Contests

Emily Horst of Harrisonburg, Virginia won the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association's inaugural Big Catfish Photo Contest with her 67-pound hand-caught catfish. Horst's noodling photo received the most online votes, earning her a guided trip with Bama Noodling. Jonathan House placed second and Owen Patterson finished third in the contest celebrating Alabama's Black Belt fishing opportunities.

The 2026 Watchable Wildlife Contest is open with an October 1 deadline for photo submissions. The contest features three categories: nongame species, game species, and plants and insects. Photographers can submit up to five entries taken in North Dakota through the Game and Fish Department's website.

Idaho Fish and Game is accepting art submissions for 2027 durable hard card licenses featuring cutthroat trout, steelhead, pronghorn, mule deer, or Geronimo the parachuting beaver. Two artists will be selected and each awarded $1,000, with submissions due by August 31, 2026.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is accepting art and photo submissions through July 31 for hard card license designs. Five entries will be selected and printed on hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in early 2027, with artist names credited on the cards.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's wildlife photo contest, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is now accepting submissions through August 14, 2026. One best-in-show and 11 winners will be featured in the Arizona Wildlife Views 2027 calendar, with the winning photo appearing on the cover. Participants can submit up to three photos via an online form in partnership with Arizona Highways.

Wildlife Forever announced the 2026 Guy Harvey Shark Award winners, a special division of the Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest sponsored by the Guy Harvey Foundation. Winners from K-12th grade received signed prints from marine artist Dr. Guy Harvey for their original shark artwork and conservation writing.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation invites artists to enter the 45th annual Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp Design Competition featuring the white-fronted goose. Artwork is due by the final Friday in August, with the winning artist receiving a $1,200 purchase award and their design featured on the 2027-28 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is accepting submissions for the 19th annual Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest during June 2026. Indiana residents can submit photos in four categories: On the Farm, Faces of Agriculture, Agritourism, and Conservation. Ten winners will be selected and recognized at the Indiana State Fair by Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Director Don Lamb.

The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) is launching its inaugural Big Catfish Photo Contest from May 27 through July 12, 2026, inviting anglers of all ages to submit catfish photos for a chance to win a two-person guided trip with Bama Noodling. The contest celebrates catfishing tourism and outdoor recreation across Alabama's Black Belt region.

Target Sports USA is hosting its 2nd annual Donut Round Challenge on June 5-12, 2026, inviting participants to shoot through donut holes for a chance to win $25 gift cards and mystery tactical gear. Participants can enter by posting videos on social media with the hashtag #TSUSADonutRoundChallenge2026.

Northern Michigan artist Kim Diment won Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' 2026 Migratory Bird Stamp contest with her artwork of northern shovelers. Her winning entry was selected from 60 submissions by the Montana Wetlands Protection Advisory Council. Diment receives a $2,000 prize funded by Montana's Outdoor Legacy Foundation and Montana Audubon.

Clifford Kazanjian from Hopkinton won Best of Show in the 2026 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Contest with his acrylic painting "Resurfaced" depicting a red-breasted merganser. His work was selected from 78 entries and will represent Massachusetts at the National JDS Contest. The program is sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology announced winners of its annual Historic Preservation Month photo contest. Winners include Cindi Myers, Kyle Hooker, Carla Hall, George Overpeck, and Jennifer Minnis across categories including Altered, Black and White, Color, Kids, and National Road themes.

Wyoming Game and Fish will announce winners of the 43rd annual Conservation Stamp Art Show on April 24 at 5:30 p.m., featuring Arctic grayling as the 2027 contest species. The virtual event, broadcast on the Game and Fish YouTube channel and sponsored by the WYldlife Fund, will award $3,500 to the adult winner and include a People's Choice Award vote.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is accepting paintings for its 2027 Working Together for Wildlife Art Contest, featuring Pennsylvania shorebirds, with entries due July 31, 2026. The winning artist receives $5,000 plus 25 artist proof prints, with additional cash awards for second through fifth place finishers.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department announced winners of the 2026 Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest in partnership with Wildlife Forever. A total of 337 Vermont students submitted artwork, with winners selected across four grade categories. Winners receive fishing rods and reels, with their art featured in the 2027 Fishing Guide and Regulations publication.

Wildlife Forever, in partnership with Major League Fishing and Bass Pro Shops Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, announces the REDCREST Fish Art Contest, a free youth art competition for grades K-12 held during the REDCREST World Championship and Outdoor Sports Expo in Springfield, Missouri, April 17-19. Winners will receive fishing equipment and prize packages.

RETAY USA launched its annual Turkey Photo Contest inviting hunters to share field photos for chances to win RETAY shotguns, NOMAD turkey vests, and PatternPros packages. The contest runs March 1 – May 31 with entries submitted through retaynation.com/giveaways/.

The Gulf Council is hosting a photo contest celebrating its 50th Anniversary, inviting photographers to submit images showcasing Gulf fisheries, coastal communities, and marine life. Winning photos will be displayed in Council offices and featured in publications and materials, with submissions due by April 30, 2026.

The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) announces the 14th annual Big Gobbler Photo Contest for spring turkey season, inviting hunters to submit photos for prizes including a $100 gift card, Thermacel mosquito repellent, Black Belt Bounty book, and Buckmasters prize pack. Voting ends May 10, with the most-voted photo crowned winner.