NTA Announces our first seminar of 2020 – Register Today!
Hands-On Bird Seminar
with Multi-World, National, and North American Champions
Dale Manning, Mike Nakielski, & Tyler Hoffman
Friday, January 10 & Saturday, January 11, 2020
14051 South Deer Haven CV, Bluffdale, UT, 84065
The NTA is proud to present this Hands-On Bird seminar – an extraordinary event led by three renowned champions! Bring a prepped, fleshed, ready-to-mount duck or pheasant, and our instructors will walk you through their process in mounting your bird. (Don’t have a bird? We can provide one!)
Event Details:
Date: Friday January 10th and Saturday January 11th, 2020
Bird: You provide your own or a customer’s bird, skinned and fleshed. If you do not have a bird, please let us know and one will be provided for you.
Let us know what type of bird you will be bringing – the NTA will provide all supplies!
Cost: Pricing for this seminar is $500 for NTA members in good standing, and $600 for non-NTA members. Seats are limited – first-come, first served, so register soon! A nonrefundable deposit of 50% will be accepted to reserve your spot and guarantee you a seat for this great seminar.
Registration: We recommend online registration to guarantee your spot! Register using the online form below. Check registrations will be accepted, but are not guaranteed until payment is received. Please contact us for information about mailing in your registration.
Lunch: We will provide lunch, drinks and snacks during this two-day seminar. The Utah Taxidermy Association (Ross Richard) will provide lunch on one of the days!
Location: 14051 South Deer Haven CV Bluffdale UT. (Shawn Shaw’s shop). For information, contact 801-597-8862.
Hotel Accommodations: Homewood Suites by Hilton, Salt Lake City Draper, 473 W. 13490 S, Draper, Utah 84020. King studio suite, $99 + tax per night. Limited availability – reserve soon! Call (801) 509-7007 or follow this link to book.
About Dale Manning
Dale has been involved with taxidermy since 1975. Born and raised in Missoula, Montana, he grew up hunting, fishing and camping. His high school job was working at a local taxidermy shop where his primary interest began with birds. The quality of his work from the beginning allowed him to do bird mounts for other taxidermists across Montana which was his main source of income as he pursued his college degree. Dale graduated in 1985 from the University of Montana with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Economics.
In 1988, Dale and his business partner, John Ottman opened a wholesale bird shop, Custom Birdworks. With its success and the demand for big game taxidermy, the Big Game Connection was added to the business. Custom Birdworks and the Big Game Connection, Ltd. later became a full-service taxidermy studio solely owned by Dale.
Dale is known for producing the highest quality taxidermy that emphasizes the profession as an art. Keeping up with industry changes and technologies by attending taxidermy conventions and competitions throughout the country is a priority and part of his business philosophy to produce an excellent product. Dale is well respected in the taxidermy community for his accomplishments and is regularly asked to judge competitions and give seminars to share his knowledge. He has received the industry’s highest honors and awards at the state, national and world level. Dale won Best in World Waterfowl at the World Taxidermy Championships in Springfield, Illinois.
Dale lives in Missoula, Montana with his wife, Jennifer and son, Owen.
About Tyler Hoffman
Tyler Hoffman has been a fixture at Custom Birdworks and the Big Game Connection for 23 years. Born and raised in Missoula, Montana. Tyler spent his childhood years hunting and fishing with his family. When he wasn’t in the field, he was on the field playing baseball. He is a third generation Eagle Scout. As a young man Tyler spent much of his spare time at the taxidermy shop learning the trade and eventually becoming very adept at his profession. After graduating high school, he attended Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario Oregon on a baseball scholarship. Tyler returned to his hometown and has been employed full-time at Custom Birdworks and the Big Game Connection since 2006.
Tyler is an exceptional taxidermist and is well-versed in all aspects of the business. The quality of Tyler’s work has been proven through the competitions he has attended. Some of his latest accomplishments include:
- 2013 World Show Best Bird and 1st Place Competitors Award Professional Division
- 2014 Montana Taxidermy Association Breakthrough Award, Best of Show, Master of master’s and the WASCO Award
- 2015 World Taxidermy Championships 1st Place Diving Duck Masters Division
- 2016 Wester Regional Breakthrough Award, Best of Show Masters Division
- 2017 World Taxidermy Championships 2nd Place Quail Masters Division
- 2019 World Taxidermy Championships 2nd in World Waterfowl
Tyler lives in Missoula with his wife, Mikel and two children.
About Mike Nakielski
Mike has been doing taxidermy since the age of 10 when his father helped him with his first goose mount. As Mike gained further fascination in the sport of hunting and the art of taxidermy, he’s carried his father’s taxidermy establishment into what it is known as today, Pro Taxidermy. Through years of competing (since 1995), he’s gained much knowledge from judges and fellow competitors. Mike has earned many awards at the State, National & World Levels.
Mike lives in Iron Ridge, Wisconsin with his wife, Jen, daughter Jocelyn, and son Michael.
Registration & Information
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! To register, please complete the registration form below. Registration closes December 30, 2019 at 11:59pm – no exceptions. Remember, space is limited, so don’t delay!
For questions or more information, please contact Shawn Shaw, 801-597-8862, Shawn.shaw@gtms.us or contact us online.