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 always of the highest calibre.

The world-class judges working at the 2022 show will be among the largest group of taxidermy judges ever assembled for a single competition. The following judging assignments have been established for the 2022 World Taxidermy Championships. Changes are possible and will be based on the actual workloads for various categories.

2022 World Taxidermy Championships Judging Administration

9 Mammal & Gamehead Judges
Wendy Christensen (Wisconsin)
Cary Cochran (Ohio)
Dwayne Dewey (Wyoming)
Brenda Duvall (Wisconsin)
Chip Hayes (Kentucky)
Gene Smith (Georgia)
Phil Soucy (Montana)
Fred Vanderburgh (Colorado)
Marcus Zimmerman (PA)

6 Bird Judges
Cory Caruthers (Iowa)
Jacob Clark (Arkansas)
Chip Hayes (Turkeys) (Kentucky)
Dale Manning (Montana)
Mike Nakielski (Wisconsin)
Danny Owens (Texas)

2 Fish Judges
Jeff Mourning (Colorado)
Matthias Fahrni (Switzerland)

2 Reptile Judges
Jeff Mourning (Colorado)
Skip Skidmore (Utah)

3 Akeley Award Judges
Ken Edwards (Georgia)
Joe Meder (Iowa)
Frank Newmyer (Michigan)

3 Collective Artists Judges
Jeff Mourning (Colorado)
Danny Owens (Texas)
Marcus Zimmerman (Pennsylvania)

5 Interpretive Taxidermy Judges
Kathy Blomquist (Louisiana)
Ken Edwards (Georgia)
Don Frank (Missouri)
Jeff Mourning (Colorado)
Danny Owens (Texas)

Habitat Judge
Hutch Hutchison (PA)

5 Live Sculpting Judges
Wendy Christensen (Wisconsin)
Dawayne Dewey (Wyoming)
Vic Heincker (North Carolina)
Joe Meder (Iowa)
Phil Soucy (Montana)

3 Presculpted Taxidermy Judges
Wendy Christensen (Wisconsin)
Dawayne Dewey (Wyoming)
Gene Smith (Georgia)

2 Fish Carving Judges
Josh Guge (Illinois)
Phil Brannan (Texas)

Master Division Judging Procedure

The Best in World winner for each category is selected from the first place ribbon winners of the subcategories. If entries are eligible there can be a Second and Third in World selection. Once a Best in World winner is selected, the second place entry in that subcategory (if there is one that scores 90 or over), will move up to compete for Second in World against any other first place entries in that category.

For 2019, each entry in the Master Division will be independently scored by two judges and the scores averaged together. In the Master Division, the two category judges will make the final decision for Best in World, Second in World, and Third in World once they have their first-place pieces determined in each subcategory. An entry must have a score of 90 or higher to be eligible for a Best in World, Second in World, and Third in World. Only if there is a split decision, where each judge favors a different entry in deciding a Best in World title, will a third judge be brought in to cast a vote to break the tie. The results will be kept secret and announced at the World Show Awards banquet.

Competitors vying for the Best in World titles should pay very close attention to the subcategories. Some of the subcategories will be heavily competed in, while others may only have one or two entries. Remember — to win a Best in World title you must first have a First Place ribbon in a subcategory. You may want to consider competing in several of the subcategories to increase your chances of being considered in that final decision.

Each Collective Artists entry will be judged by a team of judges. After placements are determined in each category all taxidermy judges will evaluate the eligible entries for Best in World Collective Artist and cast individual secret ballots. Since this is one of only two divisions in which judges can compete, any judge competing in this division will not be eligible to judge in this division, nor cast a vote for Best in World (in that division).

* They only variation in selecting a Best in World in the Master Division may occur in Categories 16, 17 and 18 since more than two judges may be involved. If more than two judges are involved in the judging of these categories and entries score 90 or higher and are eligible for a World Title, all judges involved will be brought together to vote for Best in World in that category.

Master Division Judging Assignments