Rules and Guidelines

General Rules and Guidelines

Montana Taxidermists Association
Competition Rules

To be eligible, competitors must be MTA members in good standing, registered for the convention, and present at

the Convention to compete.

The MTA Board will resolve any questions arising from the MTA competition, and their decision will be final.

Anything judged “Fatal Flaw” will be given a score sheet, but no ribbons or awards will be given. Any mounts with

offensive odors will be removed from the competition area and not judged. The MTA Board reserves the right to

refuse any entry that does not comply with MTA Competition Rules or is deemed inappropriate or

detrimental to the image of taxidermy.

Any infraction of an MTA competition rules will result in disqualification of the entry and forfeiture of any awards

won by that entry. Registration and entry fees will not be refunded.

All competitors must sign a form releasing the MTA from any liability for mounts entered in the competition. While the

MTA will provide security; everyone knows that accidents are possible and that competitors should purchase

insurance on their competition entries through their local insurance agent. The MTA, its Officers, or Directors

shall not be responsible for any mounts entered in competition under any circumstances.

Multiple ribbons are awarded in most categories. Any entry receiving 90% of a perfect score is awarded

first place, 80% of a perfect score is second place, and 70% of a perfect score is third place. There is no

honorable mention.

Half-life size entries will be assigned and compete in the Gamehead category.

Any young or partially grown species, coyote size or smaller entries, will be judged in the small mammal category.

If any entry contains more than one specimen (For example, a pair of wood ducks), an entry fee must be paid for

each mount that will be judged. When judging a piece with multiple entries, each individual mount may win its own

award. If only one entry fee is paid, the competitor must designate which of the individual mounts they wish to

have judged. This rule does not apply to entries in the Collective Artists or Challenge of the Art Divisions, where

an entry containing multiple specimens may be entered as a single piece and judged in its entirety.

Entries in the name of a company are not allowed except in the Collective Artist Division.

Protected species need proper permits to place with their entry. In some cases, special permits are also required

to cross into the U.S. or to cross state lines. The competitor is responsible for knowing and following all such laws pertaining to protected species.

Entries in cases must have removable top and sides for judging and must be removed by competitor before

judging begins.

Competitors can bring their own reference material for the judges to determine
their scores correctly

. Photographs may be placed in an envelope next to the mount and marked “For Judges Reference.”

The mount number should also be written on the envelope.

Any names or logos revealing the competitor's identity must be omitted or covered securely.

Entries may be made only at the posted times, and NO entries will be removed from the competition area before

Sunday at the posted times. Any entry not picked up by the posted deadline will be left unsecured and unattended.

The number of entries per category is unlimited.

No mount that has previously been in an MTA Competition can be entered in an MTA Competition again.

Aside from the MTA Competition, any mount entered in other competitions must be entered in the same division

or higher. (i.e., A mount entered in Master Division at another competition must be entered in Master Division at

the MTA Competition. A mount entered in Collective Artist Division at another competition must be entered in

Collective Artist Division at the MTA Competition. A mount entered in the Professional, Adult Novice, Youth Novice, or Commercial Division at another competition may be entered into a higher division at the MTA Competition.)

Any entry may be ineligible if, in the opinion of the Board, too many of the judging criteria are hidden from view or

are not included in the mount, and it is not in conjunction with another mount that is judge able. Example: Single

wood duck head coming out of a hole in a tree.

There will be one MTA judge for each category. Their decision is final, and they alone decide upon the score an

entry receives. Each judge will score each entry separately on an approved MTA score sheet. All scores will be

recorded on the MTA Competition Computer, with the WTC paper copy going to the participant. An electronic

record of scores will remain with the MTA HQs for one year.

Any conduct by the competitor deemed unsportsmanlike could result in disqualification and forfeiture of

any and all MTA awards. Unruly or disruptive behavior towards judges or show officials will not be tolerated, and

the individual will be asked to leave without a refund and will be barred from future competitions.

There will be no Competitor Score Sheet, PROTESTS, or CHALLENGES.

The MTA Board will be responsible for resolving problems related to the competition and judging. Any such

action taken by the MTA Board shall be publicly disclosed and fully explained to the competitor.

Touching or moving of any mount without the express permission of the competitor by anyone other than a Judge

and/or the MTA Board is expressly forbidden and grounds for disqualification and removal from the MTA

Convention.

The MTA Board will resolve any question concerning the category assignment. Their decision will be final.

The above rules are a general overview of the competition rules. The MTA reserves the right to review and amend

these rules at any time deemed necessary.

MASTER DIVISION

ELIGIBILITY-- Open to all MTA members that are registered for the convention.

CATEGORIES-Selected by which specimen constitutes the major portion of the entry:

Upland Birds
Waterfowl
Fish-Skin Mount
Fish-Reproduction
Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Skin Mount
Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Reproduction
Small Mammals-Coyote or smaller
Large Mammals-Larger than a coyote
Gamehead

The MTA Master Division judge’s entries on their individual merit against a hypothetical “perfect score” rather

than against other entries.

Judges will score Master Division entries exceptionally more challenging than Professional Division.

AWARDS-In each of the nine major awards categories, the highest score with a first-place ribbon shall earn the

the title “Montana State Champion.”

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

ELIGIBILITY-- Open to all MTA members that are registered for the convention

CATEGORIES-Selected by which specimen constitutes the major portion of the entry:

Upland Birds
Waterfowl
Fish-Skin Mount
Fish-Reproduction
Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Skin Mount
Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Reproduction
Small Mammals-Coyote or smaller
Large Mammals-Larger than a coyote
Gamehead

AWARDS-In each of the nine major categories, the Highest Numerical Score with a first-place ribbon shall earn

best of categories.

