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Est. 1972 · Preserving the Craft

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Home Winners Runner-Up Award

2026 Runner-Up Award

The state
runners-up.

The association presents the State Taxidermist Achievement Award to the Best of Show runner-up at each participating state and regional show. These are the 34 taxidermists it went to in 2026, and the piece each of them took it with.

The roll

Thirty-four states and regional associations.

Every taxidermist below took Best of Show runner-up at their own state or regional show in 2026 — from a wood duck in Alabama to a rainbow trout in Wyoming. Filter by the kind of work, or open any photograph to see it full size.

Wood Duck by Shane Candler, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Alabama — AlabamaShane CandlerWood Duck

Bull Elk by Brandon Mitchell, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Arkansas — ArkansasBrandon MitchellBull Elk

Horse by Kiernan Hull, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for California — CaliforniaKiernan HullHorse

Turkey by Robert Schmac, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Colorado — ColoradoRobert SchmacTurkey

Red Fox by Dustin Coons, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Northeast Association of Taxidermists — Northeast Association of TaxidermistsDustin CoonsRed Fox

Alligator by Manny Martinez, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Florida — FloridaManny MartinezAlligator

Whitetail by Tommy Rogers, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Georgia — GeorgiaTommy RogersWhitetail

Silver Pheasant by Daniel Davis, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Idaho — IdahoDaniel DavisSilver Pheasant

Raccoon by Amanda Weathers, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Illinois — IllinoisAmanda WeathersRaccoon

Wood Duck by Aaron Miller, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Indiana — IndianaAaron MillerWood Duck

Mallard by Brett Henderson, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Iowa — IowaBrett HendersonMallard

Axis Deer by Jack Emery, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Kentucky — KentuckyJack EmeryAxis Deer

Bobcat by Whitney Steward, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Louisiana — LouisianaWhitney StewardBobcat

Lumpsucker by Jared Mitchell, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Maine — MaineJared MitchellLumpsucker

Long Tail by Chad Horst, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Maryland/Eastern Regional — Maryland/Eastern RegionalChad HorstLong Tail

Whitetail by Lee Ledford, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Michigan — MichiganLee LedfordWhitetail

Turkey by Brian Vogelpohl, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Minnesota — MinnesotaBrian VogelpohlTurkey

Axis Deer by Alan Goebel, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Mississippi — MississippiAlan GoebelAxis Deer

Coho Salmon by Rich White, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Montana — MontanaRich WhiteCoho Salmon

Bobcat by Trenton Thornburg, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Nebraska — NebraskaTrenton ThornburgBobcat

Mule Deer by Kent Allard, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for New Mexico — New MexicoKent AllardMule Deer

Turkey by Brian Good, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for New York — New YorkBrian GoodTurkey

Whitetail by Andrew Faul, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for North Dakota — North DakotaAndrew FaulWhitetail

Wood Duck by Aaron Miller, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Ohio — OhioAaron MillerWood Duck

White Crappie by Matt Welsh, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Oklahoma — OklahomaMatt WelshWhite Crappie

Mountain Goat by Zane Smith, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Oregon — OregonZane SmithMountain Goat

Smallmouth Bass by Dalton Jeffers, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for South Carolina — South CarolinaDalton JeffersSmallmouth Bass

Walleye by Steve Silseth, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for South Dakota — South DakotaSteve SilsethWalleye

Whitetail by Mark Hernandez, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Texas — TexasMark HernandezWhitetail

Antelope by Jack Purcell, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Utah — UtahJack PurcellAntelope

Bobcat by Jarvie Robinson, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Virginia — VirginiaJarvie RobinsonBobcat

Whitetail by Justin St Onge, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for West Virginia — West VirginiaJustin St OngeWhitetail

Prairie Rattlesnake by Tim Gorenchan, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Wisconsin — WisconsinTim GorenchanPrairie Rattlesnake

Rainbow Trout by Chuck Boehm, State Taxidermist Achievement Award winner for Wyoming — WyomingChuck BoehmRainbow Trout