Editorial Director for NRA Publications John Zent was awarded the 2010 Outdoor Writer of the Year by Carl Zeiss Sports Optics. The award was presented on January 17 at the Zeiss writers party during the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show week in Las Vegas, Nev. In addition to the plaque commemorating his contributions to hunting, shooting and the outdoor sports, Zent will receive a Zeiss Victory 10x45 T* RF laser rangefinding binocular.

Over his 28-year career in the shooting and hunting world, Zent has worked on both American Rifleman and American Hunter magazines and authored more than 240 bylines promoting the sports. He had this to say about the honor:

"Naturally I am grateful--and more than a little surprised--that Zeiss would select me for this honor that is so highly regarded throughout the shooting sports media. I have been lucky to work for so long in an organization where the creative environment insists that we produce at a very high level, and because NRA members possess such intense interest and expertise in firearms, shooting and hunting, we continually must learn and grow," said Zent.  He then went on to thank Zeiss, in turn, for taking a very proactive role in educating outdoor writers about how optics actually work. "My colleagues and I have benefitted greatly from those efforts, and as a result we are able to do a better job in reporting on new products and how to get the most from the optical gear shooters and hunters depend on."

For the complete write-up on the award, be sure to read the press release explaining Zent's contributions and achievements.