VERMONT BIG GAME TROPHY CLUB

Vermont Big Game Trophy Club

Presents the

2011 Vermont Taxidermy Classic

The Vermont Big Game Trophy Club will host the 2011 VBGTC Vermont Taxidermy Classic in Montpelier, Vermont on August 5 - 6, 2011. This taxidermy competition will be our second annual.

The VBGTC teamed up with renowned Vermont taxidermist and former *North American Champion Pete Lajoie, retired Master Taxidermist Mike Adams, and veteran Competitive Taxidermist Butch Bragg to put together a comprehensive competition that features examples from some of the top taxidermists and wildlife artists in the Northeastern United States.

This event consists of three divisions: Masters, Open, which will be judged to the highest standards of taxidermy, and Commercial which is for taxidermists with little to no competition experience and can best be described as an accurate example of the quality of work provided to each and every customer.

The competition will start on Friday, August 5 with competitors dropping off and registering mounts for judging. Several educational seminars will be held throughout the day for taxidermists. Judging will begin at 5:00 pm. and continue until each piece had been judged and all trophies and ribbons have been awarded.

On Saturday, all of the mounted competition pieces will be available for public viewing as a trophy show, along with some of the largest deer, bear and moose ever harvested in Vermont. Included will be several current state record trophies. The competing taxidermists and artists will be on hand to answer questions about their mounts and how they went about creating them.

This one of a kind event will culminate Saturday evening with the 2011 VBGTC Big Game Awards Banquet honoring the largest big game animals taken in Vermont during the 2010 seasons.  There will be thousands of dollars worth of door prizes, raffles, a live auction and several guns to win.  Individual sponsorships will also be available.

All proceeds benefited the VBGTC Inc.

JUDGES 

*Pete Lajoie:  Pete Lajoie lives in Shrewsbury, Vermont where he has owned and operated Gameheads Ltd. Taxidermy Studio from 1987 to present.  Pete began competing in 1993 at the urging of renowned retired Vermont taxidermist Mike Adams of Stowe.  Pete first competed at state shows in New York and Connecticut and then nationals in Spokane, WA., Springfield, Mo., Buffalo, NY. and Billings, MT.  as well as the World Show. Pete’s taxidermy skills have earned him many accolades in state nationals as well as the world’s, some of these awards include 4 WASCO awards,  29 Best of Category, 2 Overall Best of Show,  Second in the World (gameheads) and the North American Champion/Joseph Bruchac Award.  Pete has judged state and national shows from Oklahoma to Maine including nationals in Lubbock, Texas and the Canadian Nationals in Ontario.   

Pete’s taxidermy seminars are legendary.

*Michael Adams - Mike presently lives in Morgan, Vermont. For many years he owned and operated Wildlife Taxidermy is Moscow, Vermont. Eventually, he started teaching taxidermy. Throughout the years Mike won numerous ribbons and trophies. He won Best Whitetail at the National Taxidermy Competition and the Award of Excellence. Mike judged state shows in Connecticut, Maine, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa plus the Nationals in Iowa. Mike is presently retired from taxidermy due to health problems.

*Kevin Conroy -  Kevin's Taxidermy LLC has been family owned and operated for over 25 years serving customers in the tri-state area. We don't boast to be the biggest, just the best with honest turnaround times.  Connecticut's Only National Award of Excellence Winner in life size mammals.   National Champion in all four categories: Game heads, life size, birds, fish.  Best of Show Winner sweeping all major awards in CT, ME, NJ.   7 First Place National Awards.

Louis Gagliano -

Louis Gagliano of Green Lane, Montgomery County, judges whitetail deer mounts Thursday during the Pennsylvania State Taxidermy & Wildlife Art Championships at Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

Judges

Whitetail Head: Pete Lajoie, Mike Adams

Game Heads: Pete Lajoie, Mike Adams

Waterfowl: 

Upland Birds/Turkey:

Fish:

Lifesize Big Game: Pete Lajoie, Mike Adams

Lifesize Small Game: 

Wildlife Art: Mark Moody

• 1^stplace 90-100 (blue)
• 2^ndplace 80-89 (red)
• 3^rd place 70-79 (yellow)

Breakthrough Award- Overall Best of Show

Best of Show:

• Open, Commercial
• Whitetail
• Gamehead (other)
• Waterfowl
• Upland Game Bird/Turkey
• Fish
• Lifesize Big Game
• Lifesize Small Game

WASCO Award- Awarded to the most artistic piece.

People’s Choice Award- Selected by all paying attendees of Taxidermy Show and Awards Banquet .

Taxidermist’s Choice Award- Selected by all Taxidermists registered with the 2010 VBGTC Vermont Taxidermy Classic. - Sponsored by the New England Association of Taxidermists

Most Outstanding Bear  - Sponsored by the Vermont Bearhound Association

Most Outstanding Turkey - Sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation

Most Outstanding Furbearer - Sponsored by the Vermont Trappers Association

Best Brook Trout - Sponsored by the Vt. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Group

Polytranspar Fish Award - Sponsored by WASCO

Van Dyke's - Most original - Sponsored by McKenzie

Individually sponsored awards will be given to specific mounts. These awards consist of a plaque with sponsors name and the name of the award.  These awards will be determined by the judges unless otherwise specified by the award sponsor.

Registration

Registration fee is $55.00 per taxidermist/artist. This will include: 1 Banquet ticket, admission to all taxidermy seminars and contact information listing on VBGTC website for 1 year. Additional advertising on the VBGTC website can be purchased for $75.00 per year for VBGTC registered taxidermists and artists.