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 5 of 6 pages.
VII. Category Rules
- FREEZE-DRY RULES
- A specimen shall be placed in the Freeze-Dry Category if all or a major part of the specimen is freeze-dried where the freeze-drying is the sole method of mounting and preserving the specimen. This DOES NOT include specimens that have been skinned, conventionally mounted and subsequently dried in the freeze-dryer.
- Any disputes concerning whether or not a specimen shall be placed in the Freeze-Dry Category shall be resolved by the Competition Committee and their decision will be final.
- Initially, all freeze-dry specimens will compete together in the Freeze-Dry Category. If the number of specimens in a certain category is sufficient to support a new category one will be opened by the Competition Committee - i.e., Freeze-Dry Birds, Freeze-Dry Small mammals, etc.
- The Freeze-Dry Category will operate under the ribbon system already in place - multiple ribbons with a Best of Category. Competitors will be able to move up a Division by winning a Best of Category at the Annual Convention / Competiton only.
- Competitors in the Freeze-Dry Category will be eligible for all applicable Special Awards such as Best Furbearer, Best Bird, Best Waterfowl, and, or course, Best Freeze-Dry as well as Best of Show.
- While judging the Freeze-Dry Category all judges will be instructed to judge the final result not the method used to achieve it. It is the hope of the Competition Committee that this stipulation will eliminate any possible prejudices some judges may have concerning the freeze-dry specimens.
- ALL OF THE ART CATEGORIES - Miniatures, Flat Art, 3-D Art and Photography will only have one first place, second place, third place and honorable mention. The Winners will receive ribbons.
- FISH / REPTILE RULES
- 1-Sided Fish both Warm and Cold Water categories will be available for Amateurs and Professionals ONLY with Best of Category ribbons awarded. (There won't be a Master Division in these 2 categories.)
- After winning a Blue Ribbon, Best of Category Professional Division in the 1-Sided Fish categories the competitior has shown the understanding of anatomy, methods, painting, etc., and the competition committee feels the competitor is ready to compete in the "360 degree - finished on both sides" fish categories.
- Fish, Reptile & Amphibian Repro. Categories are available for all divisions but the following rules apply:
- In the Amateur and Professional Divisions the entrant may use a commercially purchased reproduction - it must be finished on both sides.
- In the Master Division the reproduction must be cast entirely by the entrant.
- COMMERCIAL CATEGORY - Offered ONLY at the State Convention / Competition
- Entry Fee of $25.00 per piece
- Judged by 1 All-Around Judge
- Judged from a 6-ft. distance (no flashlights, magnifying glasses, or touching of the mounts by the judge)
- No Best of Category
- No score sheets
- Multiple Ribbons Awarded (Blue-1st, Red-2nd, Yellow-3rd)
- Not Division or Category specific
- Open to all types of taxidermy (rugs, freeze-dry, novelties, mammals, birds, whitetails, gameheads, fish, anything you have hanging on your shop walls that you want to have judged)
- All pieces will be grouped together in a separate area and roped off to allow for the 6-ft. judging rule
- PTA cannot guarantee 1 on 1 critiques but there will be time posted when the judge will be giving group critiques for the commercial entries.