Competition ?

[brigham boy]

This is probably a stupid question but in a competition are you competing against others or yourself? What I mean is does a certain score gain you a ribbon? I was told by someone that there's more then one first place for each division category. Doesn't sound right to me.

[J Cook]

it is by score

[T3_Kyle]

Its both. You are correct in the score and ribbon. The awards and best of categorys however are against everyone in the show, divisions, and categories which you are entered in. Not all states give scores however. They are basically scored and put into a category like a school grading system but do not get an actual score on the sheet but just a placing.

[GySgt401]

You compete against the score sheet ! That is why multiple 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons are awarded in each category.

[Matt]

It is by score and you are competing against others and yourself. What I mean by that is competition is really for your bennefit. The more shows you attend, the better quality work you will produce. The seminars are invaluable and by some of the best out there. Taking home just one technique and applying it to your everyday work increases your odds in success. A combination of techniques and modifying them to make it your own will do that much more for your work. This is just my thoughts though, but I have put this to work for years around here and I feel it has really helped me out. Now if I could just make more time for shows!(LOL)

[v.fleming]

What Matt said!!!

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

No matter what division you are in, youth, novice, pro, or masters, everyone starts out with 100 points, then for each flaw found by the judge, he/she whacks off a point or two. There is a possibility that if all the mounts are bad, no one will get a blue, or if all the mounts are top notch, everyone can get a blue. If you score between 70 and 79, that is a third place, 80 to 89 is a second place, 90 to 100 is a first place ribbon. However, even though a 90 score and a 98 score both get blue's, the 98 will take the class of that division.
Some shows will judge on hard points alone, when another show will judge on a curve, where the mounts are compared to the best mount in that division, even if it is sub par, it can score an 85, and get a blue ribbon because it is the best mount in that division. That is not right in my opinion, as one can get a blue by default, and not by score.

[millardtaxi]

well said matt, comp def will help any one who has an open mind and is willing to take critque in stride and be willing to try change. also Mr T is right.

[ARBowhunter]

we are just shy of 2 weeks till the arkansas show. I am excited and nervous  but looking forward to the learning experience. i have finally quit touching up my mount even though i know there are a few things not completely right. hopefully i will learn at the show what i need to know to fix the mount.

[John C]

Where is the shows that judge on a curve? I want to enter those!

[GregC424]

Just entered a Whitetail Shoulder mount in the Harrisburg show. This is my first competition so I am a little nervous, i don't want to embarrass myself

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

Don't sweat it Greg, don't think of it as competition, for it is just a face to face lesson from a deer mechanic.

[tem]

i like that T. deer mechanic.

[GregC424]

  got it

[Jim Tucker]

This is my first competition so I am a little nervous, i don't want to embarrass myself

The best advice I can give is DON'T worry about enbarrassing yourself.   Go and enjoy the show and forget about what your piece gets until you see the judge and get your critique.  NO ONE cares how good or bad you are.  You will be BETTER than some but worse than others.