The 2007 World Taxidermy Championships Rules

2007 WTC Rules and Regulations

General Rules and Regulations
NOTE: Interpretations of all rulings or regulations (and any rules not provided for) will be decided by the World Taxidermy Championships® Regulatory Committee. This committee will consist of Skip Skidmore, Larry Blomquist and Ken Edwards. If you have a specific question regarding the competition, contact Regulatory Committee Chairman, Skip Skidmore at Brigham Young University, 290 M.L. Bean Museum, Provo, UT 84602. Telephone: 801-378-5052.

1. Display Hours: Mounts may be checked in between 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, and between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Competitors will have time to groom their mounts until the competition area closes for judging at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18 All entries must stay on exhibit until 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2007. Sorry, but there will be no exceptions to this rule.

2. Liability: Mounts entered in the show are done so at the owner's risk. Every precaution will be made to secure the entries.

3. Judging: Competition Chairman Skip Skidmore will make all final decisions on rules and regulations of this competition. Three judges will judge each entry in the Master Division, separately and independently. The scores the judges post will be averaged to determine the final score of the entry. In the Professional and Novice divisions, each entry will be judged by one judge.

4. Critiques: Each taxidermy entry will receive a completed score sheet with a written critique showing areas that need improvement. Oral critiques of mounts will only be given by the judge who judged the piece. A sign-up sheet will be available at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning for those who would like critiques. Oral critiques will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 2, in order of the sign-up sheet. There is a five-minute limit on oral critiques. There is no charge for critiques.

5. Score Sheets: The NTA score sheets will be used to judge the Master, Professional, Freeze Dry and Novice Divisions. This will allow any member of the NTA who competes in the World Taxidermy Championships® to use his or her winnings toward NTA programs, such as the Award of Excellence or Certification. Be sure to indicate on your registration form your NTA membership status and number if you wish for your points to be turned in.

6. Divisions: There will be eight divisions of competition: Master, Professional, Novice, Youth, Freeze Dry, Collective Artists, Live Taxidermy Sculpture and Taxidermy Sculpture. Guidelines and descriptions are listed by each division to help you decide which is best suited for your level of skill and which ones you will be eligible to compete in.

7. Special Competitions: In addition to the regular competition divisions, we have the following invitationals and special competitions: Master of Masters, the Carl E. Akeley Competition, the People's Choice Award and the Competitor's Awards. The People's Choice Award is voted on by registered attendees of the World Show. The Master of Masters is voted on by Master Division competitors.

8. Multiple Division Competitors: Competitors may not cross divisions in the same category. For example, if one enters fish in the Master Division, then one may not enter fish in the Professional Division. He or she may, however, enter fish in the Master Division and birds in the Professional Division.

9. Reproductions: Reproduction fish, reptiles and amphibians must be originally molded by the competitor in the Master Division. Commercial blanks will be acceptable in the Professional and Novice Divisions.

10. Protected Species: Protected species must have applicable permits with the entry. The United States Fish and Wildlife Department has seized birds not properly permitted in prior shows. If the mount is not legal or if you do not have a permit, then do not bring it to the show.

11. Entry Restrictions: Management reserves the right to restrict entries not conforming to accepted taxidermy methods, or that are, in the view of the competition management, of poor taste. It is the opinion of the committee that novelty mounts (which do not represent a true-to-life portrayal of the species) have no place in world-class competition. Therefore, there is no category for them in this competition. Please -- no domestic dogs, cats or animals in traps.

12. Panels, Habitats, Bases, and Settings: With the exception of gameheads, a mount is not complete if it is not attached to some type of base, panel, etc. Although the World Taxidermy Championships® is a taxidermy competition, it is the opinion of the committee that panels, habitats, bases, and settings are significant ingredients of the completed entry and will be judged accordingly. Mounts should be mechanically sound and securely attached to the base and definitely should not be wobbly. In the Master Division, this area will be strictly judged along with the entries' composition, accuracy, balance, and artistic merit. Keep in mind the base should compliment the mount -- not dwarf it. (See habitat rule, #8, under Master Division information.)

13. Glass Cases: Glass cases must be removed for judging or points will be deducted. If you personally wish to remove the case, do it after final grooming your mount, prior to judging. Otherwise the judges and helpers will have to remove it.

14. Original Sculpture: Extra credit can be earned in any category for mounts entered on the competitor's original sculptured mannikin, wrapped, or carved body. Altered commercial forms do not qualify as original sculpture, but will be considered for originality.

15. Reference: We encourage competitors to bring their own reference material for examination by the judges. The judges will use the material to help them determine if it was correctly interpreted and manifested in the rendering. Please do not bring videotapes.

16. Animation: Entries that employ animation, i.e., moving parts, voice boxes, etc., should try to make them as realistic and artistic as possible. Poorly executed or unnatural-appearing animated parts will result in lower scores than if the entry was not animated. If you choose to use animation, it must appear natural.

17. Sportsmanship: Unsportsmanlike conduct could result in disqualification and forfeiture of any and all WTC awards. The WTC has gone to great lengths to obtain the most experienced and qualified judges in the world. Decide to accept the judge's decision as being final (even if you don't agree with it) or please don't enter the competition. Remember, everyone comes to the competition expecting to win. Everyone will not win. If you cannot handle losing, then do not enter the competition. Competitors should conduct themselves in a professional manner. Unruly or disruptive behavior towards show officials or judges will not be tolerated and the perpetrator will be asked to leave and will be barred from future competitions.

18. Protests: All protests, complaints, or appeals for consideration must be presented in writing to the Regulatory Committee Chairman Skip Skidmore (not the judges). All decisions and rulings of the Regulatory Committee will be final. If rejudging takes place for a Professional Division entry, and the piece being rejudged was involved in the Competitors' Award competition, score changes -- good or bad -- will have no bearing on this award. Protests will not be allowed for entries that are competing for the Master, Collective Artist, and Taxidermy Sculpture Divisions where the judges will be choosing the top three mounts within a category in single ribbon fashion. The selection process does not allow for protest judging. There will be no re-judging in the Master Division competition unless rule infractions or similar problems develop.

19. Cheating: Cheating will result in forfeiture of all previous honors and awards and denial of future World Taxidermy Championships® participation.

20. Interpretation: Interpretation of all rules and regulations or anything not specifically provided for in these rules and regulations will be decided by the Regulatory Committee. Its decision will be final (just like an umpire in a ball game). Decide to accept its decision as final, or do not enter the competition.

21. Name plates: Omit (or cover) names on all entries.

22. Eligibility: Any mount entered at a previous World Show is ineligible for this and any future World Shows.

23. Registration: You must register for the competition (even if you do not attend) in order to compete.

24. Clarification: There has been contention after previous World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships® about who can and cannot designate themselves "World Champion." It has been decided by the officers of Breakthrough Magazine Inc., who is the trademark- and registration-holder of the World Taxidermy Championships® and World Fish Carving Championships®, that the title "World Champion" is officially given only to a competitor who has won a Best in World title in the Master Division of taxidermy and the Open Level of fish carving. Winners of other major awards should be extremely proud of their accomplishments and should designate that such awards were won "at the World Championships." We note this because winning a title at the World Show® does not make you a World Champion -- unless you win "Best in World."

Interpretations of all rulings or regulations (and any rules not provided for) will be decided by the World Taxidermy Championships® Regulatory Committee. If you have a specific question regarding the competition, contact Regulatory Committee Chairman, Skip Skidmore at Brigham Young University, 290 M.L. Bean Museum, Provo, UT 84602. Telephone: 801-378-5052.