i find it a sad day when mature adults act poorly. what kind of example are we setting for the future generation of taxidermists when we behave like this? if your wondering what i'm refering to listen to this. recently at the NTA show we had a lot of great mounts, judges, etc. you think people or judges are immpartial? think again! after the judging was over and all was said and done one of the judges(i'm not naming names) was up having a few drinks and bragging about taking down certain competitors and laughing. this is sad, but don't think i'm naive. i know this kind of thing goes on, but can't they keep it to thierselves. i feel when you make those kind of statements that you must be intimitated or scared of the competitors work? i don't know, maybe just plain jealous? i feel sorry for the ones the comment was made about, but it isn't all about winning. i think if your happy with the piece you did that should be what matters. to everyone keep up the good work!
If what you say is true, the individual(s) should be held accountable for their statements. It is talk and actions like that that got me out of the organizations in the first place. Don't let them get away with it. I don't care what position they hold, they are just another bozo like the rest of us.
I am usually one of the "silent" participants in this forum---seen alot and said little. I feel that if your words are true then the individual you speak of should be reprimanded for his actions. Competition judges are to be fair and impartial, I think that The Pres. of NTA should be notified. Yes a taxidermist should have great satisfaction in the mount that they enter into competition but it needs not be more harshly judged due to personal differences of the competitor and the judge. It is supposed to be impartial but when you get to know someones work you can pick it out of a pile. Don't stand on the side lines and let all pass--if what you say is true then you as the witness are the one who must act.
i agree that it's wrong, but will i be any better for reporting it? i think it all comes out in the end. i'm gonna be the better guy and not join thier immaturity.
i agree that it's wrong, but will i be any better for reporting it? i think it all comes out in the end. i'm gonna be the better guy and not join thier immaturity.
I WASN'T THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY HEARD THE COMMENTS BUT A RELIABLE SOURCE TOLD ME. I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET THE IDEA I WAS STANDING THERE
Last time we heard about this kind of stuff we were assured it dose not happen. I tend to believe it dose not. judges do not just step off the street.
Rummers can be hurtful, dont buy into them.
Mark C
It's good that cooler heads prevail at least some of the time.
I know that politics and personal rivalries get involved at ALL the competitions. I agree 100% that this should NOT be the case, but I don't know how to change it. You did mention that alcohol was involved prior to the thoughtless comment. The whole thing is a shame, but I think you are right to let it pass, except: The person who actually heard the comment could do the taxidermy profession a service by quietly notifying the judge's committee of the incident. The situation during which it occurred is also important.
Not knowing the situation, I like to hope that the judge in question would regret his/her comments when sober. Judging is unbelievably hard, stressful and thankless work, but it shouldn't lead to "foot in mouth" disease.
I'm sorry to hear it happened.
Nancy M.
as I have yet to attend a competition. But I am curious as to why the judges should even know who's work they're judging until after their votes are in? It seems to me that if this information was kept secret until the votes were tallied there wouldn't be as many "problems"...
After you have been around the circuit, you get to the point that you can pick out individual artists work. At my state competition I can walk around and tell you who did certain mounts before their names are put on them.
You can only do this with the more "known" artists because you can pick out their style so to say. Its easy.
somewhere else!
Are we on the farm or forum?
I promise I won't attack you personally, but please don't be offended if I ignore a lot of your posts. I never thought it would happen, but the ones that just take up space are really beginning to irritate me. I may very well be smiling at a few of them, but I just won't respond.
OK? Friends otherwise?
I hope so.
Nancy M.
I'm really intrigued. Who are you? Just curious.
You are very correct about judges being able to recognize the style of taxidermists they are familiar with. Plus there are the mounts that are "campaigned" all over the country at different shows.
Still, the judge has a scoresheet and a mount to evaluate according to that standard. I have seriously offended at least one person by NOT giving them points just for knowing me. I wasn't judging the relationship, just the mount [which just plain sucked, unfortunately, no way around it.]
It just goes with the job. If everybody is EQUALLY mad at the judge, that's success! [LOL]
Nancy M.
I do not want to annoy you by any means! LOL And I personally read ALL of your writings....Have you been hanging out with that Patrick guy? Watch him....he's crazy.....
