Your North Dakota Nature Photos Could End Up In A Statewide Magazine

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest, with entries due by Oct. 1.

The annual contest invites photographers to showcase North Dakota’s wildlife and natural beauty across three categories: nongame species, game species, and plants and insects. An overall winning photograph will also be selected, while the number of additional winners in each category will depend on the total number of qualified entries received.

Officials encourage interested photographers to submit their work through the department’s website, where detailed instructions and entry requirements are available. Participants are asked to carefully follow all guidelines and provide required information to assist staff in processing submissions.

Contestants may submit up to five photographs, and all images must have been taken within North Dakota.

By entering the contest, photographers grant the department permission to use winning images in a variety of publications and platforms, including North Dakota OUTDOORS magazine, the agency’s website and its social media channels.

Contest Rules

• Photos must have been taken in North Dakota.
• Submission deadline is Oct. 1.
• Only digital files will be accepted, including PNG, JPG and JPEG formats. Submissions may be original digital photographs or scanned images from prints or slides. Photographers may be required to provide original image files for publication.
• Contestants are limited to no more than five entries.
• All submissions must be completed online through the official entry form.
• Each entry must include the photographer’s name, phone number and email address. Additional details, such as photo location and the month the image was taken, may be included in the comment section.

How to Enter

Participants may submit their digital images using the online form available on the department’s website.

For additional information, participants can contact Patrick Isakson, a conservation supervisor with the department, by email at pisakson@nd.gov.

Get our free mobile app

Game and Fish officials said the contest provides an opportunity to highlight the state’s diverse wildlife while encouraging outdoor recreation and conservation awareness.