Gadwalls (Mareca strepera) are common and widespread dabbling ducks in the family Anatidae. Gadwalls were first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. DNA studies have shown that it is a sister species with falcated ducks; the two are closely related to the three species of wigeons, and all of them have been assigned to the genus Mareca.

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One of the most telling and educational events at the World Taxidermy Championships® is the Live Sculpting Competition. It demonstrates a quick understanding of how accurate taxidermy “mounts” evolve. I say “telling” because this art form is an important foundation of the mounting process: not “stuffing,” as so many laymen describe our process. This competition is one of the first places I will take media people when I am asked for an interview. It is called taxidermy sculpture because the finished product is crafted for exclusive use by the taxidermists. Contestants for 2019 were David Ferguson–Harrisville, UT; Bill Neuman–Bismarck, ND; Jim Beenken–Eagle River, WI; Terry Van Loenen–Queen Creek, AZ; Daniel Meng–Bismarck, ND; Dave Pearson–Savannah, MO.

The Pre-Sculpted Division had a record number of excellent entries at the 2019 World Taxidermy Championships®. Ohio Taxidermy Supply, who donated $5,000.00 to the WTC cash award fund in 2019, asked that a portion of this donation go toward the winners in the Live Sculpting ($1,000.00) and Pre-Sculpted ($1,000.00) Divisions. The Best of Category for Gameheads went to Wendi Johnson of Sanford, Michigan, and Best of Category for Lifesize was won by Ma Hongyu from Yantai City, China. They each won $500.00 for their winning entries.

This photo review includes all 16 entries, six in the Gameheads category and ten in the Lifesize Mammals category. This is now a multiple ribbon division so each entry is scored on its own merit by a team of 3 judges. Rules and regulations can be found on page 24 of the World Show booklet at the Breakthrough website.

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Finally, the moment you’ve patiently been waiting for: the “loading and securing” part, the final part of this long segment. I apologize if it seemed drawn out, but like I said from the beginning: if you want your trophies to arrive properly to their final destination, you have to look at the big picture and that starts with the foundation.

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Pintails are one of the most popular ducks sportsmen bring to taxidermists. Not only because of their wide distribution, but also the beauty of the drakes in winter plumage. During my search for photo references, I was amazed at how many good sharp photos were available of pintails in flight. Pintails or northern pintails (Anas acuta) are ducks with a wide geographic distribution that breed in the northern areas of Europe and across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. Unusual for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies.

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