I will be entering a whitetail mount in my first competition next month. I guess i need to get in a novice class.
My first question is what is the biggest mistake most novice make in there first competition?
Do they give out ribbons in the novice class.
Should my shoulder mount be on a plack?
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if you want it is your choice you will probable learn more from your judge
yes they do
To answer your questions:
Mistakes: Not getting to know as many people as you can. Not asking enough questions. Thinking that you are there for ribbons.
Ribbons: Yes, most if not all comps award ribbons in novice.
No panel required. You are not being judged on panels or habitat. You are being judged on the mount.
Doug
I'm hoping to do the same thing this year. How should the back of the mount be finished if you don't use a panel? Also, if you do taxidermy in your spare time, but do charge money do you have to compete as a professional or can you compete as an amateur...Missouri Taxidermist. I'm sure you'd get more out of the professional, but I could understand how someone could get discouraged if they did compete at that level and never won. But of course the point of competing in professional is for the knowledge, correct?
Biggest mistake I made was not using enough reference to complete my mount. My earbutss were off, eyes were off, hair patterns were out of alignment, the ear edges were not sharp due to poor fit and lack of turning them all the way to the edge, drumming of ears and in places on the form. The judge took out photo after photo of all these detail areas and said, see this, see this, see this.... and on and on and on.
Get some good reference, photos and especially 3-D casts of earbutts and eyes. Make sure the front corners of the eyes and the front eye skin leading to the tear duct is done accurately. Make sure your upper eyelid and swell is anatomically correct. If you screw up the eyes like I did the first two years, it seemed a third was a guarantee. If you want to get the most from your competition experience, put the most into researching it and getting your eyes, ears and nose correct, as well as making sure you have a tight lip line and no shrinkage around the antler burrs. After putting all you think you can into it, the judge will let you know how close or how far off you are. I got a second last year and missed a first by the position of one ear in relation to the other, oh well.
And don't forget about the brisket, make sure its lined up and clean with a staight hair pattern down the middle. Symmetry is also important from the standpoint of looking correct, although you will read here that symmetry is more a human concontion than reality, but then who's looking at the mounts anyway?
Don't get discouraged, you are there to LEARN! I agree with what everyone here has said. Give them the best that you have to give, and they will teach you things that you have never thought about! It can only help you become a better taxidermist.
Good Luck,
Rob
Do the best you can first time out. Find out what you need to work on, then at the 2nd show, you will do better. Everyone has to start from the beginning! Don't go with blue ribbons in mind. you will more than likely get shot down! Go with a learning attitude and you will walk away a winner every time! The little state show made my business, those few ribbons has impressed my clients! This will be my third year I can't wait! Hope this helps!
Tony @ Johnson Taxidermy Studio, East Ky