Honorable mentions from the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest's oldest contestants: tenth through twelfth graders

Eleventh grader Gina Huang of Johns Creek, Georgia won an honorable mention for A Curious Bobcat in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Fairfax, Virginia - This is it, the last of the honorable mentions from this year's George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest. As with our winning entries, we saved the best for last and now present our Category IV entries.

Just like all of our other honorable mentions, these entries came oh so close to receiving winning marks by our judges but, despite falling short, they are still recognized by our judges as being exceptional.

Above is the ulta-photographic A Curious Bobcat by Gina Huang. A highly decorated contest veteran, this eleventh grader from Johns Creek, Georgia has previously won 3rd in Category IV in 2011, 1st in Category III in 2010 and 2nd in Category III in 2009. With one year left of eligibility, we're excited to see what Gina submits in 2013.

Tenth grader Rachel Ahn of Boyds, Maryland won an honorable mention for her big horn sheep in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Rachen Ahn, a tenth grader from Boyds, Maryland submitted this untitled work of a big horn sheep that really impressed our judges.

Tenth grader Jessica Sheng of Palo Alto, California won an honorable mention for Spirit of the Forest in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

From Palo Alto, California we have honorable mention recipient Jessica Sheng, a tenth grader who submitted Spirit of the Forest.

Twelfth grader Andy Mize of Fairmouth, Kentucky won an honorable mention for Grizzly Bear in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Here's another ferocious bear honorable mention, this time Grizzly Bear courtesy of Andy Mize, a senior out of Fairmouth, Kentucky.

Eleventh grader Noah Bounds of Shreveport, Louisiana won an honorable mention for Signs of Autumn in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Junior Noah Bounds from Shreveport, Louisiana wow'd our judges with his stunning oil painting of a pheasant titled Signs of Autumn. Noah is also a Youth Wildlife Art Contest veteran, winning 2nd in Category IV in 2011.

Tenth grader Maria McDonnell of Spotsylvania, Virginia won an honorable mention for Deer in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Local entrant Maria McDonnell from Spotsylvania, Virginia received an honorable mention for her sketch Deer.

Twelfth grader Tyler Bay of Elyin, Oklahoma won an honorable mention for Ready for the Kill in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Ready for the Kill is Tyler Bay's drawing of a cougar with a piercing gaze. This high school senior from Elyin, Oklahoma took home a honorable mention in his final year of eligibility.

Twelfth grader Paul Adelgren of Monument, Colorado won an honorable mention for Bear Necessity in the 2012 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest

One of the most unique entries we've ever seen at the Youth Wildlife Art Contest came to us from Paul Adelgren of Monument, Colorado. Painted on actual turkey feathers, Paul's piece Bear Necessity depicts a mother bear and her cub walking through the snow. Our judges loved Paul's creativity with his canvas and are no strangers to being impressed with his work. Paul has previously received honorable mention in Category III in 2009, 3rd in Category IV in 2010 and 1st in Category IV in 2011.

Previously:

Category I winners