Gobblers strut, big chests and beards puff out, attracting attention. Spring hens nest hidden in shadow-casting edge cover. Predators attack the wild turkeys we love, engaged in dramatic duels. Walk through the Grand National Wild Turkey and White-Tailed Deer Taxidermy Competition display at the NWTF's annual Convention and Sport Show, and you'll experience unrivaled artistic renditions, crafty design elements and supreme efforts to re-create moments from times afield like you've never seen before. After all, wildlife taxidermy aims at putting a memory on the wall you can return to whenever you want, just by looking up there. – Steve Hickoff, "Mounting Talent," Turkey Country
Congratulations to the following winners.
Wildlife Artist Supply Company (WASCO) Award
Most Artistic Entry: Steven Reynolds
Wild Turkey Master of Masters Division
Winner: Chip Hayes
Wild Turkey Masters Division
Best of Show: Ryan Scearce
Best Strutting: Ryan Scearce
Best Standing: Ryan Scearce
Best Open Wing: Butch Irwin
Best Group: Troy Piotrowski
Wild Turkey Professional Division
Best of Show: Danny Holderman
Best Strutting: Danny Holderman
Best Open Wing: Gary Jones
Wild Turkey Commercial Division
1st Place: Katrina Holderman
2nd Place: Russell Coble
Wild Turkey Youth and Amateur Division
Amateur: Cody Hodge
White-tailed Deer Master of Masters Division
Winner: Dean Matthews
Masters Division
Best of Show: Butch Irwin
Best Open Mouth Deer: Butch Irwin
Best Closed Mouth Deer: Ferrell Cosby
White-tailed Deer Professional Division
Best of Show: Mark Barbour
Best Open Mouth Deer: Terry Driver
Best Closed Mouth Deer: Mark Barbour
White-tailed Deer Commercial Division
First Place: Faron Hembree
Second Place: Sarah Hope
White-tailed Deer Amateur and Youth Division
Amateur: Brandon Elmore
Youth (17 and under): Landon Witt
For more information about the 2019 Taxidermy Contest, please contact Karen Cavender at kcavender@nwtf.net.