Taxidermy Awards and Achievements
Taxidermy Competition Background Information
First, a little background on how taxidermy awards work. There are usually three divisions in taxidermy contests – Masters, Professional/Open, and Novice.
At a state competition mounts are scored by a judge out of 100 points. Mounts that score 90-100 points get a “first place” ribbon. Mounts that score 80-89 get a “second place” ribbon. Mounts that score 70-79 points get a “third place” ribbon. Mounts that score 69 or less do not get a ribbon. Therefore, every mount in a division could get a “first place” ribbon. In the Professional/Open division the best mount of each category wins “Best of Category”, and the best Masters division mount of each category wins “State Champion”.
At the National Taxidermy Association competition, ribbons are given out the same way as a state show, but the winner of the Open Division wins “National Champion”, the winner of the Masters Division wins “North American Champion”.
At the World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championship Master’s division, the top three in each category are awarded #1, #2 and #3 in the World (not to be confused with “first place,” “second place,” and “third place” ribbons). Sub-divisions are awarded #1, #2, and #3 in their sub-division, such as “short hair open mouth whitetail deer” sub-division. (These are not designated as “in the world”). The awards given in the open divison at the World Show is similar to the state competitions.
Neff Taxidermy Competition Awards
If you want to see photos of some of my work, check out my gallery.
2026
Zebra Pedestal Mount – Mater’s Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Second Place Ribbon (89 points)
Whitetail Wall Mount – Mater’s Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon (79 points)
2025
Whitetail Wall Mount – Mater’s Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Second Place Ribbon (80 points)
2024
Northern Pike Replica – Open Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Second Place Ribbon
Ring Teal – Open Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Barred Owl (With Permits) – Open Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Northern Goshawk (With Permits) – Open Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Auodad Double Pedestal Mount – Master’s Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon x2
2023
Whitetail Pedestal Mount – Master’s Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Kudu Pedestal Mount – Professional Gamehead Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Bobcat Life-Sized Mount – Professional Mammals Division – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Whitetail Pedestal Mount – Open Division – National Taxidermist Convention – Third Place Ribbon
Auodad Double Pedestal Mount – Open Division – National Taxidermist Convention – Honorable Mention Challenge of the Arts, Third Place and Second Place Ribbon
2022
Whitetail Pedestal Mount – Open – World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships – First Place Ribbon
Wood Duck Drake – Professional Small Waterfowl – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Gemsbok Shoulder Mount – Professional – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Mountain Reedbuck Shoulder Mount – Professional Gamehead – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Pronghorn Wall Pedestal – Professional Gamehead – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
2021
Whitetail Pedestal – Professional Deer – MN Taxidermy Guild – First Place Ribbon
Ruddy Duck – Professional Small Waterfowl – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Black Wildebeest Shoulder Mount – Professional Gamehead- MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
Walleye Replica – Professional Reproduction Fish – MN Taxidermy Guild – Third Place Ribbon
2019
Whitetail Shoulder Mount – Open Deer – MN Taxidermy Guild – Second Place Ribbon
Competitions Attended
