2016 Major Award Winners

Taxidermist of the Year
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, WI
139 Wood Duck

The Breakthrough Best of Show Award
Judges' Choice Best of Show
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon

Best All-Around Taxidermist
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories
Jason Krause
Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
166–169 Black Bear, Crow, Wolf, Western Diamondback

Distinguished Taxidermist Award
Entry has previously won a Judges' Best of Show at another qualifying competition
Vince Spellane
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania 107 Whitetail Deer

Delia Akeley Award
Best Entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees
Delores Carley
Kent, Pennsylvania
223 Coyote Pup

Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Judges' Choice for Best Whitetail Deer
Tommy Hall
Indian Trail, North Carolina
103 Whitetail Deer

Brian Harness Memorial Award
Judges' Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
157 Wolf

National Wild Turkey Federation Award
Judges' Choice for Best Turkey
Elmer W. Stoltzfus
Ronksa, Pennsylvania
220 Turkey

Frank Newmyer Award
Judges' Choice for Best Upland Gamebird or Waterfowl
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
143 Black Duck

The Polytranspar Award
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon

The New Wave Award
Judges' Choice for Best Reproduction Fish
Jamie Cameron
Bolivar, Pennsylvania
151 Bluegill

Safari Club International Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Large Lifesize Mammal
Jason Krause
Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
169 Wolf Group

Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
223 Least Weasel
North American Champions

North American Champion Open-Mouth Whitetail Deer
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Tommy Hall
Indian Trail, North Carolina
103 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Gamehead
First Place in the Division of Excellence
James Newport
Pearsall, Texas
209 Pig

North American Champion Reptile
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Matt Zimmerman
Denver, Pennsylvania
111 Gabboon Viper

North American Champion Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Brian Noody
Garden City, New York
193 Rock Bass
National Champions

National Champion Turkey
Highest Score in the Open Division
Elmer W. Stoltzfus
Ronksa, Pennsylvania
220 Turkey

National Champion Open-Mouth Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division
Vince Spellane
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
107 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Closed-Mouth Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division
Justin Clemmer
Pitman, Pennsylvania
197 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division
Owen Eldred
Blanchard, Michigan
136 Sika Deer

National Champion Large Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
157 Wolf

National Champion Small Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
Heather Miller
Halifax, Pennsylvania
163 Raccoon

National Champion Warmwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division
Jamie Cameron
Bolivar, Pennsylvania
151 Bluegill

National Champion Coldwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division
Sam Stelitano
Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania
117 Nautilus

National Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon
Other Awards

Judges’ Best of Show Collective Artists Division
Highest Scoring Entry by More Than One Artist
Matt Zimmerman & Shane Zimmerman
Denver, Pennsylvania
112 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Van Dyke’s Award
Most Creativity Mammal, Gamehead or Whitetail Entry
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
224 Coyote

Al and Evelyn Holmes Best Habitat Award
Outstanding Habitat Display
Vince Spellane
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
107 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Tommy Hall
Indian Trail, North Carolina
103 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Life-size Mammal Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
157 Marco Polo Sheep

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Eric Perry
Gold Hill, North Carolina
200 Harlequin

Judges’ Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
225 Bobcat

People’s Choice Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Stephen Rogers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
189 Vintage Taxidermy Shop

People’s Choice Award
The Charley Haynes Memorial Award
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
156 Wolf and Marco Polo