POWA recognizes Excellence in Craft winners

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association presented the annual Excellence in Craft Awards during its Spring Conference banquet at The Franklin in Franklin, PA on May 5, 2018. Awards Chair Brad Isles distributed first-place awards to 15 individuals in 28 categories.

There were over 325 total entries by 39 members.

Winners are:

POWA CORE AWARDS

Best Newspaper Column (sponsored by Bob & Linda Steiner) – “Until the end” by Wade Robertson, published in the Bradford Era on Sept. 22, 2017.

Runner-up – “Lessons from Pop: How to be a hunter, how to be a man” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald on Feb. 26, 2017.

Best Newspaper Feature (sponsored by Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing the Harvest) – “Threatened by a thousand cuts” by Jason Nark, published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Dec. 17, 2017.

Runner-up – “The Pheasant Dilemma” by Ben Moyer, published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec. 17, 2017.

Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Column (sponsored by Gogal Publishing Co.) – “Things even out: beachside tidings, sadness, joy” by Terry Brady, published in Pennsylvania Outdoor News on Dec. 8, 2017.

Runner-up – “October highlights a season of change” by Tyler Frantz, published in Harrisburg Magazine, October 2017.

Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Feature (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “On duty” by Paula Piatt, published in Just Labs Magazine, September/October 2017.

Runner-up – “Mind over matter – Healing found on common ground” by Cindy Ross, published in AT Journeys, Winter 2017.

Best Published Newspaper Photo, Color or Black & White (sponsored by POWA Past Presidents) – “Coyote Eyes – Coyote hunting calls as February nears” by Jerry Bush, published in the Erie Times-News on Jan. 22, 2017.

Runner-up – “Great Egret – Three PA Heron species on the endangered species list” by Karen Wolf, published in the Lebanon Daily News on Sept. 2, 2017.

Best Published Magazine Photo, Color or Black & White (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “90-year age gap – Fishing with Great-pa” by Tyler Frantz, published in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, November/December 2017.

Runner-up – “Red and green macaw” by Joe McDonald, published in Nature Photographer, Summer/Fall 2017.

Best Radio/TV Program Award (alternates with Book Award) (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Recreating historically correct longrifles” by Charlie Burchfield, Gateway Outdoors, Jan. 2, 2016.

Runner-up – “Joe Flemish’s Hawk Rifle” by Alex and JoAnne Zidock, Out in the Open TV, Nov. 30, 2017.

Best Published Art Award, Color or Black & White (sponsored by the National Rifle Association) – “Struttin’ past Jack” by Gerald Putt, published in Hunter’s Journal, June/July 2017.

POWA SPECIALTY AWARDS

NRA Best of the Best Award (sponsored by the National Rifle Association) – “Nick Sisley at POWA 2017” by Alex and JoAnne Zidock, Out in the Open TV, June 15, 2017.

POWA Pass it on Award (sponsored by the National Rifle Association) – “Camp Compass guides inner-city youth on the right path” by Ralph Scherder, published in Pennsylvania Outdoor News on Aug. 18, 2017.

Runner-up – “Turn a kid on to hunting” by Steve Sorensen, published in The Forest Press on Aug. 16, 2017.

Wildlife Conservation Partnership Award (sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission) – “State agencies cooperate to save our state bird” by Dave Wolf, published in the Dillsburg Banner on June 8, 2017.

Runner-up – “Clean water days held at Black Moshannon State Park” by Mark Nale, published in The Daily Herald on Dec. 10, 2017.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Raptor Conservation and Eco-Tourism Award (sponsored by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary) – “Bird’s-eye views” by Tyler Frantz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald on Sept. 10, 2017.

Runner-up – “Raptor wings of autumn; why and where” by Ben Moyer, published in the Uniontown Herald-Standard on April 23, 2017.

The Pennsylvania Elk Resource Award (sponsored by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance) – “A visit to elk country” by Dave Wolf, published in The Dillsburg Banner on July 13, 2017.

Runner-up – “Last native elk sparks a new beginning” by Charlie Burchfield, published in the Bradford Era on Sept. 28, 2017.

