Breakthrough Award Winners (pictured) from 2025

AU      Tim Wood

Eur      Jan Panniger

NTA    Lance Van Dusen

Can     George Elekes

UK      Alexandra Cherett

AL       Lee Duet

AR      James Wood

CA      Richard Mark

CO      Ben Gilbert

FL       Shane Chandler

GA      Steven Reynolds

KS       Todd Kranau

LA       Whitney Steward

ID        Kody Kay

IL         DuWayne Cournoyer

IN        Abel Everage

ME   &

Kathy and I have reached a sales agreement with a party we know personally and trust. We have no doubts they will continue the traditions of taxidermy’s leading publication and the world’s largest taxidermy trade show. In this agreement we will continue as producers of the magazine for one more year in order to work with the new owners with our production methods. We will also be advisors in producing the next World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships® which will likely be in April of 2027. The owners will continue with the same show format and rules that have been successful for 41 years, so you can now begin planning for that next big event.

TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW, visit www.breakthroughmagazine.com or call (985) 345-7266.

Several years ago a friend sent me a picture of a bedded whitetail deer scratching his back with his antlers. I thought this would make a great competition mount as it was different and very interesting. I kept this thought in mind for when the right opportunity ever came along.

I had a successful mule deer hunt in Colorado so I immediately decided this deer would be the mount I could use for the half life-sized mount scratching his back with his antlers. I decided I would use that composition for a mount at the next World Show in 2024. Using this mule deer would mean I would now compete in the World Title Master Division Gamehead category. The antlers were perfect (I thought at that time) and the deer was in very good condition with hardly any scars or ear tears and it was mine to keep. Later, after a major part of my original form was being sculpted, my decision about the deer’s attitude would change, which I will discuss later in this article.

TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW, visit www.breakthroughmagazine.com or call (985) 345-7266.

1. Welcome back to my 2 articles on molding and casting bison horns. If you did not read my first article on how to mold bison horns, you really should go back and pick up that issue (Spring Issue #157) as this process will help with many of your other casting projects.

TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW, visit www.breakthroughmagazine.com or call (985) 345-7266.

PICTURED: NTA 2025 N.A+NAT.CHAMPS Peoria, Illinois

54th Convention and Competition

Embassy Suites by Hilton • East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center

August 4–16, 2025 • East Peoria, Illinois

2025 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS

Waterfowl      Gold    Alyssa Godwin - Green-winged Teal       

Turkeys          Gold    Cole Cruickshank - Eastern Wild Turkey

Warmwater Fish       Silver Cory Foth - Spotted Gar    

            Gold    Dan Helmer - Largemouth Bass   

Reptiles         Gold    Kent Allard - Prairie Rattlesnake  

Reproductions Other           Gold    Cory Foth - Woodhouse Toad      

Sm. LS Mammals     Silver              Abel Everage - Bobcat       

            Gold    Ashley Eve - Northern Koala         <