Hunters and trappers in New York are being asked to add two more tools to their backwoods arsenal through the rest of this year — a camera and pen. With these they can participate in the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s “Why I Hunt” and “Why I Trap” photo essay contests.

DEC staff will select the best photo and essay in each category. Winners’ essays and photos will appear in the 2021-22 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which is distributed to more than half a million people each year.

“Whether it’s a family tradition, a connection to nature, or to feed your family, DEC would like to hear from New York hunters and trappers about what motivates them to venture afield,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a press release. “Hunting and trapping benefit New Yorkers and our environment by helping manage wildlife species and providing nutritious meat to our families.”

All photo submissions become the property of DEC and may be used in future DEC publications, electronic and print outreach materials. In addition, DEC reserves the right to edit essays for content, clarity, length and style. DEC retains first rights to written submissions, and written submissions may also appear in a future issue of Conservationist magazine or other DEC publications, media and social media.

Participating hunters and trappers may submit photos and essays in one of the following categories:

¯ Youth (under 17, non-first year)

¯ First-year hunters (youth)

¯ First-year hunters (adult)

¯ Adults (non first-year)

Essays should be nonfiction, original material (not previously published) and told from a first-person perspective. Essays should be no less than 50 words and no more than 500 words. There is a limit of one entry per person. Each contestant may submit up to two photos with their essay entry. Maximum of two photos per entry. Photos must be taken in New York state.

The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2021.

Submissions should be made using this link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/6014045/Why-I-Hunt-Why-I-Trap-photo-essay-contest.