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LTA - Louisiana Taxidermist Association LTA - Louisiana Taxidermist Association

LTA Division Guidelines

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LTA DIVISION GUIDELINES

Revised 04/10/2021

MASTERS DIVISION

  1. Members who have won 2 blue ribbons and 15 points in the LTA in a particular category in the Professional Division, or anyone who has earned their Award of Excellence at the NTA level, must compete in Masters Division. If a participant chooses to move to Masters Division before earning their Award of Excellence they can not move back down to Professional Division in that particular category.
  2. Judging in this division will be on a more intense system. Craftsmanship and Artistic detail are required in this division.
  3. All taxidermy procedures must be done by the individual entrant and certified as such by his or her signature at the time of registration.
  4. Multiple ribbons will be awarded for First, Second, and Third place. There will be Louisiana State Champion awards given in each of the nine categories.
  5. There will be a Best of Masters award given in this division
  6. There is no limit to the number of entries a member may enter in a division. The entry fee for Masters Division is $25.00 per mount.

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

  1. All members of the LTA may compete in this division. Members who have won 2 blue ribbons and 15 points in a particular category cannot compete in that category in the Professional division and must move up to Masters Division.
  2. Mounts in this division much be technically correct, artistically orientated, as well as creative. Points earned in this division will go towards NTA Award of excellence and the LTA award of Excellence.
  3. All taxidermy procedures must be done by the individual entrant and certified as such by his or her signature at the time of registration.
  4. Multiple ribbons will be awarded for First, Second, and Third place. There will be Best of Category awards given in each of the nine categories.
  5. There is no limit to the number of entries a member may enter in this division. The entry fee for Professional Division will be $25.00 per mount.

NOVICE DIVISION

  1. There is no age limit in this division, however, this division is open only to taxidermist with two years or under of taxidermy experience (not competition experience). You may enter this division only in your first or second year of taxidermy experience. All taxidermist with more than two years of taxidermy experience must enter the Professional Division.
  2. Entries are on a per-category basis, which means if you receive first place in a category in your first year of taxidermy experience, you must move to the Professional Division in that particular category for the next year. However, you may still enter other categories of Novice Division in the second year of taxidermy experience if you have not yet received first place in those categories.
  3. Mounts in this division will be judged separately and independently on a “commercial grade” basis. Judging will be more lenient than a Professional or Master division. There will be no points awarded in this division.
  4. All taxidermy procedures must be done by the individual entrant and certified as such by his or her signature at the time of registration.
  5. Commercial blanks are allowed if all the preparation of blank and painting is done by the entrant.
  6. A critique sheet will be given.
  7. Multiple ribbons will be awarded for first, second, and third place. No best of Category in this division. (Entries in this division are not eligible for any major awards.)
  8. There is no limit to the number of entries a member may enter in this division. The entry fee for Novice Division will be $25.00 per mount.

COMMERCIAL DIVISION

  1. This division is open to all LTA residents, non-residents, and youth members.
  2. Multiple ribbons will be awarded for first, second, and third place. No points will be given.
  3. There is no limit to the number of entries.
  4. There is a $25.00 fee per mount in this division.
  5. Pieces in this division will be judged from 10ft. away.

YOUTH DIVISION

  1. This division is open to all children of members sixteen years old and under.
  2. Multiple ribbons will be awarded for first, second, and third place. No points will be given.
  3. There is no limit to the number of entries a youth may enter in this division.
  4. There is a $15.00 fee per mount in this division. (Youth members can also choose to enter either the Professional or Novice Division but will pay the per mount fee listed for that division. Points will be given in Professional Division only.

HABITAT

  1. Habitat can be judged separately from the mount but must be accompanied by a mount.
  2. A habitat score sheet will be used.
  3. Habitat has a separate scoring system:
    1st place is 46-50
    2nd place is 40-45
    3rd place is 35-39
  4. The Entry fee for the Habitat division is $20.00 per mount.

