medford) Mail Tribune, May 16, 2014

Blog Contest

Conservation or Nature Category
Sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts

• 1st place: Matthew Copeland, “The Birds and the Beast: A Real Life Fable,” Stalking the Seam, March 31, 2014
• 2nd place: Bob Bramblet, “Everglades Restoration and Our Responsibility,” No Secrets blog, September 1, 2014
• 3rd place: Candice Andrews, “On the Loss of Passenger Pigeons and Parks,” Good Nature Travel, June 3, 2014

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education Category
Sponsored by Realtree

• 1st place: Chris Madson, “The lesson,” The Land Ethic, September 2, 2014
• 2nd place: Tom Keer, “Handing over the reins…or check cords,” SportDOG Brand blog, March 27, 2014
• 3rd place: Matthew Copeland, “Garden Hackle,” Stalking the Seam, May 30, 2014

Fishing Category
Sponsored by Ocean Conservancy

• 1st place: Tom Keer, “Rebuilding Angler Stocks One at a Time,” Takemefishing.org, December 3, 2014
• 2nd place: Robert Ford, “Uncomfortable – Trout Fishing,” NC Real Outdoors, September 29, 2014
• 3rd place: Tom Keer, “Learning from Family and Friends,” Takemefishing.org, December 17, 2014

Gear/Technical Category

• 1st place: Matthew Copeland, “Choosing the Right Hunting
  Binocular,” Stalking the Seam, December 12, 2014
• 2nd place: Ty Stockton, “Keep the fancy wheels out of the snow,” TyStockton.com, February 17, 2014
• 3rd place: Marty Basch, “Review Scubba Wash Bag,” ActionHub, August 7, 2014

Humor Category

• 1st place: Matthew Copeland, “Ultra Sensitive,” Stalking the Seam, March 3, 2014*
• 2nd place: Robert Ford, “Rabbit Hunting in NC – ‘Aha’,” NC Real Outdoors, April 14, 2014
• 3rd place: Robert Ford, “O’BeagleCare,” NC Real Outdoors, March 24, 2014

Hunting or Shooting Sports Category
Sponsored by the National Rifle Association

• 1st place: Tom Keer, “Improve Your Dog Work by Hunting for a Different Species,” SportDOG Brand blog, February 20, 2014
• 2nd place: Tom Keer, “Working with Different Dogs,” SportDOG Brand blog, July 24, 2014
• 3rd place: Matthew Copeland, “Harvest,” Stalking the Seam, September 29, 2014

Outdoor Fun and Adventure Category

• 1st place: Mike Sepelak, “We Went Awalkin’…Again,” Mike’s Gone Fishin’, September 8, 2014
• 2nd place: Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, “Trails I’ve Hiked: Hamburger Rocks at Capital Reef National Park,” National Parks Traveler, July 2, 2014
• 3rd place: Ken Keffer, “3 Dunes Challenge,” Destination Nature, August 23, 2014

Column Contest

Overall Category

• 1st place: Ted Williams, “A Mighty Wind,” “The Edge of Insanity,” “Hydro-Quebec Hits Granite;” Audubon
• 2nd place: Tom Stienstra, “Fishing pole a present connection to past,” “Thrill of the hunt, click of the shutter,” “Farming for birds: Rice farmers rescue wetlands;” San Francisco Chronicle
• 3rd place: Tom Keer, “Puppy Love,” “Alone in the Woods,”
  “Naming Coverts;” Covey Rise

Book/E-book Contest

General Audience Category

• 1st place: Randy Spencer, “Wide and Deep: Tales and Recollections from a Master Maine Fishing Guide”
• 2nd place: Edward Kanze, “Adirondack: Life and Wildlife in the Wild, Wild East”
• 3rd place: Jay Zimmerman, “The Top Ten Guide to Fly Fishing”

Children’s Story in a Newspaper, Magazine or Web Product Contest

Overall Category

• 1st place: Ellen Horowitz, “Aspen Grove Grocery,” Ranger Rick magazine, October 2014
• 2nd place: Michael Furtman, “Meet the Dabbling Ducks,” Puddler Magazine, Summer 2014
• 3rd place: Michael Furtman, “Super-Duper Diving Ducks,” Puddler Magazine, Fall 2014

Illustration/Graphic Contest

General/Overall Category

• 1st place: Joe Mahler, “Pick Up Illustration,” Fly Fisherman Magazine – Gear Guide Edition, November 2014
• 2nd place: Joe Mahler, “Stripping Illustration,” Fly Fisherman Magazine, June/July 2014
• 3rd place: Bruce Cochran, “Marsh Madness: “A Twitter? Honest! I thought it was a teal,” Wildfowl magazine, September 2014

Photography Contest

Action Category

• 1st place: Gary Kramer, “Flushing Pheasant,” Outdoor Life – Cast & Blast, October 2014
• 2nd place: Ken Dunwoody, “Flying Eagle on San Juan Island,” art print
• 3rd place: Michael Furtman, “Hooded Merganser Duckling’s Leap of Faith,” Puddler Magazine, Summer 2014

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education Category
Sponsored by Realtree

• 1st place: James Smedley, “Grimacing,” Northern Wilds magazine, February 2014
• 2nd place: James Smedley, “Turtle Rapids,” Canoe Roots magazine, August 2014
• 3rd place: Gary Kramer, “Young Goose Hunter,” Ducks Unlimited Magazine, September/October 2014

Fauna Category

• 1st place: Tim Gallagher, “King Penguins,” Living Bird, Summer 2014
• 2nd place: Christopher Paparo, “Bullfrog,” Fish Guys Photo Calendar, 2014
• 3rd place: Gary Kramer, “Wolves on Deer Kill,” Silver Creek Press Wolves Calendar, 2014

Flora Category

• 1st place: Joseph Dits, “Wetland Leaves,” South Bend Tribune, September 28, 2014
• 2nd place: Ann and Rob Simpson, “Mountain Lady’s Slipper,” Nature Guide to Yosemite National Park, October 2014
• 3rd place Ann and Rob Simpson, “Crimson Columbine,” Nature Guide to Yosemite National Park, October 2014

Outdoor Fun and Adventure Category

• 1st place: Jessica McGlothlin, “Marley and Jake,” The Fly Fish Journal, September 2014
• 2nd place: Ann and Rob Simpson, “Cross Country Skier Yosemite,” Nature Guide to Yosemite National Park, October 2014
• 3rd place: Mike Wintroath, “Hooked on Fishing,” Arkansas Wildlife Calendar, July 2014-July 2015

People Category

• 1st place: Lisa Ballard, “Casting on Wade Lake,” Montana Headwall magazine, Spring 2014
• 2nd place: Gary Kramer, “Young Goose Hunter,” Ducks Unlimited Magazine, September/October 2014
• 3rd place: Gary Kramer, “Fishing with Bear on Brooks River, Alaska,” American Sportsman Calendars – A Sporsman’s Desk Calendar, 2014

Scenic Category

• 1st place: David Schneider, “Monumental Morning,” art print
• 2nd place: Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, “Winter Sunset at Raven’s Nest,” Travel+Leisure website, October 21, 2014
• 3rd place: Betty Wills, “Windmill at Sunset,” The Ranch Gallery, September 2014