Outdoor writers rake in awards at New York’s Oswego conference

Oswego, N.Y. — The New York State Outdoor Writers Association announced the honorees of its communications and photography recognition program at its annual awards banquet, sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and held on Saturday, June 1, at Clarion Hotel and Suites Riverfront, in Oswego, NY.

The Excellence in Craft Communications and Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Awards Program, sponsored by Redding Reloading Equipment, was judged by highly regarded writers, editors and photographers from outside the organization. First-place honorees received valued art awards, and second- and third-place finishers were recognized with certificates and cash awards

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

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

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Excellence in Craft Communication Awards

Magazine Feature: First place, Glenn Sapir, Lessons from the Legends, Turkey Call, March/April 2023; Second, Angelo Peluso, Studies in Success, The Fisherman, Feb. 2023; Third, Richard Redman, Casting Lines and Colors, North Country Living Magazine, Fall 2023.

Magazine Column: First place, Angelo Peluso, Christmas Eve Tradition, Hook & Barrel Magazine, Oct. 25 2023; Second, Steve Piatt, Time Together in a Tree, PENNLines Magazine, Nov. 2023; Third, Steve Piatt, A Winter’s Walk, PENNLines Magazine, Jan. 2023.

Newspaper Feature: First place, Steve Featherstone, City Hunter’s Family Tries to Cope after Fatal Fall, Syracuse Post-Standard, Feb. 12, 2023; Second, Tom Schlichter, Into the Woods, Newsday, Nov. 26, 2023; Third, Steve Featherstone, Syracuse’s Fish Replica Artist Lures Anglers from across the Country, The Post-Standard, May 7, 2023.

Newspaper Column: First place, Steve Piatt., A Question Answered, New York Outdoor News, Nov. 3, 2023; Second (Tie), Glenn Sapir., Excuses in the Outdoors, New York Outdoor News, Dec. 15, 2023; and Steve Piatt, One Photo, a Lifetime of Memories, Tonawanda Daily Review, July 22, 2023.

Online Publication: First place, Angelo Peluso, Euro Methods for Monster Carp, The Fisherman Online, March 2023; Second, Angelo Peluso, Neglected Ponds Equal Lunker Largemouth, The Fisherman Online, May 2023; Third, David J. Figura, New York Tribes Want Recognition for Treaties from 1700s, OutdoorNews.com, Dec.11, 2023.

Book: First place, Peter Fiduccia, The Definitive Guide to Planting Food Plots, Skyhorse Publishing, 2023; Second, Joseph Gary Crance, The Last Coon Hunter, Fifth Anniversary Edition, Lulu Publishing Services 2022; Third, Joseph Gary Crance, The Time of the Backroads, Lulu Publishing Services, 2022.

Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Awards

Hunting & Fishing: First place, Chris Paparo.; Second, Angelo Peluso; Third, Sue Kiesel.

Outdoor Action: First place, Jerrod Villa; Second, Deb Brosen; Third, Deb Brosen.

Outdoor Scenic: First place, Angelo Peluso; Second, Charles Witek; Third, Jerrod Villa.

Wildlife: First place, Deb Brosen; Second, Deb Brosen; Third, Chris Paparo.

People: First place, Chris Paparo; Second, Chris Paparo; Third place, Matt Haeffner.

NYON writers place in POWA competition

A trio of New York Outdoor News contributing writers picked up awards last month in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association’s annual Excellence in Craft competition. The awards were presented during POWA’s annual conference, held in Wilkes-Barre.

Veteran outdoor writer Mike Raykovicz won first place in the Handloading Promotion category for his Feb. 24, 2023, piece in NYON titled “Reloading in its simplest form.”

Jerry Bush, outgoing president of the organization, won first place in the Best Conference-Related Material category for a Sept. 8, 2023, feature, “Does your shotgun fit you.”

And retired NYON Editor Steve Piatt, who is still a contributor to the paper, received the Pass It On award for his Sept. 8, 2023, column titled, “Completing the circle.”

-Compiled by Steve Piatt