The Game Commission invited sportsmen and women to showcase their achievements on the agency's "Hunter/Trapper Photo Scrapbook."

"We're interested in showing photographs of hunters who have taken a trophy animal in one of Pennsylvania's big game seasons -- elk, black bear, white-tailed deer and wild turkey -- or trappers or predator callers who have taken a bobcat or coyote, and trappers who have taken an exceptional beaver," said J. Carl Graybill Jr., Game Commission Bureau of Information and Education director. "Photos are organized in annual collections beginning with 2004. What we're looking for are sharp, color photographs that depict a proud hunter with his or her trophy."

Graybill noted that photos should show game animals in a presentable manner, and offered the following tips:

· Pick a pleasing background. Try to avoid photos with the animal in the back of a pick-up or with cluttered scenery. Fill the frame so that you and your trophy are the focal point of the photograph. Also, if you include the sporting arm you used, make sure that it is pointed in a safe direction.

· Make sure the animal is properly tagged. For those species that hunters are required to attach a tag - deer, elk, bear, turkey and bobcats - make sure that the tag is visible. You can use a large safety pin to attach you tag to reduce the work of any taxidermist if you plan to have your trophy mounted. Also, if your photo is taken while still in the field, make sure you have on the appropriate amount of fluorescent orange. Harvested animals should be displayed respectfully.

Photos submitted through the U.S. Mail cannot be returned, and there is no guarantee that every photo received will be used. Individuals may send submissions via first-class mail to the address found on the application.

Photos also can be submitted electronically, through pgcphotos@state.pa.us .

Please include background information on the photo, including: name of the hunter/trapper; age; hometown; harvest date and location; achievement description (species, weight, antler points, beard length); and achievement significance, such as whether this was a hunter's first deer, first turkey, first bear, or a furtaker's first coyote or beaver.

For more information, visit the Hunter/Trapper Photo Scrapbook webpage.

11/18/2005