In the early seventies, state taxidermy organizations began to flourish around the United States. The years were exhilarating to young and old taxidermists alike as the organizations grew quickly, with bi-monthly meetings, state competitions, and regional get-togethers. It was no different here in the South as our regions grew rapidly in dedication to the taxidermy arts. In...

Two winters ago Jim Beenken, an award-winning taxidermist and sculptor from Wisconsin, texted me some intriguing photos of a project he had just completed. It was unique, different, and eye catching. A few months later he and I were discussing the article I was writing about the World Taxidermy Championships® Live Sculpting Competition and I asked him to send me more...

The Value of a Good Scoresheet.  The first few times you utilize a taxidermy competition scoresheet, you learn as much, if not more, from it before the competition than after. A scoresheet helps to guide your focus through the entire mounting process—from choosing a position to the final finish work and the habitat. Just understanding every term on the scoresheet...

After canceling the scheduled 2020 convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NTA came roaring back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the 50th annual National Taxidermists Association convention, competition, and trade show. The NTA had been at this facility three times before: in 2005, 2011, and 2019, at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. There were 233 competition...