The Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association presented the annual Excellence in Craft Awards at the conclusion of its virtual membership meeting on Saturday, Aug. 29. Awards Chair Brad Isles announced first-place awards to 17 individuals in 28 categories.
There were over 294 total entries by 36 members.
Winners are:
POWA CORE AWARDS
Best Newspaper Column (sponsored by Bob & Linda Steiner) – “So many Christmases” by Wade Robertson, published in the Bradford Era on Dec. 21, 2019.
Runner-up – “Defining moments: Hooking a young hunter for life” by Tyler Frantz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald on May 5, 2019.
Best Newspaper Feature (sponsored by Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing the Harvest) – “Cost of conservation: A hunting license goes a long way in PA” by Linda Stager, published in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette on Nov. 26, 2019.
Runner-up – “Hollywood is finally getting ‘reel’ portraying correct use of flintlock rifles in films” by Doyle Dietz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald on June 30, 2019.
Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Column (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Carpe Diem” by Marshall Nych, published in PA Outdoor Journal, Aug. 2019.
Runner-up – “Bowhunting the ‘Burbs” by Tyler Frantz, published in Pennsylvania Game News, July 2019.
Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Feature (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Memoirs of a Quehanna chief” by Ben Moyer, published in Pittsburgh Quarterly, Fall 2019.
Runner-up – “Amazing, Adaptable Whitetails” by Steve Sorensen, published in Deer and Deer Hunting, Dec. 2019.
Best Published Newspaper Photo, Color or Black & White (sponsored by POWA Past Presidents) – “Katydid on Coneflower” by Mark Nale, published in The Daily Herald on Sept. 12, 2019.
Runner-up – “No ‘Indecent’ Exposure” by Karen Wolf, published in the Dillsburg Banner on Aug. 1, 2019.
Best Published Magazine Photo, Color or Black & White (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Snarling Bobcat” by Ralph Scherder, published in American Frontiersman, Spring 2019.
Runner-up – Linda Stager for “Eagle and Eaglets” published as the cover for Explore Wellsboro, Spring/Summer 2019.
Best TV/Radio Award (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Pike County Tick Task Force” by Alex and JoAnne Zidock for Out in the Open TV on April 18, 2019.
Runner up – “Author/Naturalist Cindy Ross” by Doyle Dietz, Experience the Outdoors, Aug. 26, 2019.
Best Published Art Award, Color or Black & White (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “The Resting Place” by Gerald Putt, 2019 State of Maryland Duck Stamp.
Runner-up – “Finders Keepers” by Bob Sopchick, cover of Pennsylvania Game News, February 2019.
POWA SPECIALTY AWARDS
POWA Pass it on Award (sponsored by PA Environment Digest) – “Women and Hunting: Count Me In” by Joe Byers, published in Whitetails Unlimited, Fall 2019.
Runner-up – “Noah’s Arc” by Marshall Nych, published in Pennsylvania Outdoor Journal, June 2019.
Wildlife Conservation Partnership Award (sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission) – “Kinzua cooperative is a hit with deer hunters, timber producers and conservationists” by Ben Moyer, published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec. 19, 2019.
Runner-up – “Game Commission announces new partnership to aid with CWD” by Mark Nale, published in The Daily Herald on Aug. 22, 2019.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Raptor Conservation and Eco-Tourism Award (sponsored by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary) – “The migration has begun!” by Dave Wolf, published in the Dillsburg Banner on Sept. 26, 2019.
Runner-up – “Sore after the soar” by Marshall Nych, published in American Falconry, Summer 2019.
The Pennsylvania Elk Resource Award (sponsored by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance) – “Luck of the draw: Acquiring a Pa. elk tag leads to record bull” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald on Sept. 1, 2019.
Runner-up – “Call of the wild: Pennsylvania’s elk rut attracts nature enthusiasts” by Linda Stager, published in the Willamsport Sun-Gazette on Oct. 1, 2019.