PHOTO CATEGORY

  1. This category is open to all LTA members and their families that are registered participants of the LTA Convention.
  2. All photos must be 3”x5” or larger and framed.
  3. They can be in color or black and white, and each photo should include some wildlife species.
  4. There will be three groups:
    Still life
    Action
    Reference
  1. Photos will be judged by the competition judges.
  2. There will be one 1st, one 2nd, and one 3rd Place overall. No points will be given in this category.
  3. There is no limit to the number of photos you can enter. There will be an entry fee of $15.00 per photo entered.

CAJUN CHALLENGE

Anyone may enter the competition. The entry fee will be $50.00 per person. You must bring your own supplies for assembly. The winner will be chosen and decided by the judge’s agreement on the best mount whether it be a game head, bobcat, or bird. The total entry fee purse will be the reward for the winner. We will also have a Calcutta for those who want to bet on a winner. The challenge will take place Friday 3 pm - 6 pm before the crawfish boil.

  1. Competitors will have 3 hours to finish their mount.
  2. A competitor may bring their choice of commercial form/manikin or original sculpture.
  3. Any alterations to the manikin must be done during the competition.
  4. Manikins can be sanded or ruffed up prior to the competition, to save on time.
  5. Capes/skins can be prepped and repaired prior to the competition.

WT/GAME-HEAD/MAMMAL

  1. Noses, lip slots, and tear ducts must be done at the competition. At this time competitors can also cut, sand, or add clay for detail to the manikin.
  2. Nose work must be done during the competition. Competitors may choose to use artificial septums, cast nosepieces, or replacement noses. All artificial parts must be made during the competition. Inner noses can also be rebuilt with epoxy or clay.
  3. Ears can be done with Bondo or ear liners. Ears must be done at the competition. You may pull the cartilage prior to the competition.
  4. Ear butts must be clay or like material and formed at the competition.
  5. Antlers or horns may be set and screwed down prior to the competition.

BIRDS

  1. Bills may be painted beforehand. (Due to safety concerns). Eyes may be set prior to competition.
  2. Feet may be injected and painted beforehand. (Due to safety concerns)
  3. Legs cannot be pre-attached to the manikin. Must be done at the competition.
  4. Birds need to be dry before entering the competition room, Master Blasters will not be allowed in the competition room. Hairdryers are allowed.
  5. Holes may be sewed prior to the competition.
  6. Competitors will have 30 minutes the next morning to go over their mounts before judging. No exceptions! There will be no score sheets during the judging.
  7. Judges will not know who mounted the entries.
  8. The judge’s decision will be final.
  9. Winners are announced at the Award Banquet.

LOUISIANA CUP AWARD

  1. To be eligible for this award you must be a Louisiana resident and current member, or a non-resident LTA member.
  2. The mount has to be native to LA but does not have to be killed in LA. It will be judged by the judges on the best representation of a LA species and/or habitat.
  3. The competitor keeps his mount.
  4. The LA cup winner will be picked before scoring any mounts in that category. It does not have to be the highest-scoring piece but has to be at least equivalent to a second place and best depict a LA mount. The judge for that category will determine if the mount is a second place or better.
  5. Categories are chosen in advance by the LTA Officers and Board. Categories that have been chosen are:
  • 2001 Whitetail
  • 2002 Birds
  • 2003 Fish
  • 2004 Reptiles
  • 2005 Waterfowl
  • 2006 Gameheads
  • 2007 Mammals
  1. The LA Cup Division has a special entry fee of $25.00 per mount which covers only the LA Cup Division. There will be no score sheet or critique given.
  2. If you would like to have your mount scored and critiqued by the judge you will also have to pay an additional $25.00 per mount fee to enter that mount separately into the Professional or Masters Division.
  3. The winner will receive a silver cup and $100.00. There will be no Second or Third Place awards.

