April 2, 2026
Michigan Outdoor Writers Association Announces
2026 Outdoor Hall of Fame Inductees
The Michigan Outdoor Writers Association has announced three 2026 inductees for the Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame. These recipients will be formally recognized at MOWA’s 82nd annual conference on May 9th at the Pere Marquette River Lodge
The MOWA Outdoor Hall of Fame, which began in 2017, recognizes Michigan outdoors communicators and authors, conservation volunteers, public sector employees, inventors, entrepreneurs, artists and instructors who have inspired us in the outdoors. These candidates demonstrate statewide, regional, and national significance and have made an undeniable impact on outdoor sport over their lifespans. Previous inductees include Fred Bear, Tom Huggler, Larry Kelly, Buzz Lockman, Mort Neff, Eppinger Manufacturing Co., Dr. Howard Tanner, Mark Martin, Steven Rinella, Jim Foote, Denny Geurink, Al Stewart, Richard Smith, and Kevin VanDam.
For 2026, the induction committee endorsed famed musician, TV personality, and hunter Ted Nugent, notable Michigan conservationist, angler, and author, Jerry Dennis, and author, national podcast host, and outdoorsman Mark Kenyon.
Though often recognized for his award-winning musical career, Ted Nugent’s tireless efforts to promote hunting, gun ownership, and the outdoors lifestyle in Michigan and across the country are equally notable.
Ted is a New York Times Best Selling Author, having written at least 5 books, and was recipient of the James Fenimore Cooper Award for his writing and promotion of our outdoor heritage. Ted produces the outdoor TV Show – Spirit of the Wild – of which more than 500 episodes have aired and is well-known for his song “Fred Bear,” which has become the anthem for bowhunters across North America.
Jerry Dennis is a Michigan treasure. With over a dozen books—from A Place on the Water, The River Home, to The Living Great Lakes—he’s captured the essence of Michigan’s out-of-doors in a way few authors have.
His essays, poems, and fiction have appeared in over 100 publications, including The New York Times, Smithsonian, Audubon, and Gray’s Sporting Journal. Several of his books have been recognized on the list of Michigan Notable Books, he received the Michigan Author of the Year Award 1999, and he is a four-time recipient of the Outdoor Writers Association of America Best Book of the Year.
Mark Kenyon is the author of That Wild Country: An Epic Journey into the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands. He is a lifelong outdoorsman, a passionate advocate for wildlife and wild places, and one of the hunting and fishing community’s most prominent voices through his podcast, Wired to Hunt, and his work as Director of Conservation for MeatEater Inc – an outdoor lifestyle company founded with the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives.
Kenyon has appeared on the Netflix Original Series, MeatEater, and been featured in USA Today, The Hill, Outdoor Life, Outside, and more. He sits on the national board of directors for the National Deer Association, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters.
About MOWA: Founded in 1944, the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA) is a non-profit organization comprised of outdoor communicators including writers, photographers, editors, illustrators for print and digital, as well video, lecturers and public relations specialists, and radio or television broadcast journalists with passions for communicating about the outdoors.
MOWA’s members communicate on various outdoor subjects including hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, backpacking, the environment, education, trapping, travel, humor, natural resources, conservation, travel, ecology, wildlife management, bird watching, boating, canoeing and many other outdoor related subjects.
The organization’s website can be viewed at miowa.net. If you are interested in joining the organization, click on the “Join MOWA” icon at the top of the page.
About the Jay’s & Webber Wildlife and Nature Center: The Webber Museum is a dynamic hub located in Clare, Michigan, dedicated to wildlife education and conservation. Founded by Wayne Webber, it serves as a beacon for promoting environmental stewardship and preserving hunting’s rich outdoor heritage. Through immersive exhibits, educational programs, and community engagement, the museum inspires visitors of all ages to appreciate and protect the natural world for generations to come. https://www.jwwildlifecenter.org