2012 UTA Taxidermy Expo
Competition Rules
Goals and Objectives
The competition is many things to many people.
Some people come to learn, some to prove their abilities to the public and other
competitors, some to express themselves artistically, and some for the
camaraderie. All these things are important aspects of our competition.
With these things in mind, we have put together the list of goals and objectives
to make the competition more clearly understood for the betterment of the UTA,
its members, the judges, and the viewing public.
Novice Division
This is for people of any age who are just getting
started in the field of taxidermy. It is intended to act as an
introduction level to competitions.
Senior Division
This is for members that are at least 60 years old.
Mounts will be judges by secret ballot by the judges and judging to be based on
the 5 foot rule. There will be a single ribbon, 1st, 2nd, 3rd with a
plaque awarded for 1st place.
Commercial Division
This division is for all adults from a beginner wanting to
start competing to someone at the highest level who has a nice commercial mount
that would not do well in the Masters Division. Mounts will be judged on a
five foot rule and can only be touched to check for mechanical soundness.
Mounts will be judged for lifelike appearance, grooming, etc. There will
be no categories or other awards except that each mount will be awarded a ribbon
on its own merit. All one sided fish and one sided fish groups must be
entered in this division. There will be no scores. Judges will be
instructed to give a ribbon placement only. Critiques will be available.
This is for adults that are interested in learning to be
the best taxidermist they can be. In this division people are encouraged
to learn how to mount the specimens correctly. Judging for this category
is focused on the specimen(s) and their construction. Competitors can
receive credit for excellent presentation, but the major part of the score will
come from the actual mount. Remember, you are here to learn taxidermy.
Masters Division
This is for people who have mastered the taxidermy and are
now moving on to creating artistic renditions. These entries will be
judged at a "National" level for technique and artistry of the entire mount.
With these objectives in mind, we encourage members who do well in the Open
Division to continue learning and to move into the Masters Division.
I. Entries
1. The entry fee for UTA members at the UTA
competition will be free for the first mount and $20 for each additional mount.
2. Open registration fees for the UTA competition will be $25 for
each mount.
3. Best All-Around Taxidermist is $20 additional to your mount fees.
100% of the money collected will be given to the winner.
4. Competitors challenge is $20 additional to your mount fees.
100% of the money collected will be given to the winner.
5. Mount ID tags must be attached to the mount. Exhibitor
receipt must be kept and show to pick up mount at end of show.
6. Competitors will bring mounts in through the loading area of the
Exhibit Hall in to registration and grooming area. From there a committee
person will assist in the placing of the entry. There will be no loitering
once the mount is placed.
II. Divisions and Categories
There are five (5) divisions (Novice, Senior, Commercial,
Open and Masters)
Novice Division
There are no categories in this Division.
Senior Division
There are no categories in this Division.
Commercial Division
There are no categories in this Division.
Open and Masters Division
1. (SF) Single Fish, two-sided (skin).
Artificial head and fins accepted.
2. (FG) Fish Group, two-sided (skin). Artificial head and fins
accepted.
3. Single Bird.
A. (SBA) Waterfowl.
B. (SBB) Non-Waterfowl.
C. (SBC) Turkeys.
4. (BG) Bird Group - 2 or more birds.
5. (WT) Whitetail Deer Head Mount.
6. (GH) Game Head - includes ungulates and all other.
7. (MGH) Multiple Game Heads, this is all game heads including
whitetail.
8. Life Size Mammal - includes half-life size and young of the
species.
A. (LSMA) Small/medium Mammal - fox, bobcat
and smaller.
B. (LSMB) Large Mammal - coyote or larger.
9. (MG) Mammal Group - 2 or more mammals of any size.
10. (MXG) Mixed Group - combination of 2 or more categories, this entry will
have a combined score for 1 ribbon.
11. (RUGS) Rugs - (Open) All types, must be your own work. (No Masters).
12. (REPT) Reptiles - Single or group.
13. (REPRO) All Reproductions - (Open) - Purchased blanks allowed (Masters) -
must be created by entrant.
