THERMOPOLIS -- The white-tailed deer paintings of some the country's most renowned wildlife artists will be on display at the Old West Wax Museum & Dancing Bear Folk Center, July 1-25 as the Thermopolis art gallery hosts the second in a series of four summer art shows of the Top 40 paintings entered in the 17th annual Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art competition.

The public is invited to attend a free reception with refreshments,
beginning at 5:00 p.m., July 14 at the gallery located at 119 South 6th.

All paintings, except first place, will be for sale.

The top 40 pieces of artwork from the Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Competition, including the winning entry of art are traveling across Wyoming allowing others to see the best of this nationally-known art show. Some 113 pieces of artwork depicting the white-tailed deer from artists from 34 states, one from Canada and Mexico, including 32 from Wyoming artists
competed for the top honor of appearing on the 2001 Wyoming Conservation Stamp, which was judged April 7 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. Twelve Equality State entries placed in the top 40. Utah artist Brent Todd of Salt Lake City was the winner of the 17th annual competition with his oil painting, "Autumn Air". The painting earned Todd a $2,500 cash prize.
Other artists placing in the competition included, 2nd place*Eleazar SÁenz, Monterrey, Mexico, winning $1,500; 3rd place*Kim Diment, Michigan $1,000; 4th place*Christopher Leeper, Ohio $500; 5th place*John Lofgreen, Alaska $250. Honorable Mentions went to Andi Pindell, Wheatland; Jim Borgreen, Lewistown, Mont.; David Garrison, Iowa; Jeffrey Klinefelter, Indiana; and Peter Potapoff, Castlegar, B.C., Canada. The works of Dubois artist, Layne Evans, Cody artists Vernal Wagner and Rory Morgan are part of the "Top 40".
In conjunction with the reception, a free public presentation,

"White-tailed Deer of Wyoming" will be given by veteran wildlife biologist and Assistant Wildlife Division Chief, Harry Harju. The presentation will be given July 14 at the Old West Wax Museum, at 6:00 p.m. Harju will give a slide show with a discussion, followed by a question and answer period.

Harju is a Newbary, Michigan native. He earned a bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Michigan University and his doctorate from the University of Wyoming. He has been with the Game and Fish Department since 1976 serving as staff biologist, then promoted to supervisor of Biological Services. Harju was again promoted to assistant Wildlife Division chief in 1993.

Harju is widely recognized as one of North America's most knowledgeable wildlife biologists. He uses his expertise of big game, game birds and hunting to translate biology to the language of the common man. Harju belongs to the Wyoming and National wildlife federations, the Audubon Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Turkey Federation and
Pheasants Forever. He started his state service as a teaching assistant at UW and also served as a professor at UW before beginning his G&F career. In 1973, he was awarded Outstanding Teaching Assistant at UW. He was awarded the 1981 Wildlife Professional of the Year from the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society, G&F Director's Award in 1989 and Conservationist of the Year from the Wyoming Wildlife Federation in 1996.

Whitetails are one of the country's best-known animals, being found in nearly every state. In Wyoming, white-tailed deer are found mainly in the Blacks Hills, the east slope of the Bighorn Mountains and other deciduous creek bottoms of eastern Wyoming. The whitetail is a close relative of the mule deer. The smaller whitetail, is usually a bit more reddish in color. Its ears are smaller and its antler tines extend from a main beam. The
descriptive tail is brown on top, white on the bottom and has a white fringe. When excited, the tail is held straight up in the air.

White-tailed deer hunting seasons in Wyoming generally take place in November in the Black Hills.

Conservation stamps originated in 1984 and almost all hunters and anglers in Wyoming must purchase the $5 conservation stamp yearly. Stamps are also purchased by stamp collectors and purchasers of the Wyoming Conservation Stamp limited edition art prints available through the Department. Money from the sale of stamps is deposited into the Wildlife Trust Account.

Interest from this account is used for habitat acquisition and improvement, nonconsumptive use of wildlife and nongame projects.

From Thermopolis the "Top 40" entries go on tour to:
Headwaters' Arts & Conference Center Aug. 5 - Aug. 29, 2000
Dubois WY
West Wind Gallery Sept. 3 - Oct. 1, 2000
Casper WY
Harry Harju will also be speaking on whitetails at each of these sites.
Each gallery will also have an opening reception. All dates to be
announced.
-WGFD-

EDITOR'S ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Please connect to the Game and Fish web page to see photographs of the Top winning paintings.
http://gf.state.wy.us/html/stmpctst.htm
These may be used for reproduction for public promotional purposes. (photo of artwork) winning artwork "Autumn Air", oil by Brent Todd, Salt Lake City UT