Last updated: July 11, 2011
Web site updated by Doug Hansen © 2007 at Homestead™
Wasco
Most Artistic Entry
The A.I.T is proud to present this award to its members. This prestigious award is decided upon by all the judges. This award was developed to inspire creativity in taxidermy. It has been awarded to quality taxidermist in state, national and international competitions. All mounts are eligible for this award, including amatuer mounts. The winner will receive a distinctive trophy and a nice gift certificate from Wasco (Wildlife Artistic Supply Company).

Best of Show
An award given to the most outstanding mount in the masters division and another best of show is given to the most outstanding mount in the professional division. All entries in both divisions are eligible and the winning mounts are determined by the judges, not by scores.

People's Choice Awards
An award will be given to the professional or master entry that receives the most votes cast by A.I.T. members. Another award will be given to the amateur mount that receives the most votes.

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
  • Mammals
Winning mounts will receive a trophy. All mounts are eligible. Public viewing and voting for these awards will take place on Sunday only.

Best All Around Taxidermist
This award is given to a taxidermist who demostrates quality work in four different categories. See below for the rules and requirements governing this competition.

Best Amateur Mounts
Four seperate trophies will be given to the highest scoring mounts in the following categories:
  • Fish
  • Bird
  • Game heads
  • Mammal

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

Supplier Awards
We have a few additional awards which come from the suppliers. Panel One, VanDykes and Breakthrough will each be selecting a mount based on creativity and the overall impression of the mount. PolyTranspar and Lifetone will be giving awards for the best fish mount using their paint.

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.

Best of Category
There will be a plaque awarded for each category in the professional and masters divisions for a total of sixteen plaques. The highest scoring mount that receives a blue ribbon earns this 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.

D.N.R. Award
A representative of the Department of Natural Resources will choose the entry that contains the most realistic scene of native Indiana Wildlife.

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

Best All Around Taxidermist Competition
This competition is designed to allow members to demonstrate that they do quality work in all areas of competition.

The rules for this competition are as follows:
A) Competitor will enter one mount in each of the following categories:
1)Birds
2)Fish
3)Game head or Whitetail Deer (either OM or CM)
4)Mammal (large or small)
B) Mounts must be entered in 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 time of registration.
D) Pay a twenty-five ($25) dollar entry fee.

The winner of the award is the taxidermist who scores the most points on the following:
Ribbon   Professional   Master
Placement       DivisionDivision
First        3 points4 points
Second  2 points3 points
Third      1 point 2 points

Taxidermist 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 (2) or more years may enter.