NTA 2016 Major Award Winners

As Mike Kirkhart pointed out when he gave the invocation at the awards banquet, The National Taxidermy Association is like a family. And just like a family, we have gone through many highs and lows during the past 45 years, but now all indications reveal that we are in a definite upward trajectory. At the annual convention last week in Pennsylvania, you could not have asked for a more beautiful facility, better weather, higher-quality entries, or nicer people attending and running the show. Every aspect of the convention was indeed top-notch. Even the food was great! Out of the hundreds of banquet meals I have endured in my life, I believe this one was the most delicious!

Last week in Seven Springs Mountain Resort, the National Taxidermists Association met for the 45th time to hold their annual convention and competition. For most of those conventions, I have had the privilege to serve as the show photographer which allowed me close access to see every mount. The quality of the taxidermy work was the finest I have ever seen at a national convention. Several entries actually got perfect scores!

The number of entries increased by over 50% above last year’s show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. During the awards banquet, we project photos of the winning entries on the big screen as the winners are announced. Here are the studio photos of the major award winners from the 2016 NTA competition as they were shown when the awards were handed out on Saturday night, June 11, 2016.

NTA 2016 Major Award Winners

Taxidermist of the Year
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin 139 Wood Duck

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
First Place
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin 139 Wood Duck

The Breakthrough Best of Show Award
Judges’ Choice Best of Show
TIMOTHY GORENCHAN Escanaba, Michigan 176 Pink Salmon

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Second Place
TIMOTHY GORENCHAN Escanaba, Michigan 176 Pink Salmon

The WASCO Award
Most Artistic Entry
TIMOTHY GORENCHAN Escanaba, Michigan 177 Brown Trout

Best All-Around Taxidermist
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories
JASON KRAUSE Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 166–169 Black Bear, Crow, Wolf, Western Diamondback

Distinguished Taxidermist Award
Entry has previously won a Judges’ Best of Show at another qualifying competition
VINCE SPELLANE Saltsburg, Pennsylvania 107 Whitetail Deer

Delia Akeley Award
Best entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees
DELORES CARLEY Kent, Pennsylvania 223 Coyote Pup

Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Whitetail Deer
TOMMY HALL Indian Trail, North Carolina 103 Whitetail Deer

Chris Barnhardt Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Gamehead
OWEN ELDRED Blanchard, Michigan 136 Sika Deer

Brian Harness Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal
KENT STRYKER New Alexandria, Pennsylvania 157 Wolf

National Wild Turkey Federation Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Turkey
ELMER W. STOLTZFUS Ronksa, Pennsylvania 220 Turkey

Frank Newmyer Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Upland Gamebird or Waterfowl
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin 143 Black Duck

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Third Place
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin 143 Black Duck

The Polytranspar Award
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar
TIMOTHY GORENCHAN Escanaba, Michigan 176 Pink Salmon

The New Wave Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Reproduction Fish
JAMIE CAMERON Bolivar, Pennsylvania 151 Bluegill

The Star*Fish Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Reproduction Fish
JAMIE CAMERON Bolivar, Pennsylvania 151 Bluegill

Safari Club International Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Large Lifesize Mammal
JASON KRAUSE Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 169 Wolf Group

Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller
BRIAN HENDRICKS Scottville, Michigan 223 Least Weasel

North American Champions

North American Champion Open-Mouth Whitetail Deer
First Place in the Division of Excellence
TOMMY HALL Indian Trail, North Carolina 103 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Gamehead
First Place in the Division of Excellence
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, Texas 209 Pig

North American Champion Reptile
First Place in the Division of Excellence
MATT ZIMMERMAN Denver, Pennsylvania 111 Gabboon Viper

North American Champion Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
First Place in the Division of Excellence
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 193 Rock Bass

North American Champion Waterfowl
First Place in the Division of Excellence
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin 142 Black Duck

North American Champion Bird
First Place in the Division of Excellence
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, New York 147 Pheasant

National Champions

National Champion Turkey
Highest Score in the Open Division
ELMER W. STOLTZFUS Ronksa, Pennsylvania 220 Turkey

National Champion Open-Mouth Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division
VINCE SPELLANE Saltsburg, Pennsylvania 107 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Closed-Mouth Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division
JUSTIN CLEMMER Pitman, Pennsylvania 197 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division
OWEN ELDRED Blanchard, Michigan 136 Sika Deer

National Champion Large Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
KENT STRYKER New Alexandria, Pennsylvania 157 Wolf

National Champion Small Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
HEATHER MILLER Halifax, Pennsylvania 163 Raccoon

National Champion Warmwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division
JAMIE CAMERON Bolivar, Pennsylvania 151 Bluegill

National Champion Coldwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division
SAM STELITANO Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania 117 Nautilus

National Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division
TIMOTHY GORENCHAN Escanaba, Michigan 176 Pink Salmon

National Champion Waterfowl
Highest Score in the Open Division
ERIC PERRY Gold Hill, North Carolina 202 Mallard Hen

National Champion Bird
Highest Score in the Open Division
ERIC PERRY Gold Hill, North Carolina 201 Pheasant

Other Awards

Judges’ Best of Show Collective Artists Division
Highest Scoring Entry by More Than One Artist
MATT ZIMMERMAN and SHANE ZIMMERMAN Denver, Pennsylvania 112 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Van Dyke’s Award
Most Creativity Mammal, Gamehead or Whitetail Entry
BRIAN HENDRICKS Scottville, Michigan 224 Coyote

Al and Evelyn Holmes Best Habitat Award
Outstanding Habitat Display
VINCE SPELLANE Saltsburg, Pennsylvania 107 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
TOMMY HALL Indian Trail, North Carolina 103 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Life-size Mammal Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
KENT STRYKER New Alexandria, Pennsylvania 157 Marco Polo Sheep

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
TIMOTHY GORENCHAN Escanaba, Michigan 176 Pink Salmon

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
ERIC PERRY Gold Hill, North Carolina 200 Harlequin

Judges’ Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BRIAN HENDRICKS Scottville, Michigan 225 Bobcat

People’s Choice Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BRIAN HENDRICKS Scottville, Michigan 225 Bobcat

People’s Choice Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
STEPHEN ROGERS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 189 Vintage Taxidermy Shop