Syracuse.com - Figura wins writing awards at fall conference of New York State Outdoors Writers Association

[HuntingNY-News]

I took first and third places in the newspaper feature category, and third in the column category as well.

John Berry/The Post-StandardJay Matteson says some of his friends have been critical of his hunt-and-text approach, but others like the play-by-play account of what he’s doing and seeing.

The press release below is from the New York State Outdoors Writers Association. I won three awards at the group's annual fall conference -- two first places for best newspaper feature and column; and a third place for best newspaper feature as well.

The winning feature was about Jefferson County deer hunter Jay Matteson, who texts from his treestand with his Blackberry, putting entries on his Facebook page while hunting. The winning column was about my friends, Jack and Karen Haggerty, of Skaneateles, who each summer get lion dung from the zoo and spread it on their garden to keep the rabbits away.

The third place winner for newspaper features was my piece on Central New Yorkers who dine on Mother Nature's B Menu, eating such game as woodchucks, muskrats and raccoons.</strong>

The press release follows:

The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the winners of its annual writing and photography recognition program with carved duck decoy first-place awards and second- and third-place certificates and cash awards at the annual banquet of the organization at the Four Points by Sheraton in Niagara Falls, N.Y on Saturday evening, Oct. 20.

The organization of 100 active members—professional communicators—and several dozen supporting members from the outdoor and travel industry—gathered in Niagara County Oct. 18-21 for its annual conference. The Excellence in Craft writing competition and Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Contest, co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, The Sportsman Channel and Redding Reloading Equipment, were judged by respected professionals of national repute from outside the organization.

The photo competition was administered by Bridget Keesler, daughter of the namesake of the photo competition, who played a major role in initiating and administering the photo awards program in its earliest days. The Excellence in Craft writing recognition program was administered by Archer of Fulton, who was elected NYSOWA’s president at the conference.

First-place winners in the writing competition for articles published in 2011 were: Newspaper Feature—David Figura, Skaneateles, for “Tree-stand Texter,” in the Oct. 28 Post Standard; Magazine Feature—Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson, for “Long Island’s Secret Steelhead,” in the June On The Water; Magazine Column—Leo Maloney, Sherrill, for “Adirondack Whitetails,” in Spring North American Whitetail; Newspaper Column—David Figura, Skaneateles, for “Lion Dung Keeps Bunnies at Bay,” in the July 15 Post Standard Oneida Daily Dispatch; and Online Publication—Angelo Peluso, for “Fishing and the Outdoors: Long Island’s backyard wildlife” in the Dec. 21 northshoreoflongisland.com.

John Berry/The Post-StandardAfrican lion dung from lions at the Rosamond GIfford Zoo is finding its way into some CNY gardens.

In the photo competition, first-place winners were: Hunting and Fishing—Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson; Outdoor Scenic—Michael Sargent, Middleport; Outdoor Recreation—Leo Maloney, Sherrill; Published Photograph—Oak Duke, Wellsville; and Wildlife, Mike Lynch, Saranac Lake.

A complete list of first- to third-place finishers follows:

Excellence in Craft writing competition winners: Newspaper Feature--1. David Figura, "Tree-stand Texter," Post-Standard -- Oct. 28; 2. Mike Lynch, "Legendary Guide Jim Goodwin Dies at 101," Adirondack Daily Enterprise – April 11; 3. David Figura "Nature’s ‘B’ Menu," Post Standard – Sept. 16. Magazine Feature—1. Angelo Peluso, "Long Island’s Secret Steelhead," On The Water – Oct.; 2. Angelo Peluso, "Arti-fish-ial Intelligence," Tide – May-June; 3. Mike Kelly, "Are New York’s Famous Trout Streams as Good as Advertised?" New York Game and Fish – June. Newspaper Column: 1. David Figura, "Lion Dung Keeps Bunnies at Bay," Post-Standard – July 15; 2. Angelo Peluso, “That’s One Tenacious Spider,” Times Beacon Record -- Sept. 15; 3. Leon Archer, "My Old Friend," Oswego County Weeklies – Oct. 14. Magazine Column: 1.Leo Maloney, “Adirondack Whitetails,” North American Whitetail – Spring; 2. Tom Schlichter, “There’s More to Being a Mate,” The Fisherman -- June 23; 3. Fred Golofaro, “In the Heat of the Night,” The Fisherman – July 21;. Online Publication: 1. Angelo Peluso, “Fishing and the Outdoors: Long Island’s Backyard Wildlife” northshoreoflongisland.com -- Dec. 21; 2. Bill Hilts, Jr., “A Rendezvous with Shooting and History,” nssf.org – Sept. 26; 3. Bill Hilts, Jr., “4-H Shooting Sports Program Takes Aim on Future,” nssf.org – May 31.

Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Competition winners: Hunting and Fishing: 1. Angelo Peluso; 2. Bill Hollister, 3. Chris Kenyon. Outdoor Scenic: 1. Michael Sargent; 2. Mike Lynch; 3. Paul Schnell. Outdoor Recreation: 1. Leo Maloney; 2. Chris Kenyon; 3. Dan Ladd. Published: 1. Oak Duke; 2. Angelo Peluso; 3. Bill Hollister; Wildlife: 1. Mike Lynch; 2. Michael Sargent; 3. Angelo Peluso.

PASS-IT-ON AWARD

Ron Kolodziej was this year’s recipient of the Pass It On Award. This award is sponsored jointly by NYSOWA and Bass Pro Shops.

To stress the importance of passing on our outdoor heritage to others, Bass Pro Shops sponsors this annual award and donates $300 to the scholarship fund of NYSOWA in the name of the recipient. A committee solicits nominations and chooses the writer who is most deserving of this award.

Ron Kolodziej of Fonda, NY has been an instructor in hunter education and bow hunter education for many years. Many of his former students have gone on to become instructors or become involved in youth activities themselves.

He was one of the key founders, and has a long time involvement in the Reids Hills Fish & Game Club kids fishing program.

He has been a long time outdoor columnist in the “Amsterdam Recorder”, “Hamilton County Express”, and the” Sacandaga Express” and for many years was a regional editor for the “New York Sportsman” magazine. His writing in the Amsterdam papers and “New York Sportsman” magazine educated people on where and how to pursue outdoor sports. His writing in the above publications also stressed the importance of ethics, sportsmanship, and conservation.

Ron has been an active member and past president of the New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association and is an inductee in the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame.

M.PAUL KEESLER NEW YORK OUTDOOR CITIZEN AWARD

The late Ed Feldmann was named as the recipient of the New York State Outdoor Writers’ Association M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award. Feldmann was recognized for his outstanding efforts on creating awareness and significant achievement as an ambassador for New York’s outdoors.

The award was created in the name of one of NYSOWA’s most beloved and active members, M. Paul Keesler, the deceased co-founder of “New York Sportsman” magazine. Keesler, through his writing and publishing efforts, spent nearly five decades promoting and conserving the outdoor wonders and recreational opportunities within New York State. The award recognizes an individual or organization that effectively has raised the public’s awareness of outdoor recreational opportunities and conservation issues in the state. Nominations could be made by the public, as well as by NYSOWA members.

Ed Feldmann was the essence of what the NYSOWA M. Paul Keesler New York Outdoor Citizen Award represents. As both a public affairs officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources and as a professional broadcaster and writer on hunting, fishing and conservation, he was truly an ambassador for New York’s outdoors.

Ed developed personal relationships with communicators and delivered in a timely and thorough manner the information they needed for their work communicating on New York’s outdoor treasures and challenges. It was not only professional communicators, however, with whom he worked. To see Ed at the DEC booth at the several consumer sportsman’s shows at which it exhibited was to watch a true ambassador. He was knowledgeable of the state’s outdoor treasures and he was quick to discuss them with everyone and encourage them to enjoy New York’s outdoor resources.

Ed also hosted a long-running radio show in the Capital District on Sunday mornings. Here he could alert people to opportunities and issues and answer their questions. Through his regularly appearing articles in The New York Sportsman Magazine and Outdoor Bytes, he reached people through a traditional magazine and a new-age electronic publication.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog