Photo contest winners showcase the diversity of Arizona’s wildlife
Winners of the 19th annual wildlife photo contest are featured in the Arizona Wildlife Views 2026 calendar.
The best-in-show photograph by Tyler Hartung of a great egret at Agua Caliente Park in Tucson was captured at sunrise on Dec. 7, 2024. Trying to practice capturing the right amount of light on a subject so it creates the correct depth and shadows, Hartung watched and waited in reeds and weeds along the edges of the park’s pond before taking the prized photograph.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is excited to announce the winners of its annual wildlife photo contest.
The 12 winning photographs are included in the full-size 2026 wildlife calendar that is published in the November-December 2025 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. Subscriptions ordered through Dec. 31, 2025, will receive the calendar issue while supplies last, and also get free issue(s) added to the order. The calendar also will be sold at all Arizona Game and Fish offices for $3 starting in mid-November.
Tyler Hartung’s photo of a great egret was awarded best in show and is showcased on both the cover and in the calendar.
The 12 winning photographers are:
● Eze Ahanonu, Tucson: Coyote
● Jim Burns, Scottsdale: Greater roadrunner with California kingsnake
● Timothy Cota, Mesa: Eastern collared lizard
● Lisa M. Daniels, Arizona City: Harris’ antelope squirrel
● Tyler Hartung, Tucson: Great egret
● Marti Huzarski, Chino Valley: American pronghorn
● Anne James, Payson: Western bluebird
● Paeton Keller, Tucson: Bison
● Mike Mahon, Cottonwood: Mule deer
● Jackie Marlowe, Scottsdale: White-nosed coati
● Scott Pirtle, Las Cruces, N.M.: Elk
● David C. Vincent, Tucson: Gould’s turkey
Given the strength and diversity of this year’s more than 1,300 entries, the judges singled out 20 images from 695 talented photographers for honorable mention. These photos also are featured in the calendar issue:
● Greg F. Clark, Tucson: Montezuma (Mearns’) quail
● Jenny L. Clark, Fountain Hills: White-nosed coati
● Jeremiah Degenhardt, El Granada, Calif.: Great Plains toad
● Jeff Goulden, Flagstaff: Steller’s jay
● Austin Haag, Chandler: Sidewinder
● Claudia Hannum, Tucson: Sonoran desert tortoise
● Mike Haynie, Payson: Western spotted skunk
● Jerel Kolling, Mesa: Arizona gray squirrel
● Christopher Magnan, Flagstaff: Desert bighorn sheep
● Paul Martin, Mesa: Black bear
● Emily Minnihan, Fort Mill, S.C.: Eastern collared lizard
● Tristan Munchinsky, Phoenix: Western diamond-backed rattlesnake
● Kathleen Murphy, Payson: Eared grebes
● Randi Najac, Fountain Hills: Round-tailed ground squirrel
● Sue Omang, Sahuarita: Bobcat
● Connor Rickett, Prescott: California condor
● Jeffrey Rushlo, Show Low: Rufous hummingbird
● Tam Ryan, Mesa: Coyote
● Sean Wickenheisser, Lake Havasu City: Black-tailed gnatcatchers
● David Zehring, Gilbert: Desert bighorn sheep
Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs, and thank you to Arizona Highways for its partnership in hosting the photo contest.
View the list of past wildlife photo contest winners.
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View the Official Rules. Entrants are responsible for complying with the Official Rules or may result in disqualification. This contest is for images of Arizona wildlife. All photos must depict wildlife native to and found in Arizona, and all photos must have been taken in Arizona settings.
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