Contests

Cason Williams, a 6-year-old first grader, won the 14th annual Big Buck Photo Contest sponsored by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) with his eight-point buck harvested during a father-son hunt in Dallas County. His photo received over 1,600 online votes, earning him a $100 gift card, Black Belt Bounty book, and Buckmasters Magazine subscription.

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin announced winners of their annual photo contest from over 630 submissions. William Petersen's blue dasher dragonfly photo won grand prize, with category winners including Steven Thompson, Elaina Brossman, Philip Knapp, and Cheryl Plautz selected by a panel of judges.

Wildlife Forever's Fish Art Contest invites students kindergarten through 12th grade to submit artwork by February 28, 2026. Supported by Bass Pro Shops, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Yamaha Rightwaters, Rapala, and the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, the program has engaged over 86,000 young artists from 46 countries since 1997.

Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) announced the 2026 Hunting Award Contest winners, recognizing exceptional hunting achievements by members across youth, archery, rifle, and international categories. Winners including William Alexander, Gary Ellison, and Chelsea Lester were honored at the HSCF Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention for their ethical hunting practices and fair chase principles.

Wildlife Forever announced winners of its 2025 Songbird Art Contest, which received record-breaking participation with over 3,500 entries from students across 36 countries and 43 U.S. states. The international youth art and education program celebrates songbird beauty while raising conservation awareness, with 12 National Winners selected alongside special honors for Best of Show and Art of Conservation.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced winners of Wyoming Wildlife magazine's 55th annual photo contest, which received over 2,500 submissions from nearly 500 photographers. Amy Gerber of Cody won the grand prize for her prairie rattlesnake photo titled "Entangled."

FWP announced winners of its hunting dog photo contest from nearly 500 entries. Mike Clingan's chocolate Lab Crosby won with 1,000 votes, while Adam Hunt's wirehaired pointing griffon Crockett received almost 850 votes. Both dogs are accomplished hunters with extensive experience across multiple states and hunting disciplines.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bannack Association are hosting an art contest to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bannack Days. Artists must submit scenes related to Montana's pioneer days or Bannack's early history by March 1, with the winning entry featured on 2026 merchandise and FWP promotional materials.

The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame has published details and an entry form for the new Lindsay Sale-Tinney Awards program, a communications contest for youth ages 12 to 15.

LEICA Sport Optics USA announced its sponsorship of DIVERGE 14, the latest edition of SITKA’s renowned annual photo competition. Now entering its fourteenth year, DIVERGE has cemented SITKA as a leader in tasteful, high-quality outdoor imagery and continues to inspire elevated creativity across the hunting community.

Youth hunters between the ages of 10 and 17 are invited to tell Gov. Greg Gianforte their best hunting story. Winners of the story contest will have a wild game dinner with the governor and have the opportunity to win prizes from Montana brands like Sitka, Stone Glacier and Kenetrek Boots. 

Wildlife Forever announces the continuation of its partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation for the 2025–26 Art of Conservation® Fish Art Contest. Through the Guy Harvey Shark Award, this special contest category celebrates the power of art to inspire appreciation and action for shark conservation.

Alabama’s Black Belt has earned a reputation as one of America’s premiere deer hunting destinations, and the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) wants to showcase your best buck again this year.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is preparing to open the entry period for its 2027 Conservation Stamp Art Contest. The annual competition selects a winner whose artwork will be featured on the state’s annual conservation stamp. The featured species for the 2027 contest is the Arctic grayling.

Time is running out for young artists to join the 2025 Songbird Art Contest. With just weeks left before the deadline, K–12 students are invited to celebrate the season’s remarkable migrations by creating artwork inspired by some of North America’s most captivating species.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking submissions for the 2026 Montana Migratory Bird Stamp contest. New this year, the contest is expanding to waterbird (shorebirds, waterfowl, or wetland dependent passerine) species in its natural habitat setting. The artwork should depict a Montana scene.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) announces the winners of the 2025 wildlife photo contest. All 12 winning photographs are included in the full-size 2026 wildlife calendar that is published in Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

Photographers have one week to enter the Wyoming Wildlife magazine’s annual Photo Contest. The deadline is 11:59 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17.

Country music’s man of the marsh, Riley “The Duckman” Green, and a few of his fellow singers and songwriters are cranking up the sound at the Duckman Jam Nov. 22 at Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, and you could find yourself backstage with a VIP experience by simply sharing your favorite family hunting story with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Wildlife Forever announces the Iowa DNR as the official State Host of the Iowa Songbird Art Contest. Youth across Iowa will now have new opportunities to learn about bird conservation through the national program that connects youth to science and creative arts.