2014 Archery Hunting Photo Contest

[DonBo]

I know it's a bit late in the game to get started, but let's do this again:

In the interest of encouraging bowhunters in learning to take better hunting photos and in sharing them, I would like to start a 2014 HSO photo contest. This contest will not be judged on how large a critter one takes, but rather on the quality of the photo they submit. Such things as composition, tastefulness, focus, background, lack of blood, etc. will weigh much heavier than will the size of the animal. All things being close to equal, then size may play a small part.

Photos will be submitted simply by posting in this photo thread.

It will be open to any HSOer, as long as the photo/photos they submit were:

(1) Taken while hunting with a bow and arrow. (2) Taken in the calendar year of 2014. (3) Taken on the North American Continent (4) Taken within a State, Country, or Province that requires a hunting license or a carcass tag for that species. (5) taken using fair chase practices.

Each entrant can submit three photos in each of the two categories. Category 1 will be the “Hero Shot” category- this is just as it sounds. Pictures in this category will be of a hunter and an animal he’s successfully taken with is bow and arrow. This can be a “classic hero shot” or something different, but pics of hunters and their harvested game animals will go in this category. Category 2 will be “Non-Hero Shot” and these pictures can be anything that does NOT contain downed game. Importantly, these pictures must be taken while in the process of archery hunting. They can be anything from sunsets, live deer, live bears, flowers, an old oak tree, a blood trail, etc. You get the idea…

Both of these categories are included in hopes of getting people to carry their cameras in the field with them. The non-hero shot category especially was included to get people to carry their cameras with them and hopefully to get people to take those cameras out and use them frequently.

I will find a non-partial judge to pick the winners. My vote will not count, so don't blame me if your photo does not win.

Not sure at this point how many prizes there will be, but I know a nice Scent Killer Package from Wildlife Research Center will be included.

The contest will close at the end of legal shooting light on Dec. 31st. Any photos entered after that will not be considered. If anyone needs help getting a picture loaded for the contest, please let me know and I’ll gladly take care of it for you if you can e-mail me the photo.

[frogtosser]

I'll start with a Colorado mule deer I arrowed last Tuesday he green scored 186 6/8

Category 2

[DonBo]

What a great start, and congrats on that huge mulie!

[monstermoose78]

Can a crossbow be used instead of a bow? I can not use a normal bow any more. Also that is a heck of Mule Deer and awesome photo congrats.

[DonBo]

Can a crossbow be used instead of a bow?

As long as it is of legal use during the archery season, with a legal archery tag, I'll allow it. Post 'em up!

[eyeguy 54]

Thx for running this Don. Nice Muley frog !

[Norsky]

I was hunting in northern Colorado on public land last week when I encountered this 5x5 bull. We called him into 14 yards while he was trailing a cow. The cow ended up spooking when she winded my hunting partner, the bull was staring me down at the time. Right as the cow spooked the bull jumped and started to run, without thinking I drew my bow in hopes that he would stop for a split second. He did stop, and I drilled him right in the boiler room. Elk hunting is a game of preparation meeting opportunity, it truly is amazing when it all finally comes together. Awesome experience.

[Scoot]

Wow! There are a couple great critters entered right if the bat! Great work fellas!

[Monkster]

This is my son, Josh, and the doe he shot at the youth hunt at Camp Ripley. We hunted at the Lake Alexander Area. He made a nice 45 yard shot, which he practices, and even though he 'nicked' the heart, she gave us a run for our money! Found her partially submerged in a pond after a 2+ hour search! A nice way to end his last youth hunt...his first deer with a bow!

[stretch]

category 1

My fiance's first buck let alone her first bow kill.

Sorry ill edit out the blood and arrow when I get back to my computer. I was just excited about the picture.

[Scoot]

Awfully quiet in this thread! Remember folks, you don't need to shoot a dang thing to post pics in here- you can take pics and post non-hero shots, even if you don't shoot a thing. Just a friendly reminder...

[Monkster]

This is from my son's youth hunt in the Lake Alexander, Nature Conservancy land.

[Monkster]

One more from that area. This little lake reminds a lot of people of a lot of places in their lives, cool place! Obviously category 2 for both.

[MNpurple]

A couple category 1 entries of my MN buck.

[MNpurple]

Category 2, Idaho elk

[MNpurple]

Not sure where this fits, but I really like the photo..

[DonBo]

OMG, purple, what a beast!

[PropsterII]

Need a story Purple! Awesome buck

[wannafish2]

X2 on the story! Congratulations on a great buck! Let's hear all about it!

[1eyeReD]

[leechlake]

Purple posted the story already on a different thread, great story.

[preacherman]

This is by far my biggest buck. I shot him at 20 yards and found him 100 yards later.

[DonBo]

With the archery season winding down, don't forget to get those pics in.

Lots of nice prizes, along with this from Wildlife Research Center:

Eyeguy 54 has donated some jerky cure, Scent Shield Field Wipes and a Widow Maker Scent Drag.

And NoWiser has offered a 1 year subscription to Eastman's Bowhunting Journal magazine.

[deerminator]

Not sure where this fits either but it makes me happy. Especially after my son told me "Dad, I had a lot of fun today." He also hopped around on one foot excitedly at church and told my neighbor, "My dad got a doe yesterday right through the heart. He showed it to us."

[B-man715]

That is a Winner right there! ^^^^^^^^

[Summett]

That is a Winner right there! ^^^^^^^^

Exactly! Best pic I've seen so far!

[ozzie]

Agreed!!! Great picture!!! Cant wait till my kids are big enough to haul my deer out for me!! (guess I have to shoot one first)

[sticknstring]

What an excellent pic! My kids are old enough... dad just needs to do his part!

[NELS-BELLS]

Deerminator - That is an awesome photo! ....and a nice doe also.

Nels

[leechlake]

it's fun to have deer draggers that enjoy it much more than us older guys. Fantastic photo.