14. (FRZDRY) Freeze-dry Whole.
15. (SKL) Skeletons - must be skeleton of complete body.
16. (MA) Multiple Artist - includes any species. More than one artist
working together on a single entry.
17. (OA) Original Art - This will include all two-dimensional and three
dimensional artwork.
III. Awards
1. UTA Horizon Award - Given to the highest
scoring mount in the Novice Division. In case of a tie, the judges will
decide.
2. UTA Senior Division Award - Picked by the judges.
3. Best of Category - UTA Open (Best Open Piece) - Given to the
highest scoring first place mount in any category in the Open Division. If
there is no first place, there is no Best of Category. The best piece in
the Open Division will be awarded at this time. All Best of Category
winners will be called to the front, then Best UTA Open Piece will be awarded.
4. UTA Masters Champion - Given to the highest scoring first place
mount, in any category of the Masters Division. If there is no first
place, there will be no UTA Masters Champion. This will include the UTA
Original Art.
5. Best All-Around UTA Taxidermist - Highest scoring group of 4
mounts (Bird, Fish, Reptiles, Life size Mammal, and Game head).
6. UTA Competitors Challenge - Highest scoring group of any 4
mounts. Winner will be awarded the purse from the entry fees.
7. WASCO/Artistic Merit Award - First through third place given to
most artistic mounts as chosen by judges.
8. Judges Choice Best of Show UTA - Best overall mount picked by all
judges, can choose from any mount in the Open and Masters Division.
9. UTA Artisan Award - Taxidermists Choice Best of Show - Best
overall mount picked by all entrants. Judging must be completed before
12:00 noon on Saturday.
10. UTA Competitors Achievement Award - Given to members who accumulate 20
points at UTA competitions, by getting one point for every ribbon won.
Mounts must be entered in the Open or Masters Division at any UTA competition;
when the total number of points are achieved, the award will be presented to the
member at the awards event.
IV. Judges
1. Judges are chosen as follows:
A. Judges will be chosen from the UTA
membership by a committee.
B. In case of emergency (if a
contracted judge cannot perform his/her duties) the UTA Competition Committee
and Board of Directors reserve the right to substitute a qualified UTA member to
judge the specific category. They will also participate in picking other
Judges Choice Awards. Judges will not be able to compete in that
competition.
2. No judge is to be in the area where mounts are being placed until
time of judging.
3. Judge is to plan at least 4 hours of time on Sunday to members to
critique their mounts. Critiques will be held to 10 minutes maximum.
4. Judges will wear identification.
V. Judging Criteria
1. Judges decisions are final.
2. Judges will use UTA score sheets - using the body of the
score sheet for a critique sheet and giving a ribbon placement on the bottom.
3. Competition - only judges and assistants in the room at the
time of judging.
4. Entries in Commercial Division will be judged on a five
foot rule. No touching except for mechanical soundness. Ribbons
given on entries own merit, no Best of Categories.
5. Entries in the Open Division will be judged for sound
mechanics, cleanliness, symmetry, anatomy, and attention to the details of the
specimen only. One overall winner for the Open Division will be awarded.
6. Entries in Masters Division will be judged on a more
difficult, technical scale. These entries will also be judged on artistic
composition, and exceptional craftsmanship.
7. Best All-Around Taxidermist - An accumulation of points
will be given for the highest ribbon on each: bird, fish, reptile, life-size
mammal, and game head entered in Open or Masters Division. Each mount must
be declared at the time of registration. Rugs, Skeletons, Freeze-dry and
Multiple Artist entries are not eligible. Points will be awarded as
follows: 3 points for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd place, 1 point for 3rd
place. 1 bonus point will be awarded for each mount entered in the Masters
Division and 1 bonus point for each mount winning Best of Category. In
case of a tie, the judges will determine the winner.
