Last week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the National Taxidermists Association met for the 42nd 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. During the awards banquet, we project photos of the winning entries on the big screen as the winners are announced.
The quality of the entries at this year’s competition was superb! Here are the studio photos of the major award winners from the 2013 NTA competition as they were shown when the awards were handed out on Saturday night, July 20, 2013.
Taxidermist of the Year
Sponsored by Epo Grip
KEITH BOWMAN Walnut Cove, NC 27 Whitetail Deer
Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Sponsored National Taxidermists Association
KEITH BOWMAN Walnut Cove, NC 27 Whitetail Deer
North American Champion, Whitetail Open Mouth
Sponsored National Taxidermists Association
KEITH BOWMAN Walnut Cove, NC 27 Whitetail Deer
Sinclair Clark Memorial Award
Sponsored Wilderness East End Tannery
KEITH BOWMAN Walnut Cove, NC 27 Whitetail Deer
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Whitetail
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
KEITH BOWMAN Walnut Cove, NC 27 Whitetail Deer
Judge’s Best of Show
Sponsored by Breakthrough Magazine
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 83 Hyena
People’s Choice
Charley Haynes Memorial Award
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 83 Hyena
Bill Webb Memorial Award
Sponsored by The Webb Family
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 83 Hyena
Safari Club International Award
Sponsored by Safari Club International
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 83 Hyena
National Champion, Large Mammal
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 83 Hyena
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Lifesize Mammal
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 83 Hyena
The WASCO Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
JOHN PAUL BARBER Sweeny, TX 63 Shoveler
Challenge of the Art, First Place
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
BEN CROMEENS Houston, TX 104 Kafue Lechwe
Challenge of the Art, Second Place
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
TODD BROUSSARD Lake Charles, LA 50 Redhead Pair
Challenge of the Art, Third Place
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, NY 70 Pheasant
Challenge of the Art, Honorable Mention
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
HARRY W. WHITEHEAD, JR Lexington, KY 114 King Eider
Master’s Choice, First Place
Sponsored by Jeff Martin – Second 2 Nature
BILL BOWEN Tijeras, NM 101 Mule Deer
Brian Harness Memorial Award
Sponsored by the Arkansas Taxidermy Association
SHANE DAVENPORT Gilmer, TX 22 Bobcat
Ivan Harvey Memorial Award
Sponsored by the ATA and Ozark Woods
SHANE DAVENPORT Gilmer, TX 22 Bobcat
Frank Newmyer Award
Sponsored by Frank Newmyer
JOHN PAUL BARBER Sweeny, TX 64 Widgeon
National Champion, Waterfowl
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JOHN PAUL BARBER Sweeny, TX 64 Widgeon
Morgan Reptile Award
Sponsored by Morgan Reptile Replicas
BOB ROWE Stillwater, OK 1 Common Snapping Turtle
National Champion, Reptile, Skin Mount
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BOB ROWE Stillwater, OK 1 Common Snapping Turtle
North American Champion, Waterfowl
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
KOREY ALLEMAN Breaux Bridge, LA 4 Harlequin
North American Champion, Turkey
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JACOB CLARK Pleasant Plains, AR 31 Turkey
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Bird
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
JACOB CLARK Pleasant Plains, AR 31 Turkey
National Champion, Whitetail Open Mouth
National Taxidermists Association
CHIP HAYES Manchester, TN 95 Whitetail Deer
National Champion, Whitetail Closed Mouth
National Taxidermists Association
DEAN MATTHEWS Pine Hall, NC 30 Whitetail Deer
National Champion, Small Mammal
National Taxidermists Association
DANNY KEENER Choctaw, OK 3 Javelina Sow
National Champion, Gamehead
National Taxidermists Association
CLAY WAGNER Lott, TX 99 Bobcat
National Champion, Bird
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, NY 58 Buff Pheasant
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Fish
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
TONY DAVIDSON Big Pine, CA 54 Brook Trout
Judges’ Best of Show, Original Artwork
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
CONNIE WEBB Green Forest, AR 6 Lion
People’s Choice, Original Artwork
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
DEREK PLAISANCE Hammond, LA 24 Red Fox
S. Harmisted Chubb Memorial Award
Sponsored by Skulls Unlimited
MIKE CARROLL Hamburg, NY 28 Whitetail European Mount
Louis Paul Jonas Memorial Award
Sponsored by Treadwell Casualty Corporation
TRINA PRITCHARD Kathleen, FL 49 Wolf
Delia Akeley Award
Sponsored by Research Mannikins
REBECCA WILCHER Ashdown, AR 18 Mule Deer
Van Dyke’s Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
JACOB CLARK Pleasant Plains, AR 32 Moose
Al and Evelyn Holmes Award
Sponsored by Evelyn Holmes
JACOB CLARK Pleasant Plains, AR 32 Moose
New Wave Award
Sponsored by New Wave Taxidermy
ZACHARY PENNINGTON Camden, AR 88 Largemouth Bass Reproduction
StarFish Award
Sponsored by the Star*Fish Replicas
ZACHARY PENNINGTON Camden, AR 88 Largemouth Bass Reproduction
Judges’ Best of Show, Youth Horizon
Sponsored by an Anonymous Donor
WYATT HAYES Manchester, TN 96 Whitetail Deer
Bill Webb Memorial Youth Award
Sponsored by The Webb Family
WYATT HAYES Manchester, TN 96 Whitetail Deer
People’s Choice Youth Award
Sponsored by Paasche
WYATT HAYES Manchester, TN 96 Whitetail Deer
Safari Club International Youth Award
Sponsored by Safari Club International
WYATT HAYES Manchester, TN 96 Whitetail Deer
Horizon Youth Award
Sponsored by TWN Industies
WYATT HAYES Manchester, TN 96 Whitetail Deer
Judges’ Best of Show, Childrens Horizon
Sponsored by an Anonymous Donor
JOHN HUYE, IV Picayune, MS 75 Ruddy Duck
Safari Club International Children’s Award
Sponsored by Safari Club International
JOHN HUYE, IV Picayune, MS 76 Ruddy Duck
Horizon Children’s Award
Sponsored by TWN Industies
JOHN HUYE, IV PICAYUNE, MS 76 Ruddy Duck
Bill Webb Memorial Children’s Award
Sponsored by The Webb Family
INDIA HIERS Walterboro, SC 107 Whitetail European Mount
People’s Choice Children’s Award
Sponsored by Paasche
INDIA HIERS WALTERBORO, SC 107 Whitetail European Mount
The 2012 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Rogers, Arkansas
The 2011 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The 2010 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Springfield, Illinois
The 2009 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Huntsville, Alabama
The 2008 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Lubbock, Texas
The 2007 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Louisville, Kentucky
The 2006 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Billings, Montana
The 2005 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Sioux Falls, South Dakota