Best Action Hunting, Trapping or Fishing Photograph (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Lunker Bass” by Alex & JoAnne Zidock, Pennsylvania Angler & Boater cover, May/June 2017.

Runner-up – “Castor mounds for beaver” by Ralph Scherder, published in American Trapper, March/April 2017.

Best Conference-Related Material Award (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Nick Sisley at POWA 2017” by Alex and JoAnne Zidock, Out in the Open TV, June 15, 2017.

Runner-up – “Gurgle, babble & slurp – the welcome language of a reborn trout stream” by Dave Barus, published on sharetheoutdoors.com on May 22, 2017.

Best Published Pennsylvania Fishing Or Boating Related Newspaper Photo, Color Or Black & White (sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission) – “Wild Brown Trout” by Ralph Scherder, published in Fur-Fish-Game, October 2017.

Runner-up – “Some outdoor gifts are priceless” by Bob & Linda Steiner, published in The (Oil City) Derrick on Dec. 18, 2017.

Don Heckman – Tell the Story Award (sponsored the Pennsylvania Chapter of the NWTF) – “A partnership that has stood the test of time” by Charlie Burchfield, published in Tri-County Sunday on June 11, 2017.

Runner-up – “Looking up – A gobbler overhead, a hero overlooked” by Marshall Nych, published in Pennsylvania Game News, November 2017.

Handloading Promotion Award for Electronic Media (sponsored by Redding Reloading) – “Done right” by Marshall Nych, published in Bucktail Outdoors, December 2017.

Handloading Promotion Award for Print Media (sponsored by Redding Reloading) – “Handloading: Economical, practical and satisfying” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald on Feb. 5, 2017.

Runner-up – “Vietnam vet (re)loaded for bear” by Tom Tatum, published in the Daily Local News on Aug. 1, 2017.

Outdoor Blog Entry Award (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “Bowhunting whitetails in Finland” by Kyle Hey, published at bowhunting.com on Sept. 22, 2017.

Runner-up – “What is a Chryptorchid buck?” by Ralph Scherder, published at bowhunting.com on Dec. 4, 2017.

Pennsylvania Trappers Award (sponsored by the Pennsylvania Trappers Association) – “Interest in modern day trapping has been growing” by Charlie Burchfield, published in Tri-County Sunday on Sept. 17, 2017.

Runner-up – “Trapping tribe convenes for 80th anniversary” by Tom Tatum, published in the Daily Local News on June 20, 2017.

Trout and the Coldwater Resource Award (sponsored by Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited) – “Getting to know fish in the wild” by Ben Moyer, published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec. 31, 2017.

Runner-up – “Little Juniata River Association and Juniata College partner for a second trout movement study,” by Mark Nale, published in The Daily Herald on May 23, 2017.

White-Tailed Deer Award (sponsored by POWA EIC entries) – “The Waterlogged Buck” by Steve Sorensen, published in North American Whitetail, December/January 2018.

Runner-up – “Special season” by Bob Frye, published in the Tribune-Review on Dec. 10, 2017.

Wildlife Art Award (sponsored by Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art) – “In Pursuit” – Beagles by Gerald Putt, 2017.

Young Trees Habitat Award (sponsored by the Allegheny Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society) – “For grouse it starts with habitat” by Ralph Scherder, published in Ohio Valley Times, October 2017.

Runner-up – “State agencies cooperate to save our state bird” by Dave Wolf, published in the Dillsburg Banner on June 8, 2017.

Youth Fishing Award (sponsored by Expositions, Inc.) – “Youth camp teaches fly fishing, coldwater conservation” by Kyle Hey, published in Pennsylvania Outdoor News on July 21, 2017.

Runner-up – “To our kids, a fish is a fish” by Ben Moyer, published in the Uniontown Herald-Standard on April 23, 2017.

Youth and the Hunting/Shooting Sports Award (sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation) – “Turn a kid on to hunting” by Steve Sorensen, published in The Forest Press on Aug. 16, 2017.

Runner-up – “Some outdoor gifts are priceless” by Bob & Linda Steiner, published in The (Oil City) Derrick on Dec. 18, 2017.