CATEGORIES | association

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

BEST ALL AROUND TAXIDERMIST

This award is given to a taxidermist who demonstrates quality work in four different categories. This competition is designed to allow members to demonstrate that they do quality work in all areas of the competition.

The rules for this are:

A) Competitor will enter one mount in each of the following:

Birds
Fish
Game Head or Whitetail Deer (either OM or CM)
Mammal (large or small)

B) Mounts must be entered in the professional or masters. All four mounts do not need to be entered in the same division.

C) If a taxidermist brings more than four mounts; he or she must decide which four mounts are to be included in the Best All Around Competition at the time of registration.

D) Entry fees need to be paid. .The winner of this award is the taxidermist who scores the most points on the following:

Ribbon Professional Masters

Placement Division

First- 3 Points 4 Points
Second- 2 Points 3 Points
Third- 1 Point 2 Points

Taxidermists who enter this competition will have their mounts entered in regular competition and will be eligible for all other awards. Since this award represents the best of Indiana, the board noted that only those individuals from out-of-state who have been AIT members for two or more years may enter the COLLECTIVE ARTS DIVISION Award, one prestigious plaque and one ribbon for first place, one second place ribbon, and one third place ribbon. This division is for competition pieces where more than one taxidermist worked on the entry. It may be for a single piece or multiple pieces on the same base. It may not be entered in any other category. The entry form must lists all taxidermists who collectively worked on the piece. They must all be registered AIT members in good standing and in attendance at the convention. They must all hold a valid taxidermy license. It is not open to any of the Master’s Division Judges. Any species of animal may be entered in this category as long as it is legal or carries with it a special permit to possess the mount. All pieces must be tasteful in design. The division will be judged by all of the Master’s Division Judges as a group and carries with it a high standard. Areas to be judged are; craftsmanship, mechanical soundness, anatomical accuracy, difficulty and artistic merit. One prestigious plaque and one ribbon for first place, one second place ribbon, one third place ribbon will be awarded in this category. This division is not eligible for any other award offered at the AIT Convention. The piece may not have won any award in the National or World level competitions.

HORIZON AWARD

This award is designed to encourage taxidermist competing for the first time. It will be presented to the person who has the highest scoring first mount in any competition, regardless of the division or category.

PUBLIC’S CHOICE AWARDS

The public will vote for which mount they like the best in each of the following categories:

Fish and Reptile, Birds, Game Heads, and Mammals

Winning mounts will receive an award.

MCKENZIE TAXIDERMIST CHOICE AWARD

An award will be given to the Professional or Master entry that receives the most votes cast by AIT members.

BEST YOUTH

This award is given to the child(age 15 or younger) who has the highest scoring mount in the youth division.

BEST AMATEUR MOUNTS

There are four separate trophies to be given to the highest scoring blue ribbon awarded mounts in the following categories: Fish, Bird, Game Heads, and Mammal (You must win a blue ribbon for Best of Category.)

BEST OF CATEGORY

There will be an award for each category in the Amateur, Professional, and Masters divisions. The highest scoring blue ribbon mount in that category earns the award.

MOST ARTISTIC HABITAT

This award is selected by the judges from all the entries. The habitat is judged on realistic and creative abilities. All entries are eligible for this award.

BEST OF SHOW

An award is given to the most outstanding mount chosen from either the Professional or Masters divisions. All entries in both divisions are eligible and the winning mount is determined by the judges and not by scores.

COLLECTIVE ARTS DIVISION

Award, one prestigious plaque and one ribbon for first place, one second place ribbon, and one third place ribbon.

