2017 Major Award Winners

Taxidermist of the Year
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
235 Mountain Goat

The Breakthrough Best of Show Award
Judges' Choice Best of Show
Josh Hunt
Morgan, Utah
226 Mule Deer

Best All-Around Taxidermist
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories
SCOTT HUMBLE
Springville, Utah
192-196 Otter, Mule Deer, Tortoise, Rooster

Judges’ Best of Show Collective Artists Division
Highest Scoring Entry by More Than One Artist
GW’s TAXIDERMY
Ogden, Utah
129 King Eiders

Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller
Scott Humble
Springville, Utah
200 Western Spotted Skunk

Chris Barnhardt Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Gamehead
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
236 Cape Buffalo

National Wild Turkey Federation Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Turkey
DARIN GARDNER
Kaysville, Utah
285 Turkey
North American Champions

North American Champion Re-Creation
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Scott Humble
Springville, Utah
201 Golden Eagle

North American Champion Turkey
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Darin Gardner
Kaysville, Utah
285 Turkey

North American Champion Gamehead
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
236 Cape Buffalo

North American Champion Large Mammal
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Josh Hunt
Morgan, Utah
226 Mule Deer

North American Champion Small Mammal
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Scott Humble
Springville, Utah
200 Western Spotted Skunk

North American Champion Reptile Reproduction
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Scott Humble
Springville, Utah
192 Desert Tortoise

North American Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Jeff Mourning Littleton, Colorado 218 Golden Trout
National Champions

National Champion Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division
Josh Bryan
Newburg, Oregon
231 Blacktail Deer

National Champion Large Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
Willie Ungerman
Huntington, Utah
135 Black Bear

National Champion Small Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
Stephen Shulte
Coalville, Utah
176 Bobcat

National Champion Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division
Dan Johnson
Syracuse, Utah
259 Walleye

National Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division
Mickey Bowman
Layton, Oklahoma
166 Brook Trout
Other Awards

NTA Best of Show Novice
Judges’ Choice for Best Novice Entry
Braxton Shaw
Layton, Utah
116 Snow Goose

People’s Choice Award
The Charley Haynes Memorial Award
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
235 Mountain Goat

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
David Hong
Spring Creek, Nevada
119 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Jeff Mourning
Littleton, Colorado
218 Golden Trout

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Reptile Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Scott Humble
Springville, Utah
192 Desert Tortoise

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Bird Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Grant Wilborn
Ogden, Utah
126 King Eider

NTA Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Dave Ferguson
Harrisville, Utah
280 Red Fox

NTA Best of Show Original Art
Selected by the judges collectively from all first-place winners in the five Original Art categories
Mijke Butts
Willard, Utah
130 Abstract Carving

People’s Choice Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Scott Humble
Springville, Utah
197 Rattlesnake Skeleton

NTA International African/Exotic Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Large African/Exotic Mount
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
236 Cape Buffalo

Delia Akeley Award
Best entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees
Tracey Rhodes
Medina, Texas
102 Mouflon Sheep

Van Dyke’s Award
Most Creativity Mammal, Gamehead or Whitetail Entry
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
235 Mountain Goat

The Polytranspar Award
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar
Jeff Mourning
Littleton, Colorado
218 Golden Trout

Youth Horizon Award
Judges’ Best of Show Youth Division
Hunter Carter
Great Falls, Montana
112 Chuckar Partridge

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Life-size Mammal Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Bill Neuman
Bismarck, North Dakota
235 Mountain Goat