Last week in Springdale, Arkansas, the National Taxidermists Association met for the 43rd time to hold their annual convention and competition. For many of those conventions, I have had the privilege to serve as the show photographer which allowed me close access to see every mount. During the awards banquet, we project photos of the winning entries on the big screen as the winners are announced.
With an increase of about 50 percent over last year’s numbers, the participation in the NTA competition appears to be headed in the right direction. The quality of the entries at Springdale was outstanding! Here are the studio photos of the major award winners from the 2014 NTA competition as they were shown when the awards were handed out on Saturday night, July 19, 2014.
North American Grand Champion
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
Judge’s Best of Show
Sponsored by Breakthrough Magazine
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
Taxidermist of the Year
Sponsored by Epo Grip
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
Chris Barnhardt Memorial Award
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
Bill Webb Memorial Award
Sponsored by The Webb Family
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
Sinclair Clark Memorial Award
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
Safari Club International Award
Sponsored by Safari Club International
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
North American Grand Champion, 2nd Place
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 10 Walleye
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy, First Place
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 10 Walleye
Distinguished Taxidermist Award
Sponsored by Derma Grip
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 10 Walleye
The Polytranspar Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 10 Walleye
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Fish
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 10 Walleye
North American Grand Champion, 3rd Place
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, New York 07 Pheasant
The WASCO Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, New York 07 Pheasant
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy, Second Place
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, New York 07 Pheasant
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy, Third Place
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
SHANE DAVENPORT Gilmer, Texas 80 Bobcat
People’s Choice
Charley Haynes Memorial Award
SHANE DAVENPORT Gilmer, Texas 80 Bobcat
Brian Harness Memorial Award
Sponsored by the Arkansas Taxidermy Association
SHANE DAVENPORT Gilmer, Texas 80 Bobcat
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy, Honorable Mention
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
ZAC PENNINGTON Camden, Arkansas 25 Otters
Best All-Around Taxidermist
Sponsored by Tohickon Glass Eyes
GREG CUVELIER Aplington, Iowa 59 Black Duck
GREG CUVELIER Aplington, Iowa 57 Largemouth Bass
GREG CUVELIER Aplington, Iowa 60 Whitetail Deer
GREG CUVELIER Aplington, Iowa 58 Raccoon
North American Champions
North American Champion, Whitetail Deer Open-Mouth
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JACK EMERY Carmi, Illinois 41 Whitetail Deer
Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JACK EMERY Carmi, Illinois 41 Whitetail Deer
North American Champion, Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BRIAN NOODY Garden City, New York 10 Walleye
North American Champion, Small Mammal
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
GREG CUVELIER Aplington, Iowa 58 Raccoon
Ivan Harvey Award
Sponsored by the Arkansas Taxidermy Association
GREG CUVELIER Aplington, Iowa 58 Raccoon
North American Champion, Upland Gamebird
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, New York 07 Pheasant
North American Champion, Waterfowl
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
RANDY TERRY Fort Smith, Arkansas 15 Blue Goose
North American Champion, Gamehead
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 85 Desert Bighorn Sheep
National Champions
National Champion, Whitetail Deer Open Mouth
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, Texas 123 Whitetail Deer
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Whitetail Deer
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, Texas 123 Whitetail Deer
National Champion, Whitetail Deer Closed Mouth
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
PRESTON MULLINGS Madill, Okalahoma 109 Whitetail Deer
National Champion, Gamehead
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BRIAN OLSON Platteville, Wisconsin 140 Mule Deer
National Champion, Small Mammal
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, Texas 124 Wild Boar Piglet
National Champion, Large Mammal
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BEN CROMEENS Houston, TX 65 African Lion
Mounted in Alaska Award
Sponsored by Knight’s Taxidermy
BEN CROMEENS Houston, TX 65 African Lion
National Champion, Upland Gamebird
