October 11, 2016

SEOPA and Mossy Oak Present Excellence in Craft and Special Communications Awards

At its 52nd annual conference, held in Lakeland, Fla., October 5-8, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) recognized winners in its Excellence in Craft competition, which is sponsored by Mossy Oak. First, second, and third place winners were announced in ten categories.

The various categories were well entered by many prestigious outdoor communicator members. Most judges are non-members and are blinded as to the identity of the entrants. One judge remarked, “The overall quality and clarity of writing was extremely strong.” This statement can be applied to all the categories in the competition.

SEOPA_Winners_2016

(Left to Right) Kevin Tate of EIC Sponsor Mossy Oak with winners of the Photography category: Mike Giles, Tes Jolly and Keith Sutton. Photo by Joella Bates.

Among the organization members recognized for their professional accomplishments were a number of multiple winners. They included Jim Ferguson for earning first and second places in the Audio (Radio) category. Ron Jolly garnered both first and second places in the Video category. Mike Giles won first place in both the Photography and Conference Site Story categories. Matt Markey won the Sharon Rushton Award and placed second in the Daily Newspaper category. Richard Simms won first place in the Magazine (Long), second place in the Weekly Newspaper, and third place in the Outdoor Entrepreneur Project categories. Keith Sutton placed first in the Daily Newspaper and third in the Photography categories. Jim Casada earned second and third places in the Conference Site Story, second in the Magazine (Short), second place in the Outdoor Entrepreneur Project, and third place in the Weekly Newspaper categories. A complete list of winners and their entries can be found here.

My First Whitetail Buck Deer with Wendy Lacoss-Drake

Many people from the East never consider Montana as a great state to hunt whitetails. I think that’s one of the reasons we have so many nice-sized whitetails in Montana. When you buy a deer tag in Montana, you can buy either a whitetail or a mule deer tag. Most people who come from the East opt for a mule deer tag.

Big Game, Deer, Firearm

Latest Content

Field Judging Black Bears

Ask any experienced hunter and they’ll tell you that black bears are among the most difficult big game animals to field judge. Part of that is because they’re far less common than deer, so hunters just don’t get much experience seeing them. And part is just the nature of the beast. Any large, black carnivorous animal will look big, especially if you don’t have something for scale nearby.

Big Game, How-To

Black Bear Season Primer

Hunting tactics can be broken down into several schools of thought. Here's a 101-style overview on what to expect this fall if you're bear hunting for the first time.

Big Game, How-To

3 Hill Country Stand Locations for the Whitetail Rut

These key spots funnel deer into tighter spaces, condensing activity and greatly improving your odds of not just seeing more deer, but filling your tag when it counts most.

Deer

The Art of the All-Day Rut Sit

The rut is here, and with it comes the moment many of us have been waiting for all year–the chance to put in those all-day sits in the tree, hoping to cross paths with a mature buck cruising in daylight.

Deer

Mossy Oak Camo Hunting Bows and Bow Hunting Gear

We’ve got a great collection of bows and bow hunting accessories and gear in Mossy Oak camo. Whether you’re looking for a Bottomland or Country Roots bow or a new saddle or climber, this comprehensive list gives you all your options.

Big Game, Deer, Gear

Sheet Pan Dinner with Balsamic Marinated Venison Medallions

Who doesn't love the ease of a sheet pan dinner? This recipe uses venison medallions from Gamekeeper Butchery along with onions, beans, mushrooms and potatoes. Make it your own with your favorite vegetables.

Deer, Wild Game Recipes, Ingredient Wild, Mossy Oak Gamekeeper Butchery

3 Hunts Every Rookie Hunter Should Try

Our list of 3 hunts every rookie hunter should try has some great options to get you started on what many hunters consider the best hunts of the season.

Small Game, Deer, Waterfowl

Improving Savanna and Woodland Habitats in Forested Landscapes

Savannas are often overlooked components of North American forests that can be effectively managed to improve wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities through careful planning for the right combination of trees, grasses, forbs and disturbance regime.

Conservation, Land Management, Mossy Oak Gamekeepers, Nativ Nurseries, BioLogic

Mature Whitetail Bucks: Why Don’t I See More?

Even under the best of circumstances your odds of killing a mature buck are fairly low. You can nudge them slightly in your favor by minimizing disturbance and maximizing the ability of your property to attract and hold more and older deer.

Deer, Land Management, How-To, Mossy Oak Gamekeepers

Mossy Oak Classics: Deer Hunting Videos from the Archive

It's Deer Season - and we've got some vintage VHS gold teed up and ready to go. Watch old Mossy Oak hunting videos with the original crew.

Big Game, Deer, Video, Mossy Oak Companions

BUILT: The Nosler Story

John A. Nosler revolutionized the bullet-making business in 1948 with his now infamous Partition bullet. Here's the story of how a frustrated and creative hunter and his company came to be icons in the hunting industry.

Big Game, Deer, Predator, Gear

5 Questions Answered to Help Develop a Scrape Hunting Strategy

When it comes to hunting mature bucks, understanding and utilizing scrapes can be a game-changer.

Deer, How-To

Explore All Posts