Best Action Hunting, Trapping or Fishing Photograph (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Grin and Bear It” by Tyler Frantz, published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on Nov. 17, 2019.
Runner-up – “Trout Season Begins” by Dave Wolf, published in the Dillsburg Banner on April 14, 2019.
Best Conference-Related Material Award (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Overcoming adversity: Parallel histories flow through Valley Forge water” by Tyler Frantz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald on June 2, 2019.
Runner-up – “POWA West Chester Highlights” by Alex and JoAnne Zidock for Out in the Open TV, May 30, 2019.
Best Published Pennsylvania Fishing or Boating Related Newspaper Photo, Color or Black & White (sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission) – “Let’s Eat Trout” by Alex Zidock, published in the Journal-Herald on June 27, 2019.
Runner-up – “Rainbow Reflections” by Tyler Frantz, published in Pottsville Republican Herald on March 24, 2019.
Don Heckman – Tell the Story Award (sponsored the Pennsylvania Chapter of the NWTF) – “A Hallmark Season: Reflections of Pennsylvania’s 50th spring turkey hunt” by Bob Sopchick, published in Pennsylvania Game News, April 2019.
Runner-up – “Examining changing turkey populations in connection with West Nile Virus” by Bob Frye, published at everybodyadventures.com on July 3, 2019.
Handloading Promotion Award for Broadcast Media (sponsored by Redding Reloading) – “Gun Club Makes Reloading Easy” by Alex and JoAnne Zidock for Out in the Open TV on Aug. 8, 2019.
Runner-up – None.
Handloading Promotion Award for Electronic Media (sponsored by Redding Reloading) – “Hand loading allows good guns to shoot better” by Charlie Burchfield, published at bradfordera.com on Oct. 17, 2019.
Runner-up – “Three Generations” by Marshall Nych, published at bucktailoutdoors.com, December 2019.
Handloading Promotion Award for Print Media (sponsored by Redding Reloading) – “For demanding shooters, handloading’s the way to go” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald on Dec. 7, 2019.
Runner-up – “Tipped bullets keep on improving” by Charlie Burchfield, published in the Bradford Era on Sept. 26, 2019.
Outdoor Blog Entry Award (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Millennials on Safari” by Joe Byers, published at nrahlf.com on Nov. 27, 2019.
Runner-up – “Is Deer Hunting a Rich Man’s Game” by Ralph Scherder, published at bowhunting.com on Sept. 23, 2019.
Pennsylvania Trappers Award (sponsored by the Pennsylvania Trappers Association) – “Perfect Sets” by Rich Faler.
Runner-up – “The Master Trapper Course” by Ralph Scherder.
Trout and the Coldwater Resource Award (sponsored by Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited) – “Trickle Trout” by Ralph Scherder, published in American Angler, Spring 2019.
Runner-up – “Wild trout, a canary in the coal mine of water conservation” by John Hayes, published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on April 7, 2019.
Lantz Hoffman White-Tailed Deer Award (sponsored by Karen Wolf) – “Amazing, Adaptable Whitetails” by Steve Sorensen, published in Deer and Deer Hunting, December 2019.
Runner-up – “The Fog” by Marshall Nych, published in Pennsylvania Game News, October 2019.
Wildlife Art Award (sponsored by Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art) – To be determined.
Young Trees Habitat Award (sponsored by the Upland Bird Hunt Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society) – No winner.
Youth Fishing Award (sponsored by Expositions, Inc.) – “Hooked: Take a Kid Fishing and Help Save our rivers” by John Hayes, published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug. 18, 2019.
Runner-up – “Something very fishy going on at school” by Tom Tatum, published in the Daily Local News on April 16, 2019.
Youth and the Hunting/Shooting Sports Award (sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation) – “Three for Three: Parts I & II” by Brian R. Kightlinger, published at bowhunting.net on April 6 and April 9, 2019.
Runner-up – “Saturday deer opener for kids more important than catering to those going ‘camping’” by Doyle Dietz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald on Nov. 24, 2019.