NOVICE DIVISION

This division is for beginning taxidermists who feel their skills have not developed enough to compete in the

Professional Division. Judges will be more lenient in this division, primarily emphasizing teaching

competitors.

Multiple first, second, and third-place ribbons will be awarded. Persons entering this level should be more

interested in learning than winning awards. The categories for this division are the same as in the Commercial

division.

CATEGORIES-Selected by which specimen constitutes the central portion of the entry:

Upland Birds

Waterfowl

Fish-Skin Mount

Fish-Reproduction

Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Skin Mount

Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Reproduction

Small Mammals-Coyote or smaller

Large Mammals-Larger than a coyote

Gamehead

COLLECTIVE ARTISTS DIVISION

ELIGIBILITY. This division is for competition entries worked on by more than one MTA taxidermist; all competitors

must be identified, registered, and attending the convention. Requires an additional entry fee.

CATEGORIES – The following categories are available in the Collective Artists Division:

Upland Birds

Waterfowl

Fish-Skin Mount

Fish-Reproduction

Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Skin Mount

Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Reproduction

Small Mammals-Coyote or smaller

Large Mammals-Larger than a coyote

Game heads

AWARDS: A maximum of one first, second, and third place ribbon will be awarded to each Collective Artist

Category based upon the highest numerical score in each category. The Judge’s Best of Show, Collective Artist

The judges will select award winners from among the first-place ribbon winners in each

category based on the overall merit of the eligible entries.

Collective Artists Division entries are not eligible for the following titles “Montana State Champion.”

COMMERCIAL DIVISION

ELIGIBILITY-Open to all MTA members attending the Convention.

CATEGORIES-Selected by which specimen constitutes the central portion of the entry:

Upland Birds
Waterfowl
Fish-Skin Mount
Fish-Reproduction
Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Skin Mount
Reptile-(Amphibian/Arachnid) Reproduction
Small Mammals-Coyote or smaller
Large Mammals-Larger than a coyote
Gamehead

JUDGING – This is a judge’s interpretation division open to all species. It will be judged for aesthetics, not

mechanics. Competitors should strive to present life-like entries. Any bird, fish, reptile, or mammal species or combination can be mounted in a display and entered to be viewed and interpreted by the judges without a flashlight. Judges will write a brief comment and overall first, second, or third, not a detailed score sheet.

There will be no critiques.

AWARDS – The division rules will award multiple first, second, and third-place ribbons.

Commercial Division does not offer the titles “Montana Champion” or Best of Categories.”

Entries in this division are not eligible for any other significant awards.

YOUTH NOVICE DIVISION

ELIGIBILITY – Youth: Limited to MTA family members’ children present at the Convention 17 years of age and

under. The parents/guardian must be registered members of the convention. There is no entry fee.

CATEGORIES – All categories that exist in the Professional Division are available for the Youth Novice Division.

JUDGING – Youth

Judging will be done on an approved MTA score sheet, and consideration will be taken into account for the

experience of those entering.

HABITATS: In the Youth Novice Division, judging an entry’s habitat is optional and requires an additional

habitat entry fee. Competitors must identify habitat entries at the time of registration.

AWARDS–Multiple ribbons are awarded. The entry selected by the judges collectively as the best mount in the

Youth Novice Division will earn the title “Best Youth Entry” winner. All entries in this division are eligible for

People’s Choice Awards. Since scoring is more lenient, entries in this category are not eligible for other major

awards.

SCULPTING AND ORIGINAL ART DIVISION

ELIGIBILITY-Open to all MTA members that are registered for the convention.

CATEGORIES

Taxidermy Sculptures – Limited to manikins or sculptures explicitly made for use in taxidermy. The Sculptures

maybe in clay, paper, foam, or some other medium.

Taxidermy Sculpture Categories:

Gamehead
Mammal
Bird
Fish
Reptile
Other

Winners of first place in the six taxidermy sculpture categories will compete for “Judges Best of Show, Taxidermy Sculptures.” All category entries will be eligible for a “People’s Choice, Taxidermy Sculptures” award.

Original Art Original Art Categories:

Bronzes or Castings-Limited to sculptures cast in bronze or some other medium to create a

finished piece of art. These items could be busts, miniatures, or life-size.

Carvings-Limited to birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles, which have been carved from wood or some other medium

and finished. These could be busts, miniatures, or life-size.

Paintings, pencils, pastels, charcoal, etc.-Limited to flat art only.

Reproductions- Parts of mammals, fish, birds, and reptiles have been molded directly from the extant

species and reproduced in some casting material. The above reproductions can be either designed to be

incorporated as part of a mount or finished as a completed piece representing a specific species. Copies,

such as antlers, should be entered in this division.

Skeletons – Limited to osteological specimens and art.

JUDGING – Two judges will examine each category.

AWARDS --Judges may award a maximum of one first place, one-second place, and one-third place in each category.

Winners of first place in the Bronzes or Castings, Carvings, Paintings, Reproductions, and Skeletons categories

will compete for a “Judges Best of Show, Original Art.” All entries in these categories will be eligible for a

“People’s Choice, Original Art” award.

The Competitors Award may be any four mounts from any category—IE 4 birds or two birds, two game heads, any order.

To qualify, you must have at least one blue ribbon; the highest score wins .

In case of a tie, the judges will decide .

The best all-around - Is for mounts from four different categories: IE 1 fish, one bird, 1 Lifesize, and one game head.

You must have at least one blue to qualify . The highest score wins in case of a tie. The judges decide .

The Montana Challenge - This is an animal that lives in Montana. It is drawn from a hat each year at the meet and greet

for the following year's show. The highest score wins each division pays half the entry fee pot to the

winner. To compete in competitors' awards and best all-around, you must enter the mounts in the professional

or master division , whatever division you are in for that particular category .