The National Photography Competition includes three sections (Trail Camera Print, Colour Print and Hunter with Trophy). Section winners receive a gift voucher for $150 (joint winners will share the prize money) and an inscribed wall/desk plaque to recognise their photographic skills.
Top quality photography entries featuring live deer may be used as covers of Australian Deer, while other entries are likely to feature in the content pages of the magazine or be used in submissions to government or in other ADA promotions. By supporting the National Photography Competition, members are also supporting the Association in all of its efforts to protect and promote recreational deer hunting in Australia. ( Note that all entries to the photography competition must now be digital as per the entry form published in each issue of Australian Deer ).
Once again, we received some great entries into the 2024 competition and as is always the case, it was often difficult to choose a winner in each section. The winners of the three sections were:
NATIONAL LITERARY AWARD
The National Literary Award is presented for the most outstanding story or review printed in this magazine during the year by a member. The winner receives a gift voucher and an engraved plaque in recognition of their efforts.
Obviously this magazine relies for contributions from a wide range of members and non-members, and the Editorial Panel is grateful for them all. For 2024 the award goes to Rick Bichel for multiple quality contributions in volumes 1 and 4.
NATIONAL TROPHY COMPETITION
The National Trophy Competition presents awards to the skilled (or lucky) members who take the highest Douglas scoring trophy of the six deer species running wild in Australia. The top three entries in each trophy section receive an inscribed gold, silver or bronze medallion in recognition of their trophy. Winners of the sambar, fallow and hog deer competitions also receive the prestigious Arthur Bentley Award, the Fraser McLay Award and the Ron Mayze Award respectively.
All trophy photos and score cards are included in the ADA’s Trophy Register that includes thousands of records going back to the Association’s founding in the 1960s. In addition, entries will likely be published as ‘Feature Trophies’ in future editions of Australian Deer while possibly making into our ‘Top 50’ register.
This year the winners were:
Name
Branch
Douglas Score
Sambar (Arthur Bentley Trophy)
1. Billy Auldist
Western Port
205 3/4
2. Walter Albert
Melbourne
202 7/8
3. Danny Edebohls
Gippsland
200 3/4
Red Deer
1. Blake Boucher
Murray Valley
317 1/4
Fallow Deer (Fraser McLay Trophy)
1. Adam Toohey
Hunter Valley
260 3/8
Rusa (no entries)
Hog Deer (Ron Mayze Trophy)
1. Neil Page
East Gippsland
110 1/2
2. Zack Elstob
East Gippsland
106
3. Gary Pearce
Northern Tasmania
92
Chital
1. Nathan Russell
Sydney
205 1/4
2. Martin Auldist
Western Port
161 1/2
~ CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS AND THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ~
THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE TO BE USED AS A COLLAGE ON PAGE 62 and 63 OF SPREAD