"Taxidermy Competitions"

[Casey Watterson]

To all of you who compete I wanted to ask a few questions.  First of all what competitions do you plan on attending in the next year, and why?  Also how important of a factor is it in who is judging the division you may enter if you compete of not?

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

I try to attend our States show every year, and maybe, if things look good, I will go to the World show in 2011.
To me, the show is my once a year taxidermy class for tips and tricks that I can not teach myself. It is easy to be better than anyone in my county as nobody in my county competes, they are still building off of a video they bought, or what grandpa/uncle taught them.
Personally to me, it doesn't matter who the judge is, as they will know more than I anyway. Setting at home holding out for that one "super taxidermy star judge" to come around to your State's show is missing out on some great information. If you are waiting for Bill Yox to come to your show, it may never happen, so you better not wait and use what judge is available. (chances are they will have more hair anyway) You should be hitting as many shows as you can stand, picking up information where ever you can. Right now, it sounds like you are hedging on going and need a push.

[Heath Cline]

T  Casey has been competing for a few years now. And you would have seen his mounts at the Ohio last year when you were there. And he has always entered no matter who was judging. I think Casey has too much time on his hands today & decided to do some research   

[Brad Jones]

The World Show and My state show. who the judge is does not guide my decision wether to compete or not.

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

LOL,, from the looks of his gallery,, he should be preaching the benefits of competition.

[Casey Watterson]

The only reason I ask what show you are looking to attend is in an attempt to understand what people are looking for in a good competition.  I am on the board of the O.T.A. and want to know what we as an organization we can do better, there is always room for improvement.  To me it doesn't matter who compets or judges was just wonder what others feel.  I plan to on trying to go to next years world show, as well as our state show, and if I can some other close states if possible.

[Old Fart]

I never pay attention to who the judges are. I usually try to use my customer work so that it isn't a complete loss.  When I do use my own mounts they never seem to do as well as my customer work. LOL I guess I rush through the stuff I do for myself, to get back to the things that pay the bills. I will usually use the same mount for a couple shows, since I usually have a little extra time in it, even if it belongs to the client. You will get different opinions from different judges and you can learn from all of them. I'm looking for a judge's honest opinion and I know that judges are not all created equal and I accept that I may get varying opinions on the SAME mount.  So be it!

[GBRUCH]

When I enter I do pay attention to the judges - all of them.  Who is judging doesn't necessarily prevent me from attending but I do consider the cast  before comitting.    More important though is hanging with friends both competitors and judges. 

[John C]

Been in the industry a long long time. I use to never pay any attention to who the judges are, but I think I will from now on.  I am tired of judges who dont know what to hell they are doing... There are many peoplke who think they canjudge and should never have been allowed a pencil let alone an ego trip..

I dont care who the competitors are. They dont matter I am not competing against them. I am competing against my knowledge of the animal and how well I can mount it..

Now I have judged a good number of shows over the years, I know I still make mistakes on both ends judging and being judged , this has nothing to do with the bible either as we are not judging people or their virtues.

Is it close, is it in the ballpark, can the animal do that, how well did the artist present the aniaml and how well did the artist do the craftsmanship portion.

Last but not lest does the competitor have more knowledge of the animal than the judge??

[*]

The World Show and My state show. who the judge is does not guide my decision wether to compete or not.

It will sway the type of mount I'll do,  and the specie's

When I enter I do pay attention to the judges - all of them.  Who is judging doesn't necessarily prevent me from attending but I do consider the cast  before comitting.    More important though is hanging with friends both competitors and judges. 

X2 Gary

[Jim Tucker]

I don't know if Casey wants mine or Heath's opinion...he's probably heard enough.

Judges don't sway wether I go or not.  I pay attention to who is judging for one reason.  Certain judges like certain types of pieces.  I can up my chances of scoring well by mounting towards their preferences.

Not saying the judges aren't on the up and up.  Your mount still needs to be solid.  However if you look at a judges past work it can give you a window into their likes and dislikes.  Not saying copy them either.

As far as what shows I would go to....I go to any I can.  The last few years that has not been very many.  Only my home state "Ohio" Show.  IMO State Shows are the BEST.  I would go to as many State Shows as I could if my weekends allowed it, but they don't.  For the rest of this year I have 2 Saturdays open,  so attending shows is pretty much out.

I attend shows because of the fellowship...even with you Casey 

[Jan George]

The World Show and My state show. who the judge is does not guide my decision wether to compete or not.

It will sway the type of mount I'll do,  and the specie's

  

When I enter I do pay attention to the judges - all of them.  Who is judging doesn't necessarily prevent me from attending but I do consider the cast  before comitting.    More important though is hanging with friends both competitors and judges.  

X2 Gary

I agree with both comments.  Several years ago when I was trying to improve my turkeys, I competed at every show I could that Cally Morris was judging.  If I know a certain mammal judge leans more toward (for instance) cats, I will take a cat so I can learn as much as possible.  Also, after competing for a while, you learn what techniques and forms and such that certain judges like or dislike and you mount accordingly.

[Wildside]

I have been attending our Michigan show and Ohio every year and plan to do the same this year.  I know I am going to these shows before they even have a judge locked in.  I plan on making this years World Show too.  I always plan on attending as many seminars as possible, but somehow the comraderie takes over and the seminars get put aside.  However I have learned so much talking with judges and colleagues over an adult beverage.  Heck sometimes that turns into a seminar.

[Ross Vogler]

I think this should be taken into consideration.

Location sometimes/could play a big part in your state's success.

Tall states should alternate from north to south year to year, and wide states east to west.

If Ohio had their show in Cincinnati one year, I would strongly consider attending.

If Kentucky would have their show in the east, I would consider going.

[Brad Jones]

The World Show and My state show. who the judge is does not guide my decision wether to compete or not.

It will sway the type of mount I'll do,  and the specie's

When I enter I do pay attention to the judges - all of them.  Who is judging doesn't necessarily prevent me from attending but I do consider the cast  before comitting.    More important though is hanging with friends both competitors and judges. 

X2 Gary

These are both great points.