Cash Prizes
The World Taxidermy Championships has the largest cash prizes of any taxidermy competition. In 2001, over $20,000.00 in cash will be awarded to the following winners:

Competitors' Award: $9,000.00 to be awarded
Masters Division: $3,000.00 first place, $1,500.00 second place, $1,000.00 third place
Professional Division: $2,000.00 first place, $1,000.00 second place, $500.00 third place
The Competitors' Awards Rules and Regulation

Collective Artists Division: $3,500.00 to be awarded
Best in World winner: $500.00 cash award from Breakthrough Magazine
Each first place in the six categories: $500.00
Collective Artists Division Rules and Regulations

Best Professional Entry: $2,000.00 to be awarded
Best Professional Entry: $1000.00 cash award from McKenzie Taxidermy Supply and $1000.00 cash award from Martin Industries
Professional Division Rules and Regulations

Best of Show: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Judges' Choice Best of Show: $1000.00 cash award from Research Mannikins
Master Division Rules and Regulations

Carl E. Akeley Award: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Carl E. Akeley Award: $1000.00 cash award from WASCO
Carl E. Akeley Awards Rules and Regulations

Taxidermy Sculpture Competition: $1,000.00 to be awarded
Live Taxidermy Sculpture Competition: Best in World $500.00, Second $300.00, Third $200.00
Live Taxidermy Sculpture Division Rules and Regulations

Awards
There are ten best in world titles in the Master Division, one in the Collective Artists Division and one in the Live Taxidermy Sculpture Division. See Categories for specific information. All Best in World winners, as well as the Carl E. Akeley Award winner and the Master of Masters competition winner will receive a gold Akeley medallion.

Best in World, Second in World and Third in World winners in all categories will receive a Recognition Plaque, as well as Competitor's Choice and Best Professional Entry.

Cash Award Sponsors
Over $10,000.00 Distributed Among Various Cash Awards from the World Show Prize Fund
$5,000.00 Distributed Among Various Cash Awards from Breakthrough Magazine
$1,000.00 Judges' Best of Show Fish Carving from Sugar Pine Woodcarving Supplies
$1,000.00 Best Professional Entry from McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
$1,000.00 Best Professional Entry from Martin Industries
$1,000.00 Judges' Best of Show Taxidermy from Research Mannikins
$1,000.00 Carl E. Akeley Award from WASCO (Wildlife Artist Supply Company)
$500.00 Best in World Collective Artists from Breakthrough Magazine

How "Best in World" Titles Are Determined
There are ten best in world titles in the Master Division, one in the Collective Artists Division and one in the Taxidermy Sculpture Division.

In the Master Division, there are ten possible best in world titles which are selected from the ten Master Division categories. Within each of the ten categories, there are single-ribbon subcategories. Once the First Place winners of the subcategories are decided (if any), the judges will select their Best in World choices from these First Place winners. There are also Second and Third in World titles selected from each category. Once a Best in World piece is selected, the Second Place mount in that subcategory (if there is one), will move up to compete for Second Best in World with the other subcategory firsts.

Example: There are five subcategories within the category of Lifesize Mammals. After the judging is completed, the judges will be notified as to the First Place winners in Lifesize Mammals subcategories. From that point on, scores are thrown out and the two judges will reevaluate these First Place mounts to decide on the Best in World Lifesize Mammal. 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. Master Division Rules and Regulations

Live Sculpting Competition
Compete for the title of Best in World Taxidermy Sculptor. This competition will again be held live at the 2001 WTC, and was a tremendous success in 1999 when Mike Frazier of Spray, Oregon, won his second World Medallion for this division. The species subject for the 2001 WTC will be a lifesize mammal, either a fox, bobcat, or coyote. This sculpture division will be limited to eight entrants, determined on a first-come, first-acceptance basis. Anyone interested should send a postcard or letter, stating this interest. The postmarked date from the letters will be used to determine order of acceptance. Send to WTC Sculpting, P.O. Box 2945, Hammond, LA 70404-2945. If you have any questions, call Larry Blomquist at 504-345-7266. Live Taxidermy Sculpture Division Rules and Regulations