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2019 Convention & Competition Information

The information below is from a previous event. You can see 2020 convention information here.

Schedule of Events
April 4–7, 2019

Click to expand the schedule below. Access to seminars (except the all day session with Rick Carter) are included in your convention registration.

9 a.m.–4 p.m. Featured Seminar: Whitetail with Rick Carter; pre-registration is required
4–4:30 p.m. Board of Directors meeting
4:30 p.m. Set up competition and supply areas—everyone's help is appreciated!
6–9 p.m. Registration and competition pieces received

8 a.m.–12 p.m. Walk in and board member registration and competition pieces received *All board members’ pieces and those not pre-registered MUST be received by noon
8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Pre-registered competition pieces received
9–11 a.m. Seminar #1: Carving a Competition Fish Body with Tim Perkins
Seminar #2: Business Fundamentals with Kent Stryker (bring a calculator!)
10 a.m. Supply area opens
12–12:20 p.m. Orientation meeting with information about the competition and convention
12:30 p.m. Judges' meeting; judging begins
1–3:30 p.m. Seminar #3: Whitetail Finishing Techniques with Scott Wilkinson
Seminar #4: Creating Artificial Water Habitats with John Bollmann
5–6 p.m. Competition room open for viewing; voting for member-chosen awards
6–7 p.m. Warm-up party! Food and drink provided.
7–8:30 p.m. Seminar #5: Reference and Study Tips with Don Miller and Mark Vineski

8–9 a.m.Competition area open for viewing; closes promptly at 9 for ribbon placement
8 a.m.–3 p.m.Supply area open
8:30–11 a.m.Seminar #6: Mounting a Game Head (Fallow Deer) with Bob Coughlin
Seminar #7: Waterfowl Mounting with Josh Saville
11 a.m.–4 p.m.Competition room open for ribbon viewing and judges' critiques
1–3 p.m.Kids Seminar: Wooden Fish Painting with Nacole Pigliavento
1:30–3:30 p.m.Seminar #8: Follow-Up to Whitetail Critiques with Rick Carter
3–4 p.m.Supply area breakdown
6–6:30 p.m.Cocktail hour, cash bar
6:30 p.m.UTNY banquet, auction, and awards ceremony; competition room re-opens after the banquet

9:30 a.m. UTNY membership meeting with voting for vacant board positions; all members should attend
Following the membership meeting, you may remove your competition pieces. Please bring your mount tickets! We'll break down the competition area—everyone's help is appreciated.

At the conclusion of the convention, the UTNY Board of Directors meeting will take place.

Featured Seminar: Whitetail Anatomy and Mounting with Rick Carter
Thursday, April 4, 2019

Rick Carter

We’re pleased to welcome Rick Carter to the 2019 convention for a special whitetail seminar. Rick is a two-time North American Whitetail Champion and a three-time NTA Taxidermist of the Year. The floor will be open for discussion and questions, and McKenzie Taxidermy Supply will offer reference materials and products for demonstration and door prizes. 

Rick will cover whitetail anatomy from the inside-out, including:

  • Skeletal and muscular reference
  • How bone structure affects skin arrangement and hair pattens
  • Ear anatomy
  • Eye contour and expression
  • Tanning methods
  • Mounting procedures
  • Presentation and habitat trends

Take your whitetail mounting skills to the next level!

Thursday, April 4, 2019
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Lunch will be provided
Cost: $125 per person (you must pre-register); a $50 deposit is required by March 24, 2019
To register: Contact Jerry St. Pierre at 607-761-9709 or gtstpierre@gmail.com

Information for 2019 Convention Attendees

  • Supplier Show
  • UTNY Banquet
  • Auction

Our suppliers are generous supporters of the United Taxidermists of New York—they help make our show a success every year! As part of your convention registration you'll have access to our friendly, expert supplier. Talk taxidermy and pick up some great discounts.

The following vendors are expected at the 2019 show:

  • Bob's Taxidermy Supply
  • Buckshot Tannery
  • East Coast Outdoors Taxidermy
  • H & H Fur Dressing
  • Head Quarters
  • Hilton Eppley Forms
  • Jordan's Bear Den
  • McKenzie Supply
  • Nature's Art Driftwoods
  • Ohio Taxidermy Supply
  • Robin's Nest Animal Rugs
  • Ruozzi & Son Supply
  • Sivko Fur, Inc.
  • Tohickon
  • TruBond
  • Whitetail Woodcrafters
  • Wildlife Panels

You may purchase banquet tickets for yourself and your guests when you register for the convention. Special awards are presented at the banquet. We hope you can join us on Saturday night for a delicious buffet and a good time!

