| Competition Rules |
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| THE KENTUCKY TAXIDERMIST ASSOCIATION COMPETITION RULES 1. The KTA Rules and Ethics Committee reserves the right to restrict from open viewing any entry deemed detrimental to the image of taxidermy. All such entries will be removed from the competition area. 2. Participants need not be present to compete, however, they are required to pay registration and entry fees. Entries must be picked up by the participant or the participant’s agent. No COD’s or shipments will be accepted. Your agent is responsible for pick-up and delivery. 3. Number of entries is not limited. 4. At the time of entry, you must identify your mount as to which division, category, and special award you are competing in. 5. Entries in cases must have removable top and sides for judging. 6. Species requiring special permits must be accompanied by that permit and be on display at all times with that mount. 7. All participants will sign a release form at time of entry. This form will release the KTA from any liability to mounts entered in competition. 8. Mounts that receive an award or ribbon in KTA competition cannot be re-entered in another KTA competition. Mounts may then be taken to a regional or national competition or other state competition. Mounts that receive awards at higher competitions may also be entered at the state level. 9. The competition area is closed to all participants during the judging process. Only the Competition Committee may enter. 10. Entries must be made at posted times. Entries must stay in the display area until posted times. Only those mounts that must be taken for reasons of emergency and cleared with the Convention Committee or Rules and Ethics Committee may be taken out before closing times. Mounts left after the closing of the convention will be left without supervision or liability of the KTA or it’s committees. 11. Any infraction of KTA competition rules may result in disqualification and forfeiture of any awards won by that entry. Registration and entry fees will not be refunded. 12. All specimens entered shall be completed by one taxidermist. This includes all mountable specimens. Mountable freeze dried specimens and mountable reproductions are not allowed. Freeze dried turkey heads are allowed. Certain parts of mountable specimens are allowed. 13. The KTA will be as careful as possible to provide security within the means of the convention site. The KTA, its Committees, Officers and Board of Directors will not be responsible for mounts under any circumstances. 14. Any mount may be ineligible for judging if in the opinion of the judge there is too may points of the judging criteria hidden from view or missing. Example: A duck head coming out of a hole in a tree or a squirrel head coming out of a hole in a tree. 15. Objections to the judging must be filed with the Rules and Ethics Committee before the close of the convention. NO EXCEPTIONS! 16. Fatal flaws will be disqualified from the competition. Participants will get their scorecard and have the opportunity to speak with the judge. 17. Re-entries are allowed only on those mounts that did not receive an award in a previous KTA competition. 18. Collective Artist Category |
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CATEGORIES AND AWARDS There are 10 categories of competition. These include: Waterfowl, Upland Game Birds, Fish, Game Heads, Whitetail deer Heads, Small Mammals, Large Mammals, Reptiles, Rugs and Novelty. There are 3 divisions of entry. These include: Amateur, Professional and Masters Category. Amateur This category is aimed at new taxidermist or taxidermists who have never entered in a competition and want to become acquainted with the procedure. Judges for the Amateur Category are instructed to judge with a lesser degree of criticism. Entry fees are the same as the other categories. There are only ribbons awarded in this category. You will receive a score sheet. Amateur Category accumulates no certification points and is not eligible for Peoples Choice, Best of Show, Best All Around or Best of Category awards. Professional This category is open to all KTA members and affiliates. Mounts entered in this category will receive certification points and be awarded all ribbons and trophies to which they are entitled. Master This category is open to all KTA members and affiliates who wish to be critiqued at a higher level. The judging in this category is very strict. Anyone receiving two Best Of categories in the Open Category must move up to the Masters Category the following competition. Any entrant receiving a ribbon in the Masters Category may not return to the Open Category in that category. Best of Category This division is the mount in each of the 9 categories that achieves the highest point value for the category. To receive Best Of Category Award, the mount must receive a blue ribbon. Awards for "Best Of Category" will be plaques . PEOPLES CHOICE: This is awarded to the mount which receives the highest number of votes cast by KTA members and affiliates registered at the convention. (1 vote per member or affiliate) Fatal flaw mounts are not eligible for this award. BEST OF SHOW: This is awarded to the mount chosen by the judges of the event from all the first place mounts to be their personal favorite This award is not necessarily given to the highest scorer. Personal appeal may be reflected in this award. |
| BEST ALL AROUND KENTUCKY TAXIDERMIST This is awarded to the taxidermist who scores the highest point total in 3 out of 5 categories of his or her choice. When competing in this category, it is required to have at least one blue ribbon and a total score of at least 250 points combined from the 3 categories to win. Entrant must choose between birds, fish, mammals (small or large), game heads (whitetail deer or game heads), and reptiles. You cannot have a bear (large mammal) and a squirel (small mammal) considered in the Best All Around. In addition, you cannot have a whitetail and a mule deer head considered. Rugs and novelty are not eligible for this award. Entrant must be a Kentucky resident and member of the Kl-A to be eligible. Entrant must proclaim his/her mounts a the Ume of entry to be considered for this award. BEST ORIGINAL CREATION This is awarded to the mount that scores the highest that follows these criteria: 1. Mounts must be completed without use of commercial manikins. 2. Glass eyes may be used due to the complexity of making eyes. 3. Anatomical parts such as jaw sets, tongues, etc., must be made from raw materials and not bought commercially. 4. Freeze-dried specimens may NOT be used with the exception of turkey heads. 5. Novelty mounts will not be considered for this award. 6. NTA score sheets will be used for scoring. 7. This mount may also be used in the Best All Around Division if so designated. 8. Pictures documenting your process of creating your form must accompany the mount. 9. All mounts must be a skin mount. PIACE AWARDS: These are awarded to mounts that receive a 1st.2nd or 3d place point value and will receive ribbons to equal the point value received. Fatal flaws are automatically disqualified from competiUon and are removed from the competition area. From time to time, other awards may be added to the competitions. The KTA has an Awards Committee that reviews and sets the standards of the awards. It is the intention of the KTA and the Awards Committee to give the very best awards that the KTA can afford. It should be stated that quality of the awards depends on participation of these events and what the KTA can afford at the time of the event. Presently, the standards have been set as follows: Peoples Choice,Best Original Creation, Best of Show and Best All Around category will receive trophies. Place awards and Best Of Category awards will be ribbons with the Best Of Category will be awarded Plaques. Collective Artist Award Any paid members of the Kentucky Taxidermist Association (KTA), Shall be eligible for the Collective Artist award. The mount must be completed by at least two members of the KTA. There will be only one first, one second and one third place awards given. Awards will be given to all participants of the winning team. There will be a $30 entry fee for the mount. Entrants may enter as many mounts as they wish. Multiple mounts on one base will be considered one piece and be charged only $30. Each entry will be judged on three criteria. They are as follows: 30 points for craftsmanship and soundness, 30 points for anatomical accuracy, and 40 points for artistic merit. The mount will not earn certification points. The Judges decision will be final. "Out of State Collective Artist Participants must belong to their own State Association or the KTA to be elligible." The above rules are based on KTA criteria. These rules are subject to change with approval of the membership at any regularly scheduled KTA meeting. National Taxidermist Association score sheets are used in all KTA competitions. It is the object of KTA to run a fair competition; one in which all members benefit from the experience. If for some reason you feel you have not been treated fairly, you have the right to take your complaint to the Rules and Ethics Committee. "Out of State " Participants must belong to their own State Association or the KTA to be elligible." |