The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the honorees of its annual communications and photography recognition program with valued art first-place awards and second- and third-place certificates and cash awards at its annual meeting, held virtually, on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The Excellence in Craft communications and Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo awards program, co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, Redding Reloading Equipment and Sportsman Channel, was judged by highly regarded writers and editors from outside the organization.

The first-place awards in the Excellence in Craft program were this year’s annual edition of beautiful waterfowl decoys carved by renowned carver Bill Suitor of Youngstown, N.Y. Awards for first place in the photo recognition program were framed original painting on feathers by renowned artist and NYSOWA member Deborah Brosen of Kinderhook, N.Y.

A complete list of first- to third-place finishers in both the communication- and photo-award programs follows.

Excellence in Craft Communication Awards

Magazine Feature: First place, Chris Paparo, Sea Life Thrives in the Shadow of a New Bridge, 27 East, Summer, 2019; Second place, Angelo Peluso, Fished-Out Ponds, On the Water, May 2019; Third place, Angelo Peluso, Long Flyland, On the Water, July 2019.

Magazine Column: First place, Tom Schlichter, Northeast Seaboard: Coimbra’s Oil Incident, Southern Boating, July 2019; Second place, Charles Witek III, Conservation: Trading Quotas, American Angler, Jan./Feb. 2019; Third place, Tom Schlichter, Northeast Seaboard: Reflecting on Sharks, Southern Boating, Jan. 2019.

Newspaper Feature: First place, Tom Schlichter, Raising Oysters’ Profile, Newsday, April 21, 2019; Second place, Glenn Sapir, Call in the Hens, and the Toms Often Follow, New York Outdoor News, April 5, 2019; Third place, David Figura, Patients Get Hooked on Lures, The Post-Standard, July 7, 2019.

Newspaper Column: First place, Steve Piatt, Out There: Listening to Hailey, New York Outdoor News, Aug. 23, 2019; Second place, Glenn Sapir, Here and There, Now and Then: Hunters Welcome Here?, New York Outdoor News, Dec. 13, 2019; Third place, Steve Piatt, Out There: Chasing Girls—and Rainbows, New York Outdoor News, The Post Star, Oct. 4, 2019.

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Online Publication: First place, David Figura, An Eye-Opening Visit to a Catskills Black Bear Den, NewYorkUpstate.com, Feb. 27, 2019; Second place, Chris Paparo, Shark Sightings Are Something to Celebrate, Riverhead News Review, Aug. 8, 2019; Third place, Charles Witek, ASMFC: A Matter of Priorities, Marine Fish Conservation Network, April 10, 2019.

Book: First place, Glenn Sapir, A Sapir Sampler: Favorites by an Outdoor Writer, Ashmark Communications, Inc., 2018; Second place, Angelo Peluso, An Angler’s Guide to Smart Baits, Skyhorse Publishing, 2018; Third place, Todd Mead, Pursuing Public Land Bucks, Todd Mead, 2018.

Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Awards

Hunting & Fishing: First place, Angelo Peluso; Second place, Angelo Peluso; Third place, Mike Joyner

Outdoor Action: First place, Chris Paparo; Second place, Chris Paparo; Third place, Tom Schlichter.

Outdoor Scenic: First place, Chris Paparo; Second place, Chris Paparo; Third place, Tom Schlichter.

Wildlife: First place, Susan Kiesel; Second place, Tom Schlichter; Third place, Chris Paparo.

People: First place, Susan Kiesel; Second place, Tom Schlichter; Third place, Chris Paparo.

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