I am just the average "Joe-anne" I have used this forum to gain information to better my work as most of us continuously strive to do. I am/was a "silent" user of this forum, love all of the comradery I have seen, and especially enjoy the archives. I am a full time taxidermist of 14 years. Spent my whole life in the company of wildife artists, enthusiasts, hunters, and sportsman. I am an addict!
And you?
Yes judges have a score sheet--and I strongly believe they use that score sheet and leave personal bias out. Judges do enjoy to see a creative, quality mount even if it were mounted by "a rival" and in the same they will take the points away for any fault they find. Judges are people, make mistakes, isnt that the same in every social twist?
Just a last note on the subject.
I will formally introduce myself...hmmm...
name: Nancy Crocker Mulligan
dob: [LOL!] [shortly after coal began forming!]
hobbies: aviculture, woodcarving, show pigeons, flat art [occasionally]
married about 3 years
taxidermy career: birds only. fur makes me itch. fish hate me.
first bird: robin, 1963 [didn't know any better]
began part time, 1974 or 1975
began full time, 1980 [stuck in rut ever since!]
moved from Texas back to Washington state in 1988
In a small nutshell, that about sums it up.
I've lost touch with so many people that I used to know who did taxidermy, and just wondered if we might have met before.
Have we?
Nancy M.
for the formal introduction--but alas I do not think we have met. Respectfully I believe we are a generation apart but stand together in hobby and interest.
I am in Michigan
D.O.B--60's baby
married-2 months (had to sew a few wild oats first)
taxidermy career started with a crow early 80's
I am an all around taxidermist (birds,fish,gameheads,mammals)
part time taxidermist in high school
full time at age of 18 --piece work for a couple of studios.
went back to college several years ago became a registered nurse,I worked in a hospital emergency room (I did enjoy that) for 8 months missed my taxidermy and now a full time taxidermist again--imagine that---my mother can't!
I know this is a taxidermy forum and I should keep it to that, but it is interesting to know a little background of the people on the other side of the monitor. I have a lot of useful information that I am willing to share with whom-ever asks the question. I have run into plenty of things to trouble-shoot and I wouldn't mind helping out the next guy.
respectfully--
Kathleen Urban
for the formal introduction--but alas I do not think we have met. Respectfully I believe we are a generation apart but stand together in hobby and interest.
I am in Michigan
D.O.B--60's baby
married-2 months (had to sew a few wild oats first)
taxidermy career started with a crow early 80's
I am an all around taxidermist (birds,fish,gameheads,mammals)
part time taxidermist in high school
full time at age of 18 --piece work for a couple of studios.
went back to college several years ago became a registered nurse,I worked in a hospital emergency room (I did enjoy that) for 8 months missed my taxidermy and now a full time taxidermist again--imagine that---my mother can't!
I know this is a taxidermy forum and I should keep it to that, but it is interesting to know a little background of the people on the other side of the monitor. I have a lot of useful information that I am willing to share with whom-ever asks the question. I have run into plenty of things to trouble-shoot and I wouldn't mind helping out the next guy.
respectfully--
Kathleen Urban
I have had my own studio for the past 10 years, the piece work was ok when I was a kid.
and why is it when I respond it leaves the message twice?
Maybe we can meet in person at a taxidermy show someday!
Until then, there's the forum. 'Glad to see a new voice...[?]...well, anyway, I just found this place a few months ago and it is a pearl beyond price.
Nancy M.
I'm Lisa Marie Vileta
Age? Somewhere between 36 and 38.
I love animals (of all kinds) and taxidermy
Interest..fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, horesback riding (Cur)
Don't care much for those PETA folks or any others that try to take our rights away
Study nature and help anyway that I can
I like to be a little goofy...keeps life enjoyable!
Hope to meet many of you in the future
Thise site is a God send
With Gratitude
Lisa
nice to meet you. We share the same interests, I love to hunting, fishing,camping,etc. Very avid bowhunter. It is nice to meet women with the same interests, Hard to find in this world.
NEVER understood the PETA people--don't want to.
enjoy life----
All of ya............
hay where in washington are ya at? im another full time
lady taxidermist in washington, east side on the BC border.
e-mail lets chat :o)