Texas Taxidermy Association Inc. 2018 Winners Photos

hoping to get that good eventually. Really love that habitat

 

Regal - that must be the king of all wolves.

 

I read some where on here that someone said eyes were off, PLEASE are you for real? You can't tell that from a picture. Every thing can be 100% perfect and the camera angle may not be 100% correct. UNBELEAVABLE

 

There are a lot of out of state entries - do these guys just travel the US racking up wins? Seems it should be limited to the state they live in, but just my opinion...since there is a NTA and World comps every year.

 

NO the eyes were not off.. I saw it from inches away. Its as good as it gets..

 

Out of state entries are great.. I have competed in TEXAS for 15 years and would never ever want this practice to stop.. I've made some life long good friends due to this plus I look forward to seeing what our neighbors bring and the secrets they share.. We had 58 pieces in the Masters category this year and probably half were from out of state.. Mind blowing talents and works... If a state associations members do not like or want top taxidermists bringing some very high quality work to their show then they are missing the boat in a huge way.. This will make every taxidermist attending better taxidermists in the end..


There is a lot whole more to it than just the awards..........

 

Eddy,
If State associations only allowed in state residents to enter there would be no conventions because there wouldn't be enough entries and finances to support the associations.
We want everyone who wants to attend be a part of the Texas Taxidermy Association, Why would you want an imaginary state line to keep someone out? Who cares whether they go around the country racking up wins as you call it? what's wrong with that? Does a NASCAR team just go to one race in their own state? How about a race horse? Baseball team?
These people are spending their money supporting state associations and it helps some of the smaller shows that are struggling for funds just to stay a float anyway.
Steve also put on a fantastic seminar on large life-size taxidermy. We look at it like we are all taxidermists and come together to mentor, teach, and network together. We attract taxidermists from all over the country , taxis from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have attended because the Texas show is organized, well run and just plane ole fun. It is one of the largest taxidermy conventions in the world. We have excellent seminars and we all leave our convention better taxidermists. "racking up wins" is not even on the list of why so many people want to attend our show.
I don't care if they come from Romania! We are there to learn and become better taxidermists.

 

It was just my opinion and the work is always excellent. It just seems that the NTA and World shows would be better. Again, just my own thought on this....

 

I understand Eddie I was just stating the reasons why it wouldn't work. All of the State associations are on a shoe string budget (even Texas) , if you restrict entries they will go under. It's all about dollars and cents.
There are some who think you should only be able to take a mount to one show and then retire it, well again that would kill the shows. All of the taxidermy conventions have large out of state attendance. Its sad that everything always has to boil down to money but it's a fact if the funds aren't there it's over.

 

Always money and never about fairness or justice....perhaps make out of state entries a separate category with higher fees since everything is about money. I have not competed yet, but why waste my money competing against those that drag a high scoring mount all over the USA? Not going to do it, but I do understand the situation

 

I am new to competing and have only traveled out of state to compete, but please allow me to answer your question, "Why waste my money competing against those that drag a high scoring mount all over the USA?" Answer-To beat em, if that is your motivation for competing. My motivation is to learn and get better, I wasn't disappointed at all. I learned so much from guys and gals that did exactly what you are complaining about. Many are willing to share techniques with you if you have the balls to ask. I once saw things similar to you, now I see, by allowing it to go on, the competitions actually can and I'm sure, do get better. It makes people strive to be better.

 

Fairness and justice? . We’re talking taxi comps not crime fighting here. So you don’t wanna compete because you are scared of losing? I mean unless there another way to read your post that’s how it reads. Each judge is different. Just cause you win one show doesn’t mean your going to win again. I was just talking to a fellow competitor at a show who won with a mount the took it to another state and only scored in the low 80s there under a different judge. Plus competition is there to push to make you better. If you can’t take losing or having your stuff picked apart the taxi comps are NOT for you!

 

I understand , if that’s your opinion then competing probably isn’t for you. There are many highly skilled taxidermists capable of winning every show that choose to never compete. A great part about the whole thing is, if you don’t agree with the way the competitions are layed out, then just don’t compete, you can still go, enjoy the seminars, comaradary and networking. Most of the taxis that attend conventions don’t compete, they are there to learn.

 

Beautiful work!

 

Competition is a great learning experience even if you win nothing. I'm not there yet, but why spend the money to be continually shot down by those that drag a high scoring mount all over the US to rack up wins? It's ego and nothing more.

 

Then don't compete, it's your choice

 

I am not a taxidermist, but in my amateur opinion, Steve did a marvelous job on the eyes. They look wild and real.

Excellent pose Steve.

Great work!

 

....not to mention how much money this wolf won for the taxidermist, but then competition is all about the money!