简体中文
EnglishHow to Join the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Minnesota's Wildlife Management Areas
Updated
You can take part by entering the Minnesota DNR's WMA photo contest, which is open through January 1, 2027. The contest invites people to share photos tied to four themes: wildlife sightings, family traditions, days afield, and quiet moments from these special places. Entries are submitted through the DNR website. The contest is a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Minnesota's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), so it is aimed at people who have spent time on these lands rather than at professional photographers only.
What the Contest Is Celebrating
Minnesota's Wildlife Management Areas are public lands managed by the DNR for wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation. The 75th anniversary marks three-quarters of a century of that system, and the photo contest is the DNR's way of collecting the public's memories and images from these places.
The four themes map directly onto how most people experience WMAs:
| Theme | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Wildlife sightings | Animals, birds, and other wildlife encountered on WMAs |
| Family traditions | Repeat outings, rituals, and shared habits across generations |
| Days afield | Hunting, hiking, birding, and other time spent out on the land |
| Quiet moments | Solitude, scenery, and the slower side of a visit |
If you have a photo that fits more than one theme, pick the one that best describes what the image is really about — the theme is how your entry is framed, not a restriction on subject matter.
How to Enter
- Choose your photo. Select an image from a Minnesota WMA that clearly matches one of the four themes. Photos that show a recognizable place, activity, or tradition tend to communicate the theme better than generic landscapes.
- Go to the DNR website. The contest is run through the Minnesota DNR site at dnr.state.mn.us. Look for the WMA 75th anniversary photo contest entry point on the site.
- Submit before the deadline. The contest is open through January 1, 2027. Submitting well before the deadline avoids last-minute problems with uploads or account issues.
- Confirm your entry went through. After submitting, make sure you receive whatever confirmation the site provides. If you don't see one, resubmit or check back rather than assuming it worked.
Practical Things to Keep in Mind
- The deadline is a fixed date, not a rolling window. January 1, 2027 is the close. Plan around it rather than treating it as approximate.
- The DNR site is the only stated submission channel. The contest is described as running through the DNR website, so don't rely on social media posts or email as a substitute.
- Photos should come from WMAs. The contest celebrates these specific areas, so images from state parks, private land, or other public lands don't fit the purpose even if they're strong photos.
- The anniversary itself is the hook. If you're unsure what to submit, start from a memory of a specific WMA — a first hunt, a family walk, a quiet morning — and choose the photo that best carries that memory.
Who This Is For
The contest suits anyone who has spent time on Minnesota WMAs: hunters, birders, hikers, families with recurring outdoor traditions, and people who simply value quiet time on public land. You don't need special equipment or a portfolio — the themes are about experience and place, not technical polish. If you've never visited a WMA, the contest is also a reasonable prompt to find one nearby and see what the anniversary is about.