BEST ALL-AROUND TAXIDERMIST AWARD

  1. To be eligible for this award you must be a Louisiana resident and current member, or a non-resident LTA member in good standing.
  2. You must enter at least one mount in each of the four major categories:
  • Whitetail/Game head (horned, hoofed, or antlered)
  • Waterfowl or upland Gamebird
  • Fish or Reptile
  • Mammals
  1. The taxidermist with the highest accumulated score of at least 335 points will be awarded the Best All-Around Taxidermist of the year.
  2. The Best All-Around Taxidermists Division has a special entry fee of $125.00 (that includes four mounts at $25.00 each plus a $25.00 Best all-Around entry fee)
  3. The winner will receive a trophy and ribbon.

COLLECTIVE/STUDIO DIVISION

  1. This division is open to all LTA residents, non-residents, and youth members.
  2. Entries may be entered by individuals or shop employees, but if assistance by shop employees is given; entry must be entered under the collective/studio name. Entries under a collective/studio name cannot be considered for the Best All-Around Taxidermist or Louisiana Cup awards, nor LTA or NTA points credit.
  3. The entry fee for this category will be $100.00.

 LTA COMPETITION CATEGORIES

  1. Whitetail, Game head, Lifesize Mammals, Bird, Waterfowl, Fish, Reptile, Reproduction, Shellfish, and Amphibian Categories accrue points toward the LTA award of Excellence.
  2. Recreation and Habitat Categories and Novice and Youth Divisions do not receive points toward the LTA Award of Excellence.

LTA RIBBONS

  1. The following ribbon values count toward your LTA Award of Excellence:
  • 1st place (100-90) receives 4 points
  • 2nd place (89-80) receives 3 points
  • 3rd place (79-70) receives 1 point
  1. “Best of Category” goes to the first place mount with the highest score in each of the nine categories:
  • Whitetail
  • Game head
  • Waterfowl
  • Bird
  • Mammal
  • Fish
  • Reptile and amphibian
  • Reproduction
  • Shellfish
  1. “Judges Choice Award” will be chosen by a consensus of the judges from all 1st place mounts in the competition. It does not have to be the highest-scoring mount. The winner will receive a trophy and a ribbon. (no cash award)
  2. “Peoples Choice Award” will be picked by the members in attendance. The winner will receive a trophy and a ribbon.
  3. “Best of Masters” or “Louisiana State Champion” will be awarded to the highest-scoring mount in all categories of the Master's Division. The winner will receive a trophy and ribbon. The overall highest-scoring piece in Masters will receive $100.00.
  4. “Best Of Professional” Will be awarded to the highest-scoring mount in all categories of the Professional Division. The winner will receive a trophy and ribbon. The overall highest-scoring piece in Professional will receive $100.00.

LTA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

  1. To receive the LTA Award of Excellence you must be a current member of the LTA and have a total of 15 points and at least 2 first places in a qualified category in the LTA competition since 1994.
  2. An LTA Award of Excellence may be received in each of the following categories for points accrued in that category:
  • Whitetail
  • Game head
  • Waterfowl
  • Bird
  • Mammal
  • Fish (skin mounts only)
  • Reptile & Amphibian
  • Reproduction
  • Shellfish
  1. Recreation, Habitat, and Photo Categories, and the Novice and Youth Divisions do not receive points toward the LTA Award of Excellence.

Note: LTA points are recorded after the competition each year. They will not be lost if you fail to maintain consecutive membership at any time. Any points accrued will be picked up upon renewal in the LTA.

NTA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

  1. State membership alone does not qualify you for the NTA Award of Excellence.
  2. To receive the NTA Award of Excellence you must be a member of the NTA and have:
  • 5 pts from NTA Competition including 1 1st place in a qualified category since the 1982 competition
  • 16 additional points at the National, Regional, or State level in NTA-sanctioned competitions using NTA score sheets, criteria, and judges.
  • Points received in-state competition are turned in to NTA by the secretary after competition each year

NTA ribbon values:

  • 1st place – 3 points
  • 2nd place – 2 points
  • 3rd place – 1 point

NTA qualified categories:

  • Bird
  • Fish
  • Gamehead
  • Whitetail
  • Large Mammal
  • Small Mammal
  • Reptiles

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