LEWISTON TAXIDERMIST WINS CONTEST

A Lewiston taxidermist captured a best of category award at last weekend's Idaho Taxidermy Association show at Lewiston.

Nick Clark of Clark's Taxidermy took the best of the large mammal category, with a big-horn sheep collected by his mother.

Show organizer Richard Jeppson of Pocatello said well over 1,000 people came to the three-day event. Judging was held Friday, with public showings Saturday and Sunday. More than 120 pieces of work were displayed by taxidermists from nine states and Canada.

Other awards winners include:

Taxidermist's Choice Best of Show (selected by show participants): A life-size black bear, prepared by Rip Caswell of Portland, Ore.

Judge's Choice Best of Show: An otter, prepared by Randy Curtis, Hermiston, Ore.

Public's Choice Award (selected by the first 200 people who attended the show Friday morning): A life-size mountain lion with a grouse, jointly prepared by Bob Ulshafer, Salmon, Idaho, and Jeppson.

Best All-around Taxidermist: Jeppson.

Idaho Natural History Award (selected by local Fish and Game officers): Three wood ducks, prepared by Caswell.

Best game head division: A caribou, prepared by Bill Lancaster, Beaver Creek, Ore.

Best of Category Game Head with Habitat: A white-tail deer, prepared by Lancaster.

Best of Category Medium Mammal: An otter, prepared by Curtis.

Best of Category Fish-Skin Mount: A blue-gill, prepared by Garry Blew, Micah, Wash.

Best of Category Reptile: A Western rattlesnake, prepared by Jeppson.

Best of Category, Rug: A black bear rug, prepared Frank Twardowski, Coeur d'Alene.

Best of Category, Antler/Horn Skull: A moose skull, prepared by Jerry McGehee, Kamiah.

Chukar Challenge: Sam Taylor, Pocatello.

West Coast Taxidermy Supply Co. Award: A boar, prepared by Larry LaFranchi, Coquille, Ore.

True-Fit Life Forms Award: A pronghorn antelope, prepared by Richard Gensch, Missoula, Mont.