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
RANDY TERRY Fort Smith, Arkansas 17 Ringneck Pheasant
National Champion, Waterfowl
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
KYLE LANDRY Grand Isle, Louisiana 76 Harlequin
National Champion, Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
TONY DAVIDSON Big Pine, California 52 Brook Trout
Star*Fish Award
Sponsored by Star*Fish
TONY DAVIDSON Big Pine, California 51 Brown Trout
National Champion, Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
RODNEY HARPER Damascus, Arkansas 44 Largemouth Bass
National Champion, Reptile Reproduction
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
ZAC PENNINGTON Camden, Arkansas 22 Siren Intermedia
The Competitors’ Award
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
RON GIPSON Porter, Texas 150 Chuckar Partridge
RON GIPSON Porter, Texas 152 Mallard/Wood Duck Cross
RON GIPSON Porter, Texas 154 Catfish Reproduction
RON GIPSON Porter, Texas 155 Largemouth Bass Reproduction
RON GIPSON Porter, Texas 153 Largemouth Bass Skin Mount
Professional Division, Best of Category, Reptile Reproduction
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
TIMBO DAIGLE Schiever, Louisiana 53 Snail
Professional Division, Best of Category, Turkey
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
WYATT HAYES Manchester, Tennessee 118 Turkey
Professional Division, Best of Category, Waterfowl
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
TIM FELTS Sumner, Texas 94 Green-Winged Teal
Professional Division, Best of Category, Upland Gamebird
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
DAN LEDOUX Oak Creek, Wisconsin 35 Ruffed Grouse
Professional Division, Best of Category, Lifesize Mammal
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JON JONES City, Missouri 32 Raccoon
Professional Division, Best of Category, Whitetail Deer
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
GARVICE THOMAS Danielsville, Georgia 49 Whitetail Deer
Novice Division, Best of Category
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
CRAIG SCHMELZLE Ste. Genevieve, Missouri 05 Whitetail Deer
Judges’ Best of Show, Collective Artists
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
BRANDON MITCHELL Van Buren, Arkansas and
MARK WICKER Mount Gilead, Ohio 132 Black Bear
Masters’ Choice, First Place
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JACOB CLARK Pleasant Plains, Arkansas 161 Ross Goose
Masters’ Choice, Second Place
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
MITCH WEBB Green Forest, AR 162 Smallmouth Bass
Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
JOHN HUYE Picayune, Mississippi 72 Rabbit
Morgan Reptile Award
Sponsored by Morgan Reptile Replicas
BOB ROWE Stillwater, Oklahoma 11 Iguana
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Lifesize Mammal
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
LANCE VAN DUESEN Lawson, Missouri 97 Lynx
Taxidermists’ Choice, Best Bird
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
LARRY ELLIS Hinton, Oklahoma 139 Turkey
Judges’ Best of Show, Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
DAN LEDOUX Oak Creek, Wisconsin 33 Sheep Drawing
Delia Akeley Award
Sponsored by Research Mannikins
REBECCA WILCHER Ashdown, Arkansas 48 Pronghorn Antelopes
Van Dyke’s Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
FRED BARILLA Carle Place, New York 08 Fallow Deer
Al and Evelyn Holmes Award
Sponsored by Evelyn Holmes
CHIP HAYES Manchester, Tennessee 114 Whitetail Deer
People’s Choice Youth Award
Sponsored by Paasche
JARED HARPER Damascus, Arkansas 45 Largemouth Bass
Safari Club International Youth Award
Sponsored by Safari Club International
JARED HARPER Damascus, Arkansas 45 Largemouth Bass
Bill Webb Memorial Youth Award
Sponsored by The Webb Family
JARED HARPER Damascus, Arkansas 45 Largemouth Bass
Horizon Youth Award
Sponsored by TWN Industies
JARED HARPER Damascus, Arkansas 45 Largemouth Bass
People’s Choice Children’s Award
Sponsored by Paasche
JOHN HUYE, IV Picayune, Mississippi 71 Barrow’s Goldeneye
Safari Club International Children’s Award
Sponsored by Safari Club International
JOHN HUYE, IV Picayune, Mississippi 71 Barrow’s Goldeneye
Bill Webb Memorial Children’s Award
Sponsored by The Webb Family
JOHN HUYE, IV Picayune, Mississippi 71 Barrow’s Goldeneye
Horizon Children’s Award
Sponsored by TWN Industies
JOHN HUYE, IV Picayune, Mississippi 71 Barrow’s Goldeneye
The 2013 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The 2012 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Rogers, Arkansas
The 2011 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The 2010 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Springfield, Illinois
The 2009 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Huntsville, Alabama
The 2008 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Lubbock, Texas
The 2007 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Louisville, Kentucky
The 2006 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Billings, Montana
The 2005 NTA Major Award Winners Gallery – Sioux Falls, South Dakota