The 2009 World Taxidermy Championships Awards

Cash Prizes
The World Taxidermy Championships has the largest cash prizes of any taxidermy competition. In 2009, $25,000.00 in cash will be awarded to the following winners:

Competitors' Award: $14,000.00 to be awarded
Masters Division: $4,000.00 first place, $2,000.00 second place, $1,000.00 third place, $500.00 fourth place, $500.00 fifth place
Professional Division: $3,000.00 first place, $1,500.00 second place, $1,000.00 third place, $250.00 fourth place, $250.00 fifth place
Van Dyke's: $1,000.00 cash award sponsor and Derma-Grip: $1,000.00 cash award sponsor
The Competitors' Awards Rules and Regulation

Collective Artists Division: $3,400.00 to be awarded
Best in World winner: $1,000.00 cash award from Tohickon Glass Eyes and Karl Lange Glass Eyes
Each first place in the six categories: $400.00 cash award from Tohickon Glass Eyes and Karl Lange Glass Eyes
Collective Artists Division Rules and Regulations

Best of Show: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Judges' Choice Best of Show: $1,000.00 cash award from Research Mannikins
Master Division Rules and Regulations

Carl E. Akeley Award: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Carl E. Akeley Award: $1,000.00 cash award from WASCO
Carl E. Akeley Awards Rules and Regulations

Best Professional Entry: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Best Professional Entry: $1000.00 cash award from McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Professional Division Rules and Regulations

Taxidermy Sculpture Competition: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Live Taxidermy Sculpture Competition: Best in World $500.00, Second $300.00, Third $200.00
Live Taxidermy Sculpture Division Rules and Regulations

Awards
There are sixteen Best in World titles in the Master Division, one in the Collective Artists Division and one in the Live Taxidermy Sculpture Division. See Categories for specific information. All Best in World winners, as well as the Carl E. Akeley Award winner and the Master of Masters competition winner will receive a gold Carl E. Akeley medallion.

Best in World winners will also receive a Recognition Plaque. Competitor's Choice and the Best Professional Entry will receive a Recognition Plaque.

Cash Award Sponsors
$10,500.00 Distributed Among Various Cash Awards from the World Show Prize Fund
$5,000.00 Distributed Among Various Cash Awards from Breakthrough Magazine
$3,500.00 Collective Artists Division Winners from Tohickon Glass Eyes and Karl Lange Glasaugen
$1,000.00 Judges' Best of Show Fish Carving from Sugar Pine Woodcarving Supplies
$1,000.00 Competitors' Award Winners from Van Dyke Supply Company
$1,000.00 Competitors' Award Winners from Derma-Grip
$1,000.00 Best Professional Entry from McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
$1,000.00 Judges' Best of Show Taxidermy from Research Mannikins
$1,000.00 Carl E. Akeley Award from WASCO (Wildlife Artist Supply Company)

How "Best in World" Titles Are Determined
There are sixteen Best in World titles in the Master Division, one in the Collective Artists Division and one in the Taxidermy Sculpture Division.

For 2009, each entry in the Master Division will be separately and independently scored by three judges and the scores averaged together. Once first places are determined in the subcategories, a competition supervisor will gather all category judges (five for most categories) to vote for eligible entries for Best in World titles. They will each cast a secret ballot for Best in World. The judges will be allowed to discuss and confer about the eligible entries before casting their ballots. If two entries receive equal votes the judges will be asked to vote again on those two entries only. The results will be kept secret and announced at the World Show Awards banquet. Click here to see who will be judging each category for the World Championship titles.

Competitors vying for the Best in World titles should pay very close attention to the subcategories. Some of the subcategories will be heavily competed in, while others may only have one or two entries. Remember -- to win a Best in World title you must first have a First Place ribbon in a subcategory. You may want to consider competing in several of the subcategories to increase your chances of being considered in that final decision.

Each Collective Artists entry will be judged by three judges from the judge list of that species category. After placements are determined in each category all taxidermy judges will evaluate the eligible entries for Best in World Collective Artist and cast individual secret ballots. Since this is one of only two divisions in which judges can compete, any judge competing in this division will not be eligible to judge in this division, nor cast a vote for Best in World (in that division).
Master Division Rules and Regulations

Live Sculpting Competition
Compete for the title of Best in World Taxidermy Sculptor. This competition will again be held live at the 2009 WTC, and was a tremendous success in previous World Shows. The subject for the 2009 WTC will be either a gamehead or a lifesize mammal. This sculpture division will be limited to eight entrants, determined on a first-come, first-acceptance basis. Anyone interested should send a postcard or letter, stating this interest. The postmarked date from the letters will be used to determine order of acceptance. Send to WTC Sculpting, P.O. Box 2945, Hammond, LA 70404-2945. If you have any questions, call Larry Blomquist at 985-345-7266.
Live Taxidermy Sculpture Division Rules and Regulations