IMPORANT NOTE: This is a general listing of the competition rules. Chnages may have been made that are not included in the following.
~ Updated Rules as of September 2007 ~
| Participation in any PTA Competition gives permission to the PTA, photographer, and its affiliates the rights to photograph and use photos of your competition entries in future and all publications. |
This is page 2 of 6 pages.
I. Eligibility
- The competition will be open to "paid up" PTA members in good standing. (Individuals who are outside the state may participate but they must be a current member in good standing of the PTA.)
- Participants over the age of 18 must be registered for at least one day of the convention and have paid the competition entry fee in order to compete. Participants must be individuals and not firms.
II. Divisions of Competition (Art & Taxidermy)
- JUNIOR AMATEUR DIVISION: Amateurs 16 years old and under. Junior amateur award winners will receive "amateur" ribbons. Any Junior amateur who wins a Best of Category with a blue ribbon at the annual convention competition will have the opportunity to move up to the Amateur Division if the competitor wants to (they don't have to move up to the Amateur Division until they are 16 years old—but they may move up by winning a Best of Category, if they wish to.)
- AMATEUR DIVISION: An amateur who wins Best of Category with a blue ribbon at annual convention competitoin will move up into the Professional Division.
- PROFESSIONAL DIVISION: Licensed Taxidermists (Amateurs who have won a Best of Category with a blue ribbon compete in this division.) If you win Best of Category in this division at annual convention competition you will move up to the Masters Division.
- MASTER DIVISION: Open to all individuals who feel they are capable of competing at the Master's Level. Once a competitor chooses to compete in the Master Division in a given category, they may not return to the Professional Division in that category. Any competitor who has won Best of Category with a blue ribbon in the Professional Division at annual convention competition must move up to the Master Division in that category in which they have won.
- COLLECTIVE ARTIST DIVISION: This division is for competition pieces where more than one taxidermist worked on the entry. It can be entered in the name of the studio or each artist can be listed as the creators. In this division, there are not separate categories. There will be only one: First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention. The winners will receive ribbons. The winner of this category is chosen by all the judges based on their opinion not a score—the Judges vote as a group on which piece they like best. Awards are given based on the groups' decision. There is no limit to the number of entries a studio or group may enter in this divisioin. This division is nonrestrictive as far as special awards and one studio or group can earn as many awards as possible. The whole piece will be judged as one even it if contains a combination of animals. The entry fee covers the entire piece in this division.
III. Judging
- Judges for PTA competition will be selected by the PTA Board based on their availability to attend our competition. Every effort will be made to have a separate judge for Deer Heads, Mammals, Birds and Fish.
- Score Sheet—Each entry is separately scored on a score sheet. You have the option to use the "originality sheet" if you choose to. Score sheets will be returned to the participants when entries are picked up.
- Every effort will be made to have our judges available to discuss/critique your mount(s) on a one-on-one basis. But this depends on the judge's personal schedule. (Please be considerate to other competitors and the judges by having your piece[s] critiqued as quickly as possible. Most competitors want to talk with the judges and time is short.)
- Decisions of the competition judges will be final.
IV. Awards
In the PTA, competition entries are judged on their own merit against a perfect score. (Mother Nature rather than against each other.) Any Entry receiving 90% is awarded a First Place, 80% receives a Second Place. and 70% receives a Third Place. Multiple awards are given except in the Collective Artist Division and all Art Categories.