2019 buffet menu:

  • Roast sirloin with au jus
  • Baked chicken
  • Oven roasted potatoes
  • Rice pilaf
  • Seasonal vegetables
  • House salad
  • Rolls with butter 
  • Dessert
  • Coffee, tea, water, and soda
  • Cash bar

Thanks to the donations of our suppliers, the community, and several individuals, we're able to host a lively auction each year. Proceeds benefit the United Taxidermists of New York and help to fund future conventions. Several items and experiences will be up for auction on Saturday night. 

Featured Item:
Bid on a South African Safari from Numzaan Safaris!

African SpringbokThe following is included in the safari package:

  • Personal, VIP transportation to and from the airport
  • All food and drinks
  • First-class lodge accommodations and housekeeping services
  • Animal tracker and skinner services
  • Daily transportation while hunting
  • Services of fully licensed, professional hunters
  • All field dressing of animals and care of trophy capes
  • $500 credit (per hunter) toward trophy fees; upgrade your hunt an extra five days and receive an additional $1,000 per hunter
  • Unlimited viewing of African terrain and animals in their natural habitat

Not included: Airfare to and from Johannesburg, South Africa; daily fees for the day of arrival and departure at $180 each day, per person; and shipping or taxidermy fees.

Value: $4,500 for two hunters or $9,000 for four hunters

2019 Competition Information

If you wish to enter a piece—or several pieces—in the 2019 competition, which occurs concurrently with the convention, be sure to review the rules and requirements so you can select the proper category of entry. Note that competition entires must be submitted IN ADDITION to your convention registration. Additional fees apply.

President's Challenge

The president’s challenge for the 2019 competition is a skin-mounted trout. The winner for this special award will be chosen by the president of the United Taxidermists of New York, Mark Visneski. To be considered for this award, an additional entry fee of $10 is required.

Competition Judges

Learn more about the four judges who will score your mounts at the 2019 competition.

Rick CarterRick Carter started doing taxidermy in 1981 and began competing at the state level in 1989. In 1992, Rick won two bronze medals at the world show. In 1993, he won his first of three Taxidermist of the Year awards at the national convention. He won this award again in 1997 and 2003. Rick has also won two Joseph Bruchac Memorial awards for the best whitetail at the nationals.
 
Rick has worked for 20 years in the taxidermy supply industry as a sculptor at Noonkester Supply and WASCO. He is currently doing manufacturing design work for McKenzie Sports Products. He has judged and given seminars at more than 100 shows and written numerous articles for trade magazines. Rick's video, Deer Mounting A to Z, has been hailed as the best taxidermy instructional video ever produced.

Cindy and Bob CoughlinBob has been doing taxidermy for 45 years. He was a member of both the New York Taxidermy Association and the Empire Taxidermy Association and played a role in the unification of the two associations into the UTNY. He also created the logo for the United Taxidermists of New York. Bob was one of the first UTNY board members under President Dennis Mortenson.
 
Bob is a six-time recipient of the Best All Around Taxidermist award. He has won awards in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Canada and at both the nationals and world show. Bob has judged many state shows, most recently the NJGSTA this past July. He lives in Binghamton, New York, with his wife of 29 years, Cindy.

Tim PerkinsTim and his wife, Edna, live in a cabin in the woods 12 miles outside of the little town of Bloomer in northern Wisconsin with their two grouse dogs, Brauny and Magnum, and a Newfie named Echo. Tim and Edna have a son and daughter-in-law who live about 12 miles away in Chippewa Falls.
 
Tim is very honored to be judging the UTNY show this year and is looking forward to meeting all of you. He started dobbling in taxidermy when he got out of high school, and a few years later,  took some lessons from a taxidermist in Wisconsin. He joined the WTA in about 1990 and started competing. Tim became a full-time taxidermist in 1994 and never looked back. He does all phases of taxidermy, but a big part of his workload is skin mount and reproduction fish. He has been very fortunate to win many awards, including North American Champion.
 

Tim also sculpts fish forms for Matuska Taxidermy Supply in Iowa.  In his free time, he chases ruffed grouse all over northern Wisconsin.  He calls it a hobby, but his wife calls it an obsession. He also enjoys duck and turkey hunting. Fishing is an addiction—walleye, smallmouth bass, lake trout, salmon!

Kent StrykerKent Stryker is the owner of World Class Animal Artistry. He is an artist, taxidermist, sculptor, educator, and recipient of more than 150 state, national, and world show awards. Kent constantly strives to not only improve his own work, but also the work of those in the taxidermy industry looking to improve their own. He believes education through experience is the key to success!

Special Awards

Each mount you enter in the competition will be scored based on the category and division for which it was entered. All entrants who score within certain point values will earn a ribbon. Special awards are sponsored by suppliers, organizations, taxidermists, and more, and winners are selected in a variety of ways—high scores, community voting, judges vote, etc. Your competition entry will automatically be considered for all special awards with the exception of those that require additional registration or entry fees. Be sure to check the registration table upon arrival, as we may have added more special awards that you are eligible for. Award winners are announced at the Saturday banquet.