8. Competitors Challenge - An accumulation of points will be
given for each of four entries in the Open or Masters Division. Each mount
must be declared at the time of registration. Rugs, Skeletons, Freeze-dry
and Multiple Artist entries are not eligible. Points will be awarded as
follows: 3 points for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd place, 1 point for 3rd
place. 1 bonus point will be awarded for each mount entered in the Masters
Division and 1 bonus point for each mount winning Best of Category. In
case of a tie, the judges will determine the winner.
9. Open Division must have at least one mount that earns a first
place ribbon to award a Best of Category.
10. Masters Division must have one mount that earns a first place ribbon to
award the UTA Champion.
11. Judges will award ribbon placements as follows: Open Division will
include 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention. Masters will include 1st,
2nd, and 3rd.
12. Senior Division will be judged by ballot by the judges on the five foot
rule.
VI. General Rules
1. No distasteful displays allowed,
including arrows or traps causing distress. Large groups of the public
will see UTA displays. Keep mounts in good taste. The ethics
committee will be available if there is a question or problem.
2. No "For Sale" signs or business cards on mounts. Only
UTA cards allowed, which may include name, address, and telephone number.
3. No formal advertising from anyone by any means, such as
passing out business cards, etc. in the competition area.
4. Competition Committee will settle any disputes.
5. All mounts must be the work of the person entering.
6. A mixed entry including a bird, fish, reptile, life-size
mammal, or a game head: entries will be judged collectively by their
respective judges given one ribbon placement.
7. Removable covers will be allowed. Covers are to be
removed by the owner before judging. This also means that the owner will
be responsible for putting the cover back on.
8. Base may not be more than two times the size of the mount.
9. All hangers on entered mounts must be of good quality or
they will not be hung. The Competition Committee will decide.
10. For competition mounts, two mounts per category are allowed, unless
otherwise specified.
11. Special Rules foe the Commercial Division.
A. There will be no categories,
mounts will be judged on their own merits which includes mechanical soundness,
life-like appearance, grooming, etc.
B. Judges must stay 5 feet
away, no flashlights and can not touch except to check for mechanical soundness.
C. Entries will not be eligible
for these major awards: Judges Choice, WASCO, Best All-Around Taxidermist,
UTA Champion and Best of Category.
D. The one-sided fish entries
will be judged on symmetry and the craftsmanship of the finishing of the
backside.
12. Special Rules for the Masters Division.
A. All cast parts should be the
work of the entrant.
B. Manikins should be made by
the entrant, or commercial should be altered substantially.
C. It is suggested that there
be pictorial proof of alterations, castings, etc. (One or two pictures are
sufficient).
D. All mounts should be on a
base, habitat, etc. They will be judged and included in the ribbon
placement. Remember that in Masters Division, the entrant should know how
to mount the species and should concentrate on artistic presentation, etc.
E. Once a blue ribbon has been
earned, competitors will not be allowed to enter in the Open Division in that
category.
13. Special Rules for the Multiple Artists category.
A. Mounts must be the work of
more than one person.
B. Mounts can not be used for
Best All-Around or Competitors Achievement.
C. If any entrant who worked on
a piece is considered Masters Division Capable, the entry will be put in the
Masters Division. Competition Committee will decide.
14. Special Rules for the Open Division.
A. Cast parts can be
purchased but credit will be given to those who make their own.
B. Commercial manikins
can be used, but credit will be given to those who significantly alter them
(change in pose, etc.).
C. It is suggested that
there be pictorial proof of alterations, castings, etc. One or two pictures are
sufficient.
15. Special Rules for the Senior Division.
A. Competitor must
be 60 years or older.
B. Will be judged
on a five foot rule by the competition judges.
16. VII Miscellaneous
1. The Original Art
Competition and Award
A. The Original Art
Competition will include both two dimensional and three dimensional artwork.
B. All original art must
be completely designed and made by the entrant. No commercial parts
accepted.
C. Original art will be
judged by one or more of the taxidermy judges.
D. Ribbons will be
awarded on each entry's merit. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. A
short remarks sheet will be filled out by the judge.
E. UTA Champion Original Art
Award will be presented at the banquet for the judges choice of best original
art entry.
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