"TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT" WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Thank you to everyone who participated in California Waterfowl's first ever "Take Your Best Shot" Photo Contest! This was the first contest ever to openly reward hunters who take non-hunters out to share their love of the outdoors. Hunters across the state invited non-hunters to join them for a day of wonder in the wetlands and the resulting photos are ones that you will soon see in our magazine and other publications: outstanding photos that are evidence of that shared dialogue of the day and the mutual understanding created.

This contest featured two categories; (1) Waterfowl and Wetland Wildlife and (2) Hunters and Dogs. Hunters and their non-hunting photographer partners won as a team. Great prize packages included an exclusive photo session with professional photographer Gary Kramer on Bird Haven Ranch in the Butte Sink, Benelli shotguns, waterproof cameras, special junior prizes and more!

2008-09 contest the winners of the contest are as follows:

Best of Show
1st Place - Waterfowl and Wetland Wildlife
“Sutter Buttes a Sunset with Flight of Birds”
by Jill Fritschi Reese with Clarissa Reese Denton

1st Place - Hunters and Dogs
“What a Joy to See Your Dog Bring in the Bird!”
by Philip Robertson with Rodger Benadom

2nd Place -Waterfowl and Wetland Wildlife“Portrait of a White-Fronted Goose” by Philip Robertson with Rodger Benadom	2nd Place - Hunters and Dogs “Dog in His Blind” by Laura Chan with Dennis Chan

3rd Place-Waterfowl and Wetland Wildlife “Sunset at Gray Lodge” by Dawn M. Oakley with Terrance Prechter	3rd Place - Hunters and Dogs “Placing a Decoy” by Jim Richter with Macyn Carpenter

Honorable Mention Waterfowl and Wetland Wildlife “Honey I’m Home” by Wayne Carlisle with Jackie Hagen	Honorable Mention Hunters and Dogs “A Hunter and His Dog in the Fog” by Philip Robertson with Rodger Benadom

The Red Chip Award “Reflections” by Andrew Degrandi with Brian Boero	The Blue Chip Award “Come Back” by Derek Lapsley with Steve Rey

Grand Prize- Youth “Buttes from the Blind” by Ellis Vanoncini with Rob Vanoncini	1st Place -Youth “Good Dog Gina” by Colette Cambra with Frank Cambra

Everyone is a winner with California Waterfowl. Many more photographs were submitted by very talented non-hunter amateur photographers and we look forward to using all photographs submitted to enhance the California Waterfowl magazine and other publications that help us spread our passion for waterfowl.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make the “Take Your Best Shot” Photo Contest a huge success. We look forward to making this contest bigger and better in 2009-10.

Developed and Hosted By:
California Waterfowl's Women’s Outdoor Connections Committee

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: