I watched a NTA competition on the outdoor channel last week and I saw a guy (can't remember his name) but he was judging and describing how he judges and he made an error in a statement. He said that "birds acnnot separate their tail 4 inches to one side and 3 to the other," that they had to be even. I have seen birds, eagles, ducks ect... mannually separate ther feathers to uneven numbers. Where does NTA get judges that do not know what they are talking about. The mount he use was an excellent mout and was anatomically correct.
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Symetry (sp?)is one of those things. If it is 3 inches on one side they think the other should be 3 inches. Whether it can happen or not alot of them have the mentality that it has to be equal on both sides. You will find this in all areas of taxidermy whether it is fish , gameheads, mammals etc. I have been dinged on fish because the lower part of the soft dorsal was not close enopugh nort parralel to the fishes body. We all know a fish can move his fins wherever it wants. But the judge knocked off points because in his opinion it was not correct. Anyhow that is the way alot of judges are, it is just there opinion and opinions differ with everyone.
Todd B
A judge shouldnt make statements like that, I agree. It MAY have been taken out of context though, I didnt see the peice you spoke of. Sometimes when a judge sees a tail thats crooked, not symetric (and I hate to use 'symetric' when talking about balance) or spread uneven, he has to step back and try his best to determine if you did that like that on purpose, WITH a purpose, or if its just plain...crooked. And to answer where the NTA gets their judges? Anywhere they can. Its difficult to find guys who have the ability to share their knowledge, no less have that knowledge. Ad to that, being able to get them to the shows, financially, and you have yourself quite a job. Its tough getting a good bunch of judges together that EVERYONE approves of.
Harvey Ziegler seems to be a well respected "judge". I can't remember for sure, but I think that's who made the comment about the tail feathers. He docked me this year for having scapulars too far apart on a turkey. I came home and measured four birds with calipers and my scaps were exactly where they should have been. Maybe he was basing his measurements on those big 30# Mid-Western birds. The bird was approching water and turning left, so the rear leg was pushing outward. I did some modifying to get that effect and was actually very proud of how it turned out. He advised me that a turkeys legs were always in line with each other. Then, he docked me for unrealistic head color - said a turkeys face should be a darker blue, wattles red, etc. He then advised me to look at Cally's turkey heads. What an outstanding observation - all turkeys heads are the same color all the time (even when relaxed), and they all walk in a straight line (even when approaching an obstacle). I'll be glad to e-mail photos to anyone wanting to know how not to mount a turkey.
As I was told a long time ago.....................It is simply one persons opinion on one day. That is all. It is not the do all or end all.......just an opinion.
Anyone who knows birds and knows turkeys will never agree on the same color all the time.
I have seen turkey strutting and thier head be white, even almost all blue.
Any yes turkey and any bird will look at you sometimes with only one eye. They cock their head sideways to look at things many times.
Birds are not like mammals and have to use two eyes. fish are just like birds in that respect also.
Sorry guys. There was a lot of sarcasm in my comments. I'm well aware that turkey heads are constantly changing colors and; while their legs do nearly line up when walking straight (most of the time), they certainly aren't toe behind toe when strutting, stopping to stand, turning in any direction, etc. And in regards to a birds tail, wing or anything else on its body, of course they can move individual feathers. Watch any bird preening for 10 seconds and you'll see more "asymmetry" than you can shake a stick at. My point was exactly that you can't take it personal when a judge makes mistakes. It is incredibly frustrating with the time and money it takes to put together a competion piece and then travel somewhere and compete with it, only to have an incompetent, arrogant, know it all, attempt to "help" you become a better taxidermist. But, it isn't a reflection on you and/or your talents. By the same token, a good judge can help immensely.
I totally got your sarcasm! I also have to say that Callie Morris mounts a Darn fine turkey, but I seem to like a slightly different paint schedule on the head. I bet your turkey was beautiful, and if you don't mind, I would love to see pics:o)
Becky
It was indeed Harvey that made the comments. If you have pics of a duck with tail feathers spread unevenly I'll take it 100 ft next door to their body shop and ask him personally to see what he'd say.