Winners Announced for the 2023 NWTF Photo Contest

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation is excited to announce the winners of its revamped, highly anticipated NWTF Photo Contest, which saw an overwhelming response to a new and improved format, with over 200 photographers submitting more than 2,000 photos.

The NWTF Photo Contest expanded its categories this year, providing a platform for passionate outdoorsmen and women to showcase their visual narratives beyond wild turkeys. The contest welcomed entries capturing the beauty of wild places, the diverse wildlife inhabiting our natural landscapes, and lifestyle imagery reflecting the essence of time spent afield, contributing to the preservation of our hunting heritage.

The Grand Prize, titled “Future Yelper,” was awarded to Justin Trent from Fort Meyers, Florida, for his exceptional entry that captures a wild turkey poult demonstrating early vocalizations. As a part of the grand prize, Trent will receive $1,000 cash prize, publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Turkey Call magazine, and highlighted in the NWTF’s online winners’ gallery.

Individual category results include:

Live Wild Turkey

1st Place: “Morning Gobble” by Josh Van Ommeren (Hill City, South Dakota)
2nd Place: “Fancy Pants” by Darcy Daniels (Halstead, Kansas)
3rd Place: “Double Gobble” by Jami Linder (Hamburg, Arkansas)

Live Wildlife

1st Place: “Triple Tine” by Josh Van Ommeren (Hill City, South Dakota)
2nd Place: “Fire” by John Mack (Ithaca, New York)
3rd Place: “Mallard Missile” by Sara Day (Muncie, Indiana)

Scenic Wild Landscapes

1st Place: “Rivendell” by John Mack (Ithaca, New York)
2nd Place: “Distant Gobbles in the Morning Fog” by Ryan Hale (Dillsburg, Pennsylvania)
3rd Place: “Jewels on the Water” by Mike Lee (Janesville, California)

Hunting/Outdoor Lifestyle

1st Place: “Old Traditions” by Clayton Worrell (West Branch, Iowa)
2nd Place: “Night Sky for Antelope Camp” by Justin Pius (Lexington, Kentucky)
3rd Place: “A Rainbow at Sunrise” by Christi Holmes (Gray, Maine)

Winners in each category will also receive a cash prize, be featured in a special multi-spread section in Turkey Call magazine, and have their work showcased in the NWTF’s online winners’ gallery. View the rest of the winning photos, here. 

View the submissions for the 2023 NWTF Photo Contest here, and look for the 2024 contest to open later this fall.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.