ON THE COVER Bill Neuman

 This leopard mounted by taxidermist Bill Neuman of Bismarck, North Dakota, was the winner of the Breakthrough Award for Judges' Choice Best of Show at the 2011 NTA convention. It is the perfect cover introduction for the many other Breakthrough Award winners featured in this issue. Every year when Ken Edwards and I do the photography for the NTA competition, I'm on the lookout for a potential cover candidate. There were several that caught our attention, but when I saw this leopard I knew it would likely make the final cut. When it won Best of Show, making the decision was easy. I asked Bill to write us an article on how he made this beautiful recreated tree, and if we are lucky we may see his technique in 2012. Happy New Year to all from the staff at Breakthrough.