Judges' Choice Awards

The 2019 competition judges will choose winners for the following awards:

  • Al Holmes Habitat Award 
    Best habitat among all entries
  • Blue Ribbon Game Birds Pheasants Forever Award
    Best pheasant in the Professional or Masters divisions
  • Breakthrough Award
    Overall best of show
  • Brian Harness Mammal Award
    Best small mammal in any division; a mount that Brian would award himself
  • Ducks Unlimited Award
    Best waterfowl habitat
  • Mounted in Alaska Award
    Best large species life-size or gamehead
  • National Wild Turkey Federation Award
    Best turkey in the Professional or Masters division
  • Research Manikins Best Small Mammal Award (2)
    One Professional division winner and one Amateur division winner
  • Tru Bond Trappers Award
    Best indigenous New York small mammal
  • Sivko Fur Best of Show, Commercial Division
    Winner chosen from Best of Category (highest blue ribbon) awardees
  • UTNY Best of Show, Youth Division
    Winner chosen from Best of Category (highest blue ribbon) awardees
  • UTNY Best of Show, Amateur Division
    Winner chosen from Best of Category (highest blue ribbon) awardees
  • UTNY Best of Show, Professional Division
    Winner chosen from Best of Category (highest blue ribbon) awardees
  • UTNY Best of Show, Masters Division
    Winner chosen from Best of Category (highest blue ribbon) awardees
  • UTNY Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
    Best whitetail deer in the Masters division
  • Van Dyke Award
    Most creative entry in the Professional or Master divisions
  • Warren Hardendorf Memorial Award
    Best small mammal in the Masters division
  • WASCO Award
    Most artistic entry
  • Woody Award for Excellence in Taxidermy
    All pieces considered

Awards for Highest-Scoring Mounts

The awards below are based on point values across categories or divisions:

  • Best All Around Taxidermist ($25 entry fee)
    Highest total score of mammal, bird, fish, and gamehead in all divisions
  • Buckshot Tannery Pro Life-Size Mammal Award
    Highest score for a life-size mammal
  • Jack Wilson Award
    Highest-scoring waterfowl in the Masters division
  • Larry Clingerman Award
    Highest-scoring waterfowl in the Professional division
  • Safari Club Adirondack – Catskill Chapter Non-North American Award
    Highest-scoring non-North American big game mount in the professional or masters divisions
  • Safari Club Adirondack – Catskill Chapter North American Award
    Highest-scoring North American big game mount in the professional or masters divisions
  • West Wind Taxidermy Gamehead Award
    Highest-scoring gamehead in the Amateur division
  • West Wind Taxidermy Life-Size Award
    Highest-scoring small or large mammal in the Amateur division
  • UTNY Best Non-Gamebird Award
    Highest score for non-gamebirds in the Professional or Masters divisions
  • UTNY Distinguished Taxidermist Award, Amateur or Professional Division ($25 entry fee)
    Highest total score of three pieces in the Amateur or Professional divisions
  • UTNY Distinguished Taxidermist Award, Masters Division ($25 entry fee)
    Highest total score of three pieces in the Masters division
  • Walnut Hollow Country Awards
    Five awards total; one for each of the highest-scoring mounts among birds, fish, turkeys, mammals, and whitetails
  • Whitetails Unlimited Awards
    Three awards total; one for each of the highest-scoring whitetail mounts across the Youth, Amateur, and Professional divisions
  • The Wildlife Gallery Best Gamehead Award
    Highest score among all gamehead entries

Taxidermists' Choice Awards

The following special awards are determined by taxidermists’ votes during the convention weekend.

  • McKenzie Bird Award
  • McKenzie Fish Award
  • McKenzie Mammal Award
  • McKenzie Whitetail Award
  • UTNY Gamehead Award
  • Gunner’s Turkey Award
  • UTA Artisan Award
    Most artistic entry

UTNY Board and President's Choice

The following special awards are voted on by the UTNY board or selected by the president.

  • McKenzie Distinguished Service Award
    As voted on by the UTNY board
  • UTNY Mike Rudzinis Memorial Award
    President’s choice
  • UTNY Dennis Mortenson’s President’s Challenge Award ($10 entry fee)
    Skin-mounted trout

Product-Based Awards

To be eligible for these special awards, you must note product use at the time of registration.

  • Lifetone Award
    Judges’ choice from fish painted with Lifetone Hydromist products
  • PRO-ONE Award
    Judges’ choice best entry for any mount using PRO-ONE hide paste or tan
  • Polytranspar Award
    Judges’ choice for fish painted with Polytranspar paints
  • Walnut Creek Endearing Award
    Owner’s choice from all mounts using Walnut Creek products