Authority: The TTAI Competition Rules Committee will resolve any questions arising from the TTAI competitions, and their decision will be final.
Liability: Mounts are entered in the show at the owner's risk. The TTAI is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items, however every precaution will be made to secure the entries.
Large Entries: Any entry that requires two people to move must be on rollers.
Judging: All judges are required to give oral critiques to competitors after scores are posted.
Score Sheets: NTA score sheets will be used to judge all categories and all divisions.
Divisions: There will be six divisions of competition: Youth, Educational, Amateur, Professional, Masters, and Studio. Guidelines and descriptions are listed by division to help you decide which is suited for your level of skill and whick ones you will be eligible to compete in. A competitor who has won two first place awards in a category will be required to compete in the next higher division of competition in that category thereafter.
Special Awards: The TTAI awards four major awards: Peoples Choice, Best of Show Masters Division, Best of Show Profesional Division, and Texas Best All Around Taxidermist. There are nine possible "Best in Texas " awards given in the Masters Division, and nine possible "Best of Category" awards in the Professional Division.
Protected Species: Protected species must have applicable permits with the entry. If the mount is not legal or if you do not have a permit, do not bring it to the show.
Entry Restrictions: The TTAI reserves the right to restrict entries not conforming to accepted taxidermy methods, or that in the view of the Competition Committee are deemed to be in poor taste.
Glass Cases: Glass cases must be removed for judging. The competitor will be instructed by the Competition Room Chairman as to where the glass cases will be placed prior to judging.
Reference: The TTAI encourages competitors to bring their own reference material for examination by the judges. The judges will use the material to help determine if it was correctly interpreted and manifested in the rendering.
Sportsmanship: Unsportsmanlike conduct could result in disqualification and forfeiture of any and all TTAI awards. The TTAI has gone to great lengths to obtain the most experienced and qualified judges in the country. Decide to accept the judge's decision as being final or please don't enter the competition. Remember, everyone comes to the competition expecting to win, but not everyone will. If you can not handle losing, do not enter the competition. Competitors should conduct themsleves in a professional manner. Unruly or disruptive behavior towards show officials or judges will not be tolerated.
Protests: Protests must be made not prior to, and within one hour of the Competition room doors opening for competitor viewing. An extension of this time can only be granted by the Competition Rules Committee. Competitors that wish to have a piece re-judged will be required to pay a protest fee of $50.00. A different judge will evaluate the entry and a new score will be given, which can raise or lower the ribbon status. All decisions and rulings of the protest judge are final.
Green or Wet Mounts: It will be the discretion of the judge to decide if a mount is "green", or wet. It will also be the judges decision to fatal flaw or disqualify the mount in question.
Name Plates: Omit (or cover) names on all entries.
Persons allowed to compete: Any member of the NTA, UTA, and/or a state bordering Texas may compete, proof of membership must be shown at registration. Texas residents must be a member of the TTAI to compete. Texas Best All Around competitors must be a resident of Texas and a current TTAI member.
Eligibilty of entries: No entry may be reshown in a TTAI competition. Any mount that has been entered in a NTA or World competition may be entered in a TTAI competition if that show has occurred prior to the TTAI show in the same calendar year.
Competition Room: Only comptition room staff will handle mounts inside the competition area. Competitors will enter the competition area prior to reopening only if asked by the official chairperson. Grooming will be done (if possible) outside the competition area.
Eligibility Protests: Any official protest that a mount is not eligible for competition must have valid proof. Final decisions on the matter will be determined by the TTAI Competition Rules Committee.
