The NTA 2012 Winners Gallery

Last month in Rogers, Arkansas, the National Taxidermists Association met for the 41st time to hold their annual convention and competition. By any measure, it was one of the most successful NTA shows in recent years. The participation was up, the seminars were informative, the facility was outstanding, and the competition entries were impressive.

As the show photographers, Larry Blomquist and I get to see and photograph each entry as it is brought into the competition area. During the awards banquet, we show photos of the winning entries on the big screen as the winners are announced.

Here are the major award winners from the NTA competition as they were shown when the awards were handed out. You can click on an image and move through the slide show with your arrow keys or your mouse.

NTA Major Award Winners 2012

Rokky England

Washburn, Missouri — Noodling for Catfish Wood Sculpture
People's Choice Original Art
Judges' Choice Best of Show Original Art

Kenneth Bauman

Anadarko, Oklahoma — Largemouth Bass
McKenzie Taxidermists Choice Best Fish

Jacob Clark

Pleasant Plains, Arkansas — Bighorn Sheep
McKenzie Taxidermists Choice Best Lifesize Mammal

James Newport

Pearsall, Texas — Whitetail Deer
McKenzie Taxidermists Choice Best Whitetail Deer

Matt Marulli

Oxford, Connecticut — Mink
Ivan Harvey Memorial Award

Zachary Pennington

Camden, Arkansas – Piranha
StarFish Award

Todd Broussard

Lake Charles, Louisiana – Black-Bellied Tree Duck
Al & Evelyn Holmes Best Habitat Award

Jim Hess

Byron, Illionis – Great Horned Owl Skeleton
S. Harmisted Chubb Memorial Award

Cheyanne Williams

St. Anne, Illinois — Groundhog
Safari Club International Youth Award
Paasche People's Choice Youth Award

Jared Harper

Beebe, Arkansas – Crappie
Paasche – People's Choice Children's Award

Cheyanne Williams

St. Anne, Illinois – Raccoon
Paasche – People's Choice Youth Award

Alexis Briganti

Miles City, Montana – Abert's Squirrel
Safari Club International Children's Award
Touchstone – Children's Artisan Award

Brittany Briganti

Miles City, Montana – Golden Trout
Touchstone – Youth Artisan Award

Joe Kaiser

Cherokee Village, Arkansas – Ruddy Duck
Second 2 Nature – Masters Choice Award Honorable Mention

Harvey Zeigler

Marion, Illinois – Red Breasted Merganser
Second 2 Nature – Masters Choice Award Third Place

Ricky Givens

Stuttgart, Arkansas – Game Cock Rooster
Second 2 Nature – Masters Choice Award Second Place

Mitch Webb

Berryville, Arkansas – Dall Sheep
Second 2 Nature – Masters Choice Award First Place

Ron Vanderpol and Tommy Knight

Molina, Florida – Turkey
Collective Artists Award

Lowell Shapley

Wanette, Oklahoma – Game Cock
National Champion Bird

Brandon Zahn

Boling, Texas, – Snow Goose
National Champion Waterfowl

Casey McLearnen

Hernando, Mississippi – Merriams Turkey
National Champion Turkey

Brian Noody

Garden City, New York – Chain Pickerel
National Champion Warm Water Fish Skin Mount

Brian Noody

Garden City, New York – Black Crappie
New Wave Award
National Champion Warm Water Fish Reproduction

Tony Davidson

Big Pine, California – Brook Trout Group
Tohickon Award of Distinction – Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy Second Place
National Champion Cold Water Fish Reproduction

Zachary Pennington

Camden, Arkansas – Mink
National Champion Small Mammal

Jacob Clark

Pleasant Plains, Arkansas – Bighorn Sheep
Treadwell Casualty Corporation – Louis Paul Jonas Award
National Champion Large Mammal
Russell Knight Mounted in Alaska Award

Danny Keener

Chocktow, Oklahoma — Whitetail Deer
Van Dyke's Award
National Champion Whitetail Deer Open-Mouth

Frank Williams

St. Anne, Illinois – Pronghorn Antelope
National Champion Game Head
Safari Club International Award

Perry Coleman

Fort Thompson, South Dakota – Willow Ptarmagin
North American Champion Bird

Billy Ollie

Independence, Louisiana – Harlequin
Frank Newmyer Award
North American Champion Waterfowl

Kenneth Bauman

Anadarko, Oklahoma — Largemouth Bass
North American Champion Warm Water Fish Skin Mount

Mike Briganti

Miles City, Montana – Bull Snake
Morgan Reptile Award
North American Champion Reptile Skin Mount

Greg Brumfield

Clifton, Colorado – Bighorn Sheep
North American Champion Game Head

Chip Hayes

Manchester, Tennessee – Whitetail Deer
North American Champion Whitetail Deer Closed Mouth

James Newport

Pearsall, Texas – Whitetail Deer
Tohickon Award of Distinction – Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy Honorable Mention

Randy Terry

Ft. Smith, Arkansas – Snow Goose
Tohickon Award of Distinction – Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy Third Place

Brian Noody

Garden City, New York – Brown Trout
The Polytranspar Award
National Champion Cold Water Fish Skin Mount
Tohickon Award of Distinction – Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy First Place