This division is for competition pieces where more than one taxidermist worked on the entry. It may be for a single piece or multiple pieces on the same base. It may not be entered in any other category.
The entry form must lists all taxidermists who collectively worked on the piece. They must all be registered AIT members in good standing and in attendance at the convention. They must all hold a valid taxidermy license. It is not open to any of the Master’s Division Judges.
Any species of animal may be entered in this category as long as it is legal or carries with it a special permit to possess the mount. All pieces must be tasteful in design.
The division will be judged by all of the Master’s Division Judges as a group and carries with it a high standard. Areas to be judged are; craftsmanship, mechanical soundness, anatomical accuracy, difficulty and artistic merit. One prestigious plaque and one ribbon for first place, one second place ribbon, one third place ribbon will be awarded in this category.
This division is not eligible for any other award offered at the AIT Convention. The piece may not have won any award in the National or World level competitions.

DNR AWARD

A representative of the Department Of Natural Resources will choose the entry that contains the most realistic scene of native Indiana Wildlife.

INDIANA MASTER HALL OF FAME

The prestigious award is given to the Masters Division competition piece that is chosen by the judges to have the highest level of difficulty along with the highest quality of taxidermy work. It is not necessarily the highest scoring piece. It is open to all Master’s Division competitors.
The Master Division taxidermist must be a registered AIT member in good standing and in attendance at the convention. He/She must have previously competed in the AIT Master’s Division, winning at least one blue ribbon. He/She must hold a valid taxidermy license.
This award may be won using any species of animal that is legal or carries with it a special permit to possess and mount. The piece may not have won any award in the National or World level competitions.
All work in this category must be completed by one individual. No group efforts are allowed.
This award may be won by multiple times by a Master’s Division taxidermist. He/She are eligible year after year as long as they meet all the criteria.
The Association holds the Plaque with a space for a member to be added yearly. The winner will receive a award to keep.

BREAKTHROUGH AWARD

This award is given to the best over-all mount in the show. All entries are eligible. The winning mount is determined by the judges. The award includes $100 from Breakthrough magazine.

SUPPLIER AWARDS

We have a few additional awards which come from the suppliers. Each will be selected based on the supplier specifications. We may or may not have these awards every year.

RESEARCH MANNIKINS YOUTH AWARD

Selected by a drawing of all mounts in the youth division.

THE WASCO AWARD

Most Artistic Award & Gift Certificate- Selected by the Master/Professional judges. It was developed to inspire creativity in taxidermy. All mounts in all divisions are eligible.

POLYTRANSPAR AWARD

Awarded to the highest scoring fish in the competition which was painted with Polytranspar paint. Competitor must also obtain a blue ribbon to win this award.

MCKENZIE'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Presented to the member who has exhibited hard work & dedication to the AIT. Nominations are accepted each year at the show for the next years award and the winner is decided by the AIT board members.

LIFETONE AWARD

Awarded to the highest scoring fish in the competition which was painted with Lifetone paints. Competitor also must obtain a blue ribbon to win. This award comes with a trophy. Any fish entered in competition using this paint is eligible.

VANDYKE AWARD

Chosen by the Judges as the most artistic mount in the Masters or Professional Divisions. The mount must have a blue ribbon to be eligible and show some type of artistic merit. This award comes with a plaque.

Sponsored by : Mckenzie Taxidermy Supply

SECOND 2 NATURE AWARD

This award will be for the highest scoring mount on a Second 2 Nature manikin. The winner will recieve a trophy/award, a Second 2 Nature t-shirt or hat, and a $100 Second 2 Nature gift certificate.

HILTON EPPLEY AWARD

This is awarded to any mount that uses the Hilton Eppley form. Winner is selected and award is provided by Hilton Eppley.

DUCKS UNLIMITED AWARD

Chosen by the respective Bird Judge as the best waterfowl in the show. The mount must have a blue ribbon in Professional or at least 2nd place in Masters to qualify; at the judges discretion. Award will be a trophy, plaque, or print.

PRO-1 AWARD

The highest scoring mount that uses Pro-1 products. Must use a Pro-1 tanning or hide paste product and registered with mount information.

Sponsored by: Pro-1 Performance Chemicals

MOUNTED IN ALASKA AWARD

This award goes to the life size mount that tells the best story. Award will be a bear paw plaque.

2025 AIT CONVENTION

May 30 - June 1

2024 WINNERS

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

NEWSLETTER

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