The 2007 World Taxidermy Championships Judges

30 World Class
Taxidermy Judges

Over the years, the WTC has earned a reputation for having consistent judging, year after year. Ribbons are earned solely on the quality of the work. With this consistency comes validity; an award earned at the World Taxidermy Championshps will mean something, now, and twenty years from now. It is not impossible to win, as hundreds of competitors have demonstrated, but the judging is of the highest calibre.

With 30 world-class judges working at the 2007 show, this will be the largest group of taxidermy judges ever assembled for a single competition. The following judging assignments have been established for the 2007 World Taxidermy Championships. Changes are possible and will be based on the actual workloads for various categories.

2007 World Taxidermy Championships Judging Administration

Judging Chairman:	Wesley (Skip) Skidmore
Data Processing:	Tom McNeal, Gail McNeal

Mammal Judges
Manny Chavez, Marcus Detring, John Matthews, Joe Meder, Gary Powell, Jean Roll, Skip Skidmore, Gene Smith, Dennis Smith, Jason Snowberger, Fred Vanderburgh, Jan Van Hoesen

Bird Judges
Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Lennart Pettersson, Patrick Rummans, Stefan Savides, Peter Sunesen

Fish and Reptile Judges
Simon Blackshaw, Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Jeff Mourning, Mike Orthober, Mike Ross

Freeze Dry Judge
Rod Connelly

Novice Judges
Don Stevens, Jessica Stevens

Akeley Award Judges
Ken Edwards, Clark Schreibeis, Jason Snowberger

Collective Artists Judges
Ken Edwards, Mike Kirkhart, Lennart Pettersson, Jason Snowberger

Master Division Judging Procedure
For 2007, each entry in the Master Division will be 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.

2007 Best in World Categories and Judges
Category 1. Medium-Small Lifesize Mammals (smaller than 50 lbs. [coyote/peccary])
a. Small mammals: less than 10 pounds
b. Medium mammals: greater than 10 pounds
c. Small mammals group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Jean Roll, Jason Snowberger, Jan Van Hoesen
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jean Roll, John Matthews, Skip Skidmore, Jason Snowberger, Jan Van Hoesen

Category 2. Large Mammals (larger than 50 lbs. [cougar/deer])
a. Large mammals (long/thick hair)
b. Large mammals (short/thin hair)
c. Large mammals group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Marcus Detring, Gary Powell, Dennis Smith
Judges who vote for Best in World: Marcus Detring, Gary Powell, Skip Skidmore, Dennis Smith, Jason Snowberger

Category 3. Whitetail Deer Heads
a. Whitetails long/thick hair, open mouth
b. Whitetails long/thick hair, closed mouth
c. Whitetails short/thin hair, open mouth
d. Whitetails short/thin hair, closed mouth
Judges for 3 score sheets: Joe Meder, Gene Smith, Fred Vanderburgh
Judges who vote for Best in World: Marcus Detring, John Matthews, Joe Meder, Gene Smith, Fred Vanderburgh

Category 4. Medium-Small Gameheads (mule deer/wildebeest and smaller)
a. Small gameheads (coyote and smaller)
b. Medium gameheads (deer, bear, sheep)
c. Half-lifesize gameheads
d. Gameheads, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Manny Chavez, John Matthews, Joe Meder
Judges who vote for Best in World: Manny Chavez, John Matthews, Joe Meder, Gene Smith, Fred Vanderburgh

Category 5. Large Gameheads (caribou/waterbuck size and larger)
a. Large gameheads (long/thick hair)
b. Large gameheads (short/thin hair)
c. Half-lifesize large gameheads
d. Gameheads, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Marcus Detring, Gary Powell, Dennis Smith
Judges who vote for Best in World: Marcus Detring, Joe Meder, Gary Powell, Dennis Smith, Fred Vanderburgh

Category 6. Game Birds
19. Pheasants
20. Grouse
21. Quail
22. Migratory game birds (doves, rails, coots, cranes)
23. Game birds, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Danny Owens, Patrick Rummans, Peter Sunesen
Judges who vote for Best in World: Danny Owens, Lennart Pettersson, Patrick Rummans, Peter Sunesen

Category 7. Non-Game Birds
24. Small birds (magpie and smaller)
25. Large birds (crow, rook and larger)
26. Raptors and owls (birds of prey)
27. Non-game birds, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Jack Fishwick, Lennart Pettersson, Peter Sunesen
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Lennart Pettersson, Stefan Savides, Peter Sunesen

Category 8. Turkeys
28. Turkeys, strutting
29. Turkeys, open wings
30. Turkeys, standing
31. Turkeys, group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Stefan Savides
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Patrick Rummans, Stefan Savides

Category 9. Waterfowl
32. Diving ducks (mergansers, stiff tails)
33. Puddle ducks
34. Geese and swans
35. Waterfowl group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Stefan Savides
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Danny Owens, Patrick Rummans, Stefan Savides

Category 10. Warm Water Fish (skin mounts)
36. Sunfish, perch, walleye, crappie, other bass
37. Other, 12 inches or smaller
38. Other, larger than 12 inches
39. Saltwater
40. Group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Mike Orthober
Judges who vote for Best in World: Simon Blackshaw, Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Mike Orthober, Mike Ross

Category 11. Cold Water Fish (skin mounts)
41. Trout, salmon, char
42. Pike, muskellunge, pickerel
43. Other, 12 inches or smaller
44. Other, larger than 12 inches
45. Group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Jeff Mourning, Mike Orthober, Mike Ross
Judges who vote for Best in World: Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Jeff Mourning, Mike Orthober, Mike Ross

Category 12. Largemouth Bass (skin mounts)
46. Largemouth bass (single)
47. Largemouth bass (group)
Judges for 3 score sheets: Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Mike Ross
Judges who vote for Best in World: Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Jeff Mourning, Mike Orthober, Mike Ross

Category 13. Reptiles, Amphibian, Other (skin mounts)
48. Reptiles, amphibian, other (single)
49. Reptiles, amphibian, other (group)
Judges for 3 score sheets: Manny Chavez, Jeff Mourning, Skip Skidmore
Judges who vote for Best in World: Simon Blackshaw, Manny Chavez, John Matthews, Jeff Mourning, Skip Skidmore

Category 14. Reproductions
50. Fish
51. Reptiles, amphibians, other
52. Mammal
53. Group
Judges for 3 score sheets: Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Jeff Mourning
Judges who vote for Best in World: Simon Blackshaw, Gary Bruch, Mike Kirkhart, Jeff Mourning, Skip Skidmore

Category 15. Re-Creations
54. Mammals
55. Birds
56. Re-Creation Group
(Mammals) judges for 3 score sheets: John Matthews, Jason Snowberger, Skip Skidmore
(Birds) judges for 3 score sheets: Jack Fishwick, Frank Newmyer, Stefan Savides
(Group) judges for 3 score sheets: Will be selected according to species entered
Judges who vote for Best in World: Jack Fishwick, John Matthews, Frank Newmyer, Stefan Savides, Jason Snowberger, Skip Skidmore, Jan Van Hoesen

Category 16. Mixed Group
57. A combination of two or more different categories.
Judges for 3 score sheets: Will be selected according to species entered
Judges who vote for Best in World: Will be selected according to species entered