Hey seasoned taxidermy competitors....

[AndyO]

thanks for the help

[Jimmy Lawrence]

yeah, I think I remember the guy you beat by ONE FREAKING POINT.  bast ard!!!  LOLOLOLOL.  You would've lost it at Iowa too, but your good friend Jimmy looked out for you and brought it home. .. .. . . ..

[Glass eye]

A few years ago I competed with an ocellated turkey in a strutting pose. I didn't leave any reference pics and I got deductions for the wings not being symetrical. Ocellated's don't drag their wings, one wing is fanned out towards the hen and the other is being rattled. I figured it was my mistake for not leaving reference pics for the judge. At the next competition I left pics for the judge but I still got hit on the same thing " wings not symetrical "

[Cole]

A few years ago I competed with an ocellated turkey in a strutting pose. I didn't leave any reference pics and I got deductions for the wings not being symetrical. Ocellated's don't drag their wings, one wing is fanned out towards the hen and the other is being rattled. I figured it was my mistake for not leaving reference pics for the judge. At the next competition I left pics for the judge but I still got hit on the same thing " wings not symetrical "

That happens. In my opinion it is up to the judge to know the species, and/or have access to reference. If they don't know, they shouldn't deduct for it. That being said, it happens. I've been deducted because my eyes in a speckled trout were too flat against the head, and didn't show any sclreal band. What can ya do other than move on and try again. LOL I didn't learn my lesson...I still think it is their job to have reference, and I don't supply any.

[Bill Yox]

In general Id say, dont mount things to depict extremes and expect the judge to recognize it. Heres a CLASSIC example of how to play with reference. I have seen LIVE bucks with the skin pulling away from the antlers, especially later in the year. Yet I always point that out on mounts, as shrinkage at the antler burr. Yes, it happens, but yes, thats a case of the hide shrinking, not the mount being accurate to an exception in life.

Cole, if I were a fish judge Id likely mention the lack of a scleral capsule too, even though your enclosed pic clearly shows one flat eye set on the live fish. So goes the limits of our judging. Sometimes when in doubt, side with the mount.

[michael p.]

I didn't leave any reference pics and I got deductions for the wings not being symetrical. ............. At the next competition I left pics for the judge but I still got hit on the same thing " wings not symetrical "

What is the deal with all the symetrical crap on judging.  Is it more aestetic?  Yes in some cases.  Iis it natural or correct?  NO!

[Cole]

I didn't leave any reference pics and I got deductions for the wings not being symetrical. ............. At the next competition I left pics for the judge but I still got hit on the same thing " wings not symetrical "

What is the deal with all the symetrical crap on judging.  Is it more aestetic?  Yes in some cases.  Iis it natural or correct?  NO!

What difference does it make. If you know they are looking for it...make it symmetrical. We used to have a mule w/ one eye an inch higher than the other...and you know what? He was ugly!

[Glass eye]

I didn't leave any reference pics and I got deductions for the wings not being symetrical. ............. At the next competition I left pics for the judge but I still got hit on the same thing " wings not symetrical "

What is the deal with all the symetrical crap on judging.  Is it more aestetic?  Yes in some cases.  Iis it natural or correct?  NO!

What difference does it make. If you know they are looking for it...make it symmetrical. We used to have a mule w/ one eye an inch higher than the other...and you know what? He was ugly!

What difference does make ?  Ocellated's are NOT like our turkeys and they DO NOT strut like ours. To mount an ocellated with the wings dragging symetrically would be wrong. The pic that I posted earlier is the norm, it's not an unusual or strange pose. I'd rather mount it correctly and not place a ribbon. But it would be best to mount it correctly, and be judged correctly. If a judge is dealing with an unfamiliar species, he should go to a computer and google up some live pics.

[Cole]

I didn't leave any reference pics and I got deductions for the wings not being symetrical. ............. At the next competition I left pics for the judge but I still got hit on the same thing " wings not symetrical "

What is the deal with all the symetrical crap on judging.  Is it more aestetic?  Yes in some cases.  Iis it natural or correct?  NO!

What difference does it make. If you know they are looking for it...make it symmetrical. We used to have a mule w/ one eye an inch higher than the other...and you know what? He was ugly!

What difference does make ?  Ocellated's are NOT like our turkeys and they DO NOT strut like ours. To mount an ocellated with the wings dragging symetrically would be wrong. The pic that I posted earlier is the norm, it's not an unusual or strange pose. I'd rather mount it correctly and not place a ribbon. But it would be best to mount it correctly, and be judged correctly. If a judge is dealing with an unfamiliar species, he should go to a computer and google up some live pics.

LOL, easy bud, I agree with you. haha In your case the judge should have done a little research. I was responding to mike about symmetry. I wouldn't consider your case an issue with symmetry, even though that's what the judges called it. Your was a case of the judge not having reference, and perhaps even getting a little lazy. That's why I brought up our mule. He was very unsymmetrical, which made him terribly ugly. I think there was a wood duck in Breakthrough not too long ago with the same affliction. Just because it's possible, doesn't mean it's the norm. Try to make things as symmetrical as possible, unless the pose dictates otherwise.

[Missouri Creek Studio]

The only time I would and have left a reference photo for Judge was when it was an unusual specimen they may not be accustomed to. Judges don't award points for simple alterations. Most of them recognize the standard available forms and poses. They can usually tell a hand cast fish from a commercial blank as well. Hand wrap a mannikin, carve, sculpt or mold your own  form ,snap a few shots depicting the process. If everything else  is correct you have earned your extra points. The moral being a  mount is either correct or not no matter who made the form.