AZGFD Announces Winners Of 2023 Wildlife Photo Contest

The Arizona Game And Fish Department (AZGFD) has announced the winners of the 2023 wildlife photo contest. The 12 winning photographs are included in the full-size 2024 wildlife calendar that is published in the November-December 2023 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

AZGFD currently has a subscription special for Arizona Wildlife Views. A one-year subscription to the bi-monthly magazine ordered by Dec. 31, 2023, will include the wildlife calendar and a bonus issue (seven issues total) for only $12. To subscribe, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/magazine.

The calendar is also available for sale at all Arizona Game and Fish offices for $3.

Anne James' photo of a ringtail was awarded best in show and is showcased on both the cover and in the calendar. James, of Payson, said, "I knew few entries would include a ringtail because of their nocturnal nature and that it wasn't an ordinary image."

The 12 winning photographers are -

• Jim Burns, Scottsdale: Round-tailed ground squirrel kits

• Bill Ferris, Flagstaff: Elk

• Isabel Guerra Clark, Phoenix: Desert bighorn sheep

• Anne James, Payson: Ringtail

• Kristen Kabrin, Fallon, Nevada: Coati

• Paul Martin, Mesa: Red-naped sapsucker

• Jeff Martineau, San Tan Valley: Banded rock rattlesnake

• Kathleen Murphy, Payson: Clark's grebes

• Lee Scherer, Marana: American pronghorn

• David Vincent, Tucson: Bobcat

• William Wells, Surprise: Woodhouse's toad

• Sue Welter, Peoria: Common chuckwallas

Given the strength and diversity of this year's nearly 800 entries, the judges singled out 20 images from talented photographers for honorable mention.

These photos also are featured in the calendar issue -

• Julie Curtis, Golden Valley: Harris's antelope squirrel

• Tom Jones, Phoenix: Gila woodpeckers

• Yvonne Kippenberg, Scottsdale: Desert bighorn sheep

• Leslie Leathers, Tucson: Vermilion flycatcher

• Robin Merrill, Cornville: American beaver

• Mandy Montooth, Flagstaff: Long-tailed weasel

• Christine Nolan, Phoenix: Great egret

• Pamela Parker, Mesa: Gambel's quail

• DeeDee Purcell, Phoenix: Mule deer

• David C. Ring, Tucson: Great horned owl

• Kathy Ritter, Happy Jack: Steller's jays

• Tam Ryan, Mesa: Black-necked stilts

• Josh Sellke, Scottsdale: Black-tailed jackrabbit

• Stephen Vaughan, Tucson: Rufous hummingbird

• Faith Walker, Flagstaff: Hoary bat

• Dan Weisz, Tucson: Varied bunting

• Alfred Weling, Scottsdale: Snowy egret

• Sean Wickenheisser, Lake Havasu City: Verdin

• Russell Wynter, Scottsdale: Western screech-owl

• Marc Zebell, Springerville: Bull elk

AZGFD thanks everyone who submitted photographs and also thanks Arizona Highways for its partnership in hosting the photo contest.

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