Photo Contest
Wyoming Wildlife hosts two online photo contests each year — the annual Photo Contest and the Calendar Photo Contest. For each contest, a judging panel made up of Wyoming Game and Fish Department employees and members of the public selects prize winners and honorable mentions to be published in two Wyoming Wildlife publications — the February photo issue for the annual Photo Contest and the November calendar issue for the Calendar Photo Contest.
Annual Photo Contest
The entry period opens at the beginning of October and usually closes the second week of November each year.
Calendar Photo Contest
The entry period opens at the beginning of May and closes the second week of June each year.
Annual Photo Contest
Contest categories
The four categories of this contest are as follows:
- Wildlife* (wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and arthropods)
*Priority will be given to species managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. - Scenic (in which landmarks, scenery or inanimate objects are prominent).
- Recreation** (people enjoying the outdoors through hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, etc.).
**Priority will be given to those activities that contribute to the Game and Fish mission of “Conserving Wildlife, Serving People.” - Flora (wildflowers, foliage, fruiting bodies or other parts of plants).
Prizes
Judges reserve the right to decide whether a category merits any or all awards. All entries selected to be awarded one of the following prizes will be published in the February photo issue.
- Overall grand prize: $600 for best overall photo.
- First place:* $300.
- Second place:* $200.
- Third place:* $100.
*First, second and third-place winners will be chosen and awarded prizes for each of the four categories. - Every winner gets five copies of the magazine photo issue.
- Honorable mention selections receive two copies of the magazine photo issue.
Entrants may submit up to 10 photos in four categories — wildlife, scenic, recreation and flora. Eligibility and photo entries must meet the following criteria:
- Photos must have been taken in Wyoming and following ethical photography practices.
- Photos may not have been previously published in or taken on assignment for Wyoming Wildlife.
- Photos previously entered into the contest that were not selected for publication may be entered again.
- Employees of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission members and their immediate families are ineligible.
- Photos must have been taken by the person submitting the entries and may not infringe on the copyright of others. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification from the contest and a ban from further Wyoming Wildlife photo contests.
- Contest entries can only be submitted online through the entry landing page, which launches when the entry period opens. Do not send electronic or physical copies to Game and Fish.
- The use of artificial intelligence is prohibited. If there is any indication that AI has been used to generate or manipulate images, they will be disqualified.
Calendar Photo Contest
Eligible entrants may submit up to 10 photos of Wyoming’s wildlife and must meet the following criteria:
- This is a wildlife photography contest only. Wildlife* includes wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and arthropods.
*Priority will be given to species managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. - Photos must have been taken in Wyoming and following ethical photography practices.
- Photos may not have been previously published in or taken on assignment for Wyoming Wildlife.
- Photos previously entered into the contest that were not selected for publication may be entered again.
- Employees of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Game and Fish Commission members and their immediate families are ineligible.
- Photos must have been taken by the person submitting the entries and may not infringe on the copyright of others. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification from the contest and a ban from further Wyoming Wildlife photo contests.
- Contest entries can only be submitted online through the entry landing page, which launches when the entry period opens. Do not send electronic or physical copies to Game and Fish.
The use of artificial intelligence is prohibited in this contest. If there is any indication that AI has been used to generate or manipulate images, they will be disqualified.
For questions and comments contact Patrick Owen, Wyoming Wildlife magazine creative director, by email at patrick.owen@wyo.gov or by phone